I nearly didn't pick this up in the shop, the cover is that garish shade of pink that screams 'chick-lit' to me, but what a shame that would have been. I loved this book! In fact I read it twice on consecutive nights and I'm sure it would be on my 'read-again' list if I hadn't promised it to someone.

The idea of the stories of several characters revolving around a central theme is very common but I've never read any other book that does it so well. Sometimes the connections between the characters are very strong, at other times tenuous but they are still there, lurking in the background like the spirits that Smith insists populate our world. The description of the hotel which acts as the the monolith is acutely observed and makes me wonder if Smith is speaking from experience of working in the trade or simply, like me, a regular user of these huge impersonal buildings.

Each of the five principal characters, all women, have a distinct voice but it is that of Clare that really affected me. Written without punctuation in a style simlar to that of Saramago in 'Blindness' I could *hear* her speaking.

I'm not a good reviewer I'm afraid. If you want plot details go to Amazon, and while you're there add this one to your shopping basket. It's witty and thoughtful; funny and tear-jerking, but above all it's a damn good read.

This book is off on a little jaunt to the two acknowledged centres of learning in England. First to Cambridge and then to Oxford. It's on an open-ended ray so shout up if you'd like to be added, you don't have to be from a university city ;