received via paperbackswap.com from Rhonda Schuldt, Rochester, MN

from first page:

May in Ayemenem is a hot, brooding month. The days are long and humid. The river shrinks and black crows gorge on bright mandgoes in still, dustgreen trees. Red bananas ripen. Jackfruits burst. Dissolute bluebottles hum vacuously in the fruity air. Then they sun themselves against clear windowpanes and die, fatly baffled in the sun.

The nights are clear, but suffused with sloth and sullen expectation.

But by early June the southwest monsoon breaks and there are three months of wind and water with short spells of sharp, glittering sunshine that thrilled children snatch to play with. The countryside turns an immodest green. Boundaries blue as tapioca fences take root and bloom. Brick walls turn mossgreen. Pepper vines snake up electric poles. Wild creepers burst through laterite banks and spill across the flooded roads. Boats ply in the bazaars. And small fish appear in the puddles that fill the PWD potholes on the highways.

copyright 1997 (p1998), 321 pages, trade paperback

Since I'm moving in June and won't get to this before then or any time soon after, it's going out on a ring...

Shipping order (subject to change):
oneirus (Seattle, WA, USA - int'l)
bestfriends (Ruisseauville, France - Eur. only)
cwoods (Runcorn, Cheshire, England - int'l)
Ilios (Tampa, FL, USA - US pref., Can. OK) <--------here
MyaStone (New York, NY, USA - US pref.)
rebeccaljames (Cincinnati, OH, USA - US only)
-Psyche- (Red Wing, MN, USA - US/Can. pref., int'l OK)
home to dospescados in Bloomington, IN, USA

"stand-by" (waiting for others to sign up):
Teacher-Trudy (Rockhampton, QLD, Australia - Aus. only)

I have no set time period that I ask you to read this in -- I understand there is life beyond Bookcrossing! -- but just be considerate to your fellow ringmates waiting ever so patiently for their turn and keep it moving in a timely fashion. Media/surface mail is fine. Don't hesitate to let me know if you need to be moved farther down the list or removed altogether.

I received this a couple of weeks ago and I'm about halfway done. The writing is beautiful and more personal than I was expecting. I'll message the next person in line when I'm almost done.

On its way to bestfriends.

Recieved today. Thanks oneirus for sending it.

Got a copy of this book in the surprise package I won in Tracy Shannons contest a couple of weeks ago, in spite of the fact that it said "pending ring" on my wishlist. This one was already in the mail, so it was useless to ask to be skipped. I already have cwoods' address, so I will send it on to her asap.

on it's way to cwoods (surface mail)

Arrived in the mail this morning, will get to it soon. Thanks so much for sharing!

I started off liking this but the author's style slowly but steadily got on my nerves and hampered my enjoyment of the plot to such an extent that I gave up two-thirds of the way through.
Having said that, thank you for sharing and at least giving me the opportunity to not like it! :o)
Have pm'ed ilios for their address and then it will be on it's way.

RELEASE NOTES:

Posted today. Sorry for the delay in posting - I thought I had already done so and was rather suprised to find it still under my stairs! Whoops! :)

Just received this book. I can't wait to read it because I heard so much about it and because it will help me with the reading challenges I set up for myself this year. Thanks for sharing!

I finished this book a few nights ago and was overwhelmed with the story of the twins and their Ammu. It took me a while to get into the book, but once I got there, I couldn't stop reading, because there is a Greek tragedy component to this book, with inevitable events slowly unfolding before our eyes and each character being powerless to change the course of destiny.

I have read different Indian writers in the past few years and I am always amazed with the different stories they bring, each showing us a little bit of the fabric that composes the culture and history of their complex and fascinating country. I will definitely look for other books from this author in the future.

Thank you again for sharing this and I hope all have a wonderful holiday season. I am contacting MyaStone today and will be sending the book to NY as soon as I get an address.

Update 11/28/06
MyaStone asked to be skipped because she got this book from another source. I will be contacting the next BXer in line to get an address.

RELEASE NOTES:

mailed to next BXer a few days ago.

I just received this book today. I have a couple of books before this. I hope to get to it in a couple of weeks.

I mailed this back home to dospescados this afternoon.