Star Gazing
12 journalers for this copy...
Star Gazing was this week
shortlisted for the inaugural
Robin Jenkins Literary Award for new writing about the Scottish environment. (Thanks LyzzyBee for the heads-up.)
I bought this copy at the BCUK Unconvention 2009 in Edinburgh, where author Linda Gillard gave a workshop. I told Linda I'd be sharing it via BookCrossing, so she inscribed it "For my BookCrossing friends". I'm going to send it out on a bookray. PM at any time, with your shipping preferences, to join. The book is a small (261pp) paperback, it weighs about 200g (7 oz) and is about 18mm thick.
Bookray Nell-Lu, UK (Int)
Famulus, UK (Int)
mrbaggins1, South Africa (Int)
Tori58, USA (Int)
KiwiinEngland, Dublin (anywhere except USA)
ETMadrid, UK (Int)
lauraloo29, Canada (Int)
Rrrcaron, US (US)
tostle, US (US)
Bookray complete!
Star Gazing ends like something by Beethoven.
Ta dum! - and you think it's ended.
Ta da dum! - is that the end?
Ta da dum da dum - finally, it's over.
The first ending was, I thought, incredibly brave. It was cruel to both reader and characters, but felt like a strong authorial decision.
The second ending was weaker. After the partial collapse, it was inevitable that more would follow.
The final ending? Well, it was kind.
I enjoyed Star Gazing. It is well characterised, strongly plotted and engaging. The different narrative voices (Marianne, her sister Louisa and an omniscient third person) are well distinguished - although, the typography is horrible (three different fonts, the one for Louisa in italics) and Louisa perhaps a little self-indulgent (a middle aged author courted by Hollywood and with the perfect toy boy).
Whatever: the central relationship is glorious. Marianne, blind from birth, experiences the world and other people differently - but, more to the point, she's still scarred by the loss of her husband. Her new attachment to Keir, who turns out to be neither imaginary nor a six foot rabbit, is a delicate thing; a tiny hopeful melody, carefully constructed and occasionally soaring.
Journal Entry
3 by
Nell-Lu at
Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (8/19/2009 UTC) at Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
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Travelling to Famulus - happy reading!
Received this morning on my return to work from a brief holiday - it's now top of my Mt 2B, as I've been looking forward to this one.
Another enjoyable read from this author. I don't always care for romantic fiction, but I do like her exploration of disability and 'different-ness' in the romantic context. I particularly enjoy her portrayal of different world views, and how difficult it is for any of us to relate to those who don't share our own. This came over especially well in the characterisation of Marianne, and how the other three characters relate to her. Kier's ability to 'translate' the visual into things that Marianne could understand was fascinating. (Curiously, this also resonated well with my recent studies of perception, in a course I'm doing - pity I didn't read this last term!)
I can see what Nell-Lu means about the ending(s), though that didn't bother me so much. Overall, the plot was OK, but 'suspension of disbelief' was much in evidence - I felt the characterisation was much stronger,and more important. I was comfortable with the three voices (indeed, it might have been interesting to hear Garth's voice once in a while - maybe in gothic typeface?? ;-p )
Have pm'd mrbaggins1 and will send it on to him when I get his reply.
Journal Entry
6 by
Famulus at
By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (9/1/2009 UTC) at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
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Sent to mrbaggins1 this morning - enjoy
Arrived today through the post together with two other books. I'm in real trouble with my reading! ZA had a postal strike which resulted in no books arriving for close on a month and now I'm inundated! Thanks for sharing. I'll get around to it ASAP
Romantic fiction is not really my scene but I loved this book mainly for the fact that Gillard really succeeded in describing the world of a blind-since-birth person in a way that I never even thought of. Strong and believable characters but, oh the ending, a little bit hard to believe that all the puzzle pieces fitted so nicely together for a live happily ever after conclusion.
Still a great read though
Thanks for sharing and I've contacted the next on the list to move it forward
Journal Entry
9 by
mrbaggins1 at
Johannesburg, Gauteng South Africa on Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (10/13/2009 UTC) at Johannesburg, Gauteng South Africa
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Posted today by surface mail to Tori58 in the US. I enclosed a little surprise in remembrance of Breast Cancer Awareness month.
Thanks for sharing. This is well worth reading
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10 by
Tori58 on Monday, March 22, 2010
Wow, I had given up on this one! Evidently it was incorrectly delivered to one of my "snowbird" neighbors. I'll read it and get it on its way as soon as possible.
Journal Entry
11 by
Tori58 at
By mail / post / courier, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Released 14 yrs ago (3/30/2010 UTC) at By mail / post / courier, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases
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Mailed today to the next reader.
I enjoyed this book tremendously - always a pleasure to read Linda Gillard
Safely arrived in a neat bookcrossing envelope. I saw Linda Gillard at the Edinburgh UnCon in 2009, so am looking forward to reading this book. Thanks to all for keeping the ray moving so I managed to receive it.
Lovely story. The use of language to describe people and landscape was fabulous. I loved the use of music by Keir when describing the vastness of landscapes to Marianne.
