Back When We Were Grownups (Ballantine Reader's Circle)

by Anne Tyler | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 0345446860 Global Overview for this book
Registered by kbgoffe of Beaverton, Oregon USA on 5/31/2003
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5 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by kbgoffe from Beaverton, Oregon USA on Saturday, May 31, 2003
I picked this up yesterday at my church's garage sale. This has been on my list to read so I am thrilled I found it.

I discoverd that this book is on several bookcrosser's wish lists. Since my TBR pile is so huge, I thought I would fulfill a few wishes first. Hopefully by the time this book gets back to me I will be read to read it.

The bookring list:
1. nrrdgrrl
2. shellyann
3. starlite4
4. sweetsangria
5. Back to me, kbgoffe

Journal Entry 2 by kbgoffe at -- By Hand Or Post, Ray/Ring, RABCK in Beaverton, Oregon USA on Friday, June 6, 2003
Released on Friday, June 06, 2003 at Mailing to fellow bookcrosser in Beaverton, Oregon USA.

I am glad this book will have a chance to be read by others before me. Off you go book, enjoy your journey! :)

Journal Entry 3 by nrrdgrrl from Tunbridge Wells, Kent United Kingdom on Saturday, June 14, 2003
wow, kbgoffe is so fast! anne tyler arrived here safe and sound - in fact, she was so well packed that it cost me considerable effort to open the package :o)
the book has obviously been read before but looks very decent for a second-hander.

by the same author, 'earthly possessions' came across my house and i read it a couple of months ago. i found that story a bit... peculiar. but fascinating enough to try a different one by tyler. i chose to put this one on my wish list just because the title kept nagging at me. i wanted, no: needed to know what it was about.
...and along came kbgoffe to lift the burden. thanks much!

i've been trying to finish another book that really takes some effort. i feel i should do that first as i am almost out of read books to cross. but i just peeked into this one... just to gets a taste... nothing more...
looks like anne's going to win.
easily.

Journal Entry 4 by nrrdgrrl from Tunbridge Wells, Kent United Kingdom on Tuesday, June 17, 2003
started reading. bit by bit due to lack of time. but even that way: the ease of prose... just a few strokes and you know exactly what kind of person is being painted... the situations are so easy to feel part of... i stutter to describe what is so brilliant about it. this is very, very good writing. so skilled that you don't notice the nuts and bolts at all. sheer admiration.

Journal Entry 5 by nrrdgrrl from Tunbridge Wells, Kent United Kingdom on Saturday, June 28, 2003
this book is like a box of chocolates. not at all in the forrest gump way though. but i'm reading it as if every bite is to be savoured carefully. to be honest, too little time to read is also a reason.
despite that, i'm finally nearing the end of it. a pity!
pm'd shellyann for her address. i hope to be able to send it off at the end of the coming week.

Journal Entry 6 by nrrdgrrl from Tunbridge Wells, Kent United Kingdom on Sunday, June 29, 2003
suddenly i had the urge to finish this book right away. so i read on till 4 a.m., with just the end left, and finished this morning.

my guess is that where i first enjoyed the careful painting of the situation, i later got annoyed with this never-shock-the-audience tale. the developments are very carefully layed out. what bothered me most was that at the end of the day only one character development has taken place, and all other things that seemed promising just straightened out smoothly.

i'm aware that this is much in line with the setup. still i would have enjoyed a bit more action. it's just that in the later part of the book, i was bored with new developments because it had become predictable that nothing would really change.

maybe the slow reading also has something to do with it - i might have been less bothered by it if i'd been able to read the book faster. dunno.


still, tyler's technical skill is something any wannabe writer should study carefully. i for one am in absolute awe for what she can do with very small means. hence, all in all, 8 stars.

Released on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 at controlled release in hilversum, noord-holland Netherlands.

to the next one on the ring list: shellyann. enjoy!

Journal Entry 8 by shellyann from Rifle, Colorado USA on Saturday, July 12, 2003
received yesterday-looking forward to reading

Journal Entry 9 by sweetsangria from Estacada, Oregon USA on Saturday, August 30, 2003
I got this in the mail today from shellyann. I will start reading it during this labor day weekend.

Journal Entry 10 by sweetsangria from Estacada, Oregon USA on Tuesday, September 16, 2003
I didn't love or hate this book. It was moderate. I did not grow attached to any of the characters, in fact..I found them all a bit annoying or boring. "It occurred to her that she led an absolutely motionless existence. There was nothing to look forward to in it. Nothing whatsoever."
This was the first Anne Tyler book I've read, so I think I'll give another one a try in the future.....I guess this is on it's way back home to kbgoffe.

Journal Entry 11 by sweetsangria at on Thursday, October 9, 2003
Release planned for Friday, October 10, 2003 at to fellow bookcrosser in postal release, postal release USA.

back home to kbgoffe...

Journal Entry 12 by kbgoffe from Beaverton, Oregon USA on Tuesday, October 14, 2003
This book just arrived home to me. Thanks to all for participating in this bookring. I am looking forward to having the chance to read this book too. Anne Tyler's writing always amazes me.

Thank you nrrdgrrl for the bookmark! I love collecting bookmarks.

Journal Entry 13 by kbgoffe from Beaverton, Oregon USA on Tuesday, January 20, 2004
Since this poor book is still just sitting on my large TBR pile I thought I would give it the chance to do some more travelling.

This book is going to be offered up on Casualreader's Bookrelay Site. This site is just as addicting as anything else with BC attached to it.

This book has been accepted by bookmaniac70

Journal Entry 14 by kbgoffe from Beaverton, Oregon USA on Tuesday, February 10, 2004
Since my TBR pile is too large it is time to send this book out to be read by bookmaniac70. Once you are done reading it you can send it on back to me. Enjoy!

Journal Entry 15 by bookmaniac70 from София / Sofia, Sofiya Bulgaria on Friday, April 9, 2004
Received today.Shall try to read it ASAP!Thank you for sending me your return address!

Journal Entry 16 by bookmaniac70 from София / Sofia, Sofiya Bulgaria on Monday, April 19, 2004
I`m reading it these days.So far I cannot say that it gets me very interested.I usually love Tyler`s novels,and even in the most unpretentious stories still there was a charm hiding.Usually her characters are very symphatic.On the contrary,I cannot relate to any of the characters in the present book.So far I cannot grasp what is this transformation in Rebecca that is going to take place...but maybe I`m still at the beginning and I should read more. I shall give it a try for some more pages and if nothing changes,shall return it to kbgoffe.

For those who have not read anything else by Tyler,I feel obliged to say that obviously this is not one of her best novels.I would suggest "The Accidental Tourist","Dinner at the homesick restaurant","Morgan`s passing","Breathing lessons".

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