This is by the author of "Fall on Your Knees". It depicts a military family in Canada set in the 1960's. There is a bit of everything in this book. I think the author does a nice job giving a real feel for time and place. A twisty plot involves a group of girls and the secrets they keep regarding abuse by an elder.This interconnects with some other plots as well. Pieces of this were very moving and other portions left me screaming angry. It is a "big" book. Softcover trade 820 pages. I think I will offer this as a ring.

I've started a bookring.

Participants and mailing list are as follows:

bookmaniac70- Bulgaria
boomda181-Canada
doveilibri-Canada
indygo88-US

Please journal and let us know what you think!

I'll be sending this off to Bulgaria in the near future.

Received today. I`m finishing a book from bookray and will start with this one. Obviously,it will take me some time to read it because the book is heavy but I shall try to keep it within a reasonable reading time.
Thanks for starting the ring and sending it to Bulgaria.

Started reading.

This book impressed me very much. A complicated,multilayer story about moral dilemmas,loyalty,child abuse and a difficult adolescence. A very good quality of the novel was building up of remarkable characters,each one with a strong personality. One of the best things was that the story was seen through the eyes of a child,Madeleine. I enjoyed how psychologically true were described her emotions and her inner life. Sometimes it is difficult to have perfect parents because then you have to raise up to their high standards. That`s the reason why Madeleine cannot even consider telling her parents about Mr. March.She feels that somehow they will be the ones who are being violated.
I liked very much her father,Jack McCarthy. A strong and reliable man,he is trapped in the net of his own loyalty. His case is a very interesting example how a truthful and decent person can be placed in a difficult moral situation and forced to make a compromise.
The most part of the book is about the events in Centralia. Then the story abruptly moves ahead in the future years. In the next few chapters I had the feeling that the level of the book is falling down.The chapters were fragmented and to some extent loosely connected with the main story. But all those shortcomings paid off for me when the big surprise came in the outcome. Well,at least for me it was a surprise. It gave a logical ending and summarized the whole plot.

I would place this novel among the best I`ve read this year because of the moral issues and the multiple plots which kept my attention unwavering.
Thank you very much for the opportunity to read it!

RELEASE NOTES:

Sent to boomda181.

Arrived and up next to be read. I am looking forward to this book, I have heard lots about it.

WOW! At first I was overwhelmed by the size of the novel, but it did not take long to drag me right into the midst of the story. The young narrator, Madeleine, grew throughout the novel from an innocent child moving from one military base to another, to a complex adult who has tried to live with her secrets and hidden fears trying to make sense of her childhood. I enjoyed every moment of reading this multi-layered book.

Sending to next bookcrosser!

Received this book in the mail today! Wow, it's a B*I*G book! I'm in the middle of another book ring right now ("Small Island" by Andrea Levy.) As soon as I'm done with that, I will start this book. I'll add a journal entry when I'm done and when I'm ready to send it out!!!!

Thank you for sending it along!!!

Feb. 2, 2006: Now that I'm done with Small Island, which was kind of big itself, I've started this book. I'll update again as I get near the end and contact the next book crosser for their address!

Such a sad, sad book. It's almost like "The Lovely Bones" with a Cold War sub-theme. I found it so disturbing on so many different levels, but thoroughly enjoyed the writing!

Fellow Book Crosser "Indygo88" has sent her mailing address, and will mail this book out to her on Friday, February 17, 2006.

Happy traveling, little book! Happy reading, Indygo88!

Received today. What creative packaging, DoveiLibri! I hate to say it, but this is going to have to be on the backburner for a little while. I got bombarded with bookring books this week, so it's being added to the queue. Sorry. :-( I feel a little better knowing I'm last in line before it returns home, but still no excuse. I promise to get to it as soon as I can, and will try to update as needed.

3/25/06 -- Bumping this down my list a little, after talking w/ vivdripper, in hopes of catching up on the other rings. Never fear, it will get read, though! Thanks, vivdripper!

5/13/06 -- Finally starting this tonight!

I really, really enjoyed this book. I liked it better than "Fall on Your Knees", which I read a few months ago. I am not generally one to analyze an author's writing style, but I have to say that Ann-Marie MacDonald writes beautifully in this book. I don't even know how to put this into words, but just reading about Madeleine's childhood (not the obvious bad parts, but the rest)...something made me feel so warm & comfortable. All of the details about growing up and all the family traditions, etc. I grew up in the 70's as opposed to the early 60's as Madeleine did, but I still felt like I could relate with many of the details and in many respects it made me yearn to want to go back to those carefree, childhood days. I have to say, though, I didn't really care for part 4 of the book (where Madeleine is suddenly an adult & has experienced a rather sudden change in lifestyle). It just didn't seem to "fit" with her previous character, but I understand how it came about. Fortunately, the last part (part 5) came a bit more full circle and I think I was satisfied with the ending. Such a good book, with a good mix of everything. I felt happy when I read a lot of it, yet I often felt sad too, for obvious reasons if you've already read it.

Thank you, vivdripper, for offering the ring and also for allowing me to hold onto this for an extra bit of time. I just recently found a hardcover copy on clearance at B&N, and I think I may have to keep it for my Permanent Collection. This book really moved me. As soon as I get your address, I'll be mailing this one back to you!

6/9/06 -- After a little mix-up, I've finally got an address & will be shipping this back home today!

This book has made it home! Yippee. Thanks to all who participated in this ring. And another thanks to the supplier of the book string- it is lovely!

RELEASE NOTES:

In health and beauty aisle on center display. Enjoy!