I can see how the author was nominated for the Robin Jenkins Literary Award for this book, as the description of the Scottish environment really brings it to life.
While the ending was twee, the part of the book I really found unbelievable was how Marianne found the treehouse on her own. Actually, looking back on the characters and plot a lot of it should have been unbelievable (hollywood money, second sight, explosions, pirates, ginger goths). But it did hold together as a story, and one I greatly enjoyed :)
Thanks TheLostBook for starting this ray.
Journal Entry
14 by
kiwiinengland at
Manchester, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Thursday, April 22, 2010
Released 13 yrs ago (4/23/2010 UTC) at Manchester, Greater Manchester United Kingdom
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Posted via Royal Mail (large letter rate).
Thank you very much for sending it - it's now safely with me and will be read soon.
This was much lighter reading than my usual. As it arrived in time for me to take it on holiday, it was perfect to read whilst relaxing and I really enjoyed it. I liked the way the author writes. I agree with Nell-Lu in that I didn't go a bundle on the different fonts and could almost have done without Louisa's take on what happens altogether.
Journal Entry
17 by
ETMadrid at
Southwark, Greater London United Kingdom on Thursday, May 13, 2010
Released 13 yrs ago (5/13/2010 UTC) at Southwark, Greater London United Kingdom
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I posted this off today.
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18 by
lauraloo29 at
Edmonton, Alberta Canada on Monday, June 21, 2010
Arrived safe and sound today. I have a couple of other rings before it. But I will keep it moving. Love the pretty postcard!
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19 by
lauraloo29 at
Edmonton, Alberta Canada on Friday, July 16, 2010
I cannot get into this book. So much so that I have sat on the bus - not reading - this week. Hate that! I'm going to let it continue on its journey. I already have the next person's address.
Thank you for sharing!
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20 by
Rrrcaron at
Lancaster, New Hampshire USA on Monday, July 26, 2010
Received this book in the mail today. I have two to read beforehand, but it won't take long!
Ruth
Journal Entry
21 by
Rrrcaron at
Lancaster, New Hampshire USA on Thursday, August 12, 2010
This was a wonderful story from start to finish. The way Keir would describe things for Marianne was truly "touching", in every sense of the word. I'm glad I had the chance to experience this book. Sending on to next reader....
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22 by
tostle at
Salt Lake City, Utah USA on Monday, September 6, 2010
I just received this book! Thanks for sharing. I will read it and get it moving again!
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23 by
tostle at
Salt Lake City, Utah USA on Saturday, March 30, 2013
Released 11 yrs ago (3/30/2013 UTC) at Salt Lake City, Utah USA
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off to Erishkigal...happy travels, book!
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24 by
tostle at
ABC Bookbox (Already Book Crossed) in -- Bookbox, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA on Sunday, May 26, 2013
Released 10 yrs ago (5/26/2013 UTC) at ABC Bookbox (Already Book Crossed) in -- Bookbox, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
This book is going into the ABC Bookbox. Happy Travels!
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25 by
BooksandMusic at
Seattle, Washington USA on Monday, July 22, 2013
I am taking this out of the ABC book box.
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26 by
BooksandMusic at
Seattle, Washington USA on Thursday, December 11, 2014
I liked the story, well really I liked the love, but I had trouble with Marianne. Her decisions and thought processes in regards to her relationship with Keir (I love that name) and James made me angry and dislike Marianne. OK, I know she is blind and that her past experience with love has made her fearful. I get it, but I don't feel any empathy with it. Each time she acted cold and hateful, that is what I felt, very cold and hateful toward her. So I spent a lot of the book angry with Marianne. Every other character was like magic, so wonderful, especially Keir. He was a character to fall in love with, and as a reader I did. I also was amazed by Louisa's patience, Garth was a total sweetie. When Marianne let herself love she was, herself is what I guess I want to say. When she let herself love. But you will see how cold-heartedly logical she tries to be. That was when I hated her, she had no heart then, well she did but she was hiding it, making it shut up because she thought if she loved she would lose, again.
Written in a less than realistic fashion, more magical, but that suited me very well. I wanted the magic, I wanted the love. It is a bit of a manipulative book, written to tweak emotions; I knew it and accepted that, I was willing to be emotionally tweaked, although I didn't enjoy disliking the main character so much. Did she really have to be such a "crabbit"? Hopefully Keir will give her so much love that she will blossom into someone capable of loving without constant fear. Haha, I am giving these characters a future!
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27 by
BooksandMusic at
Seattle, Washington USA on Monday, January 19, 2015
This book was selected in the 1st sentence VBB!
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28 by
BooksandMusic at
Seattle, Washington USA on Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Released 9 yrs ago (1/20/2015 UTC) at Seattle, Washington USA
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Requested in the First Sentence VBB and released. On its way to the Netherlands.
Journal Entry
29 by
Tsjara at
Assendelft, Noord-Holland Netherlands on Monday, February 2, 2015
What a lovely surprise! Wasn't sure what to expect from the first sentence, but this sounds like something I will enjoy. Thanks so much for sending BooksandMusic! Love that the book has been signed by the author and has travelled so far already :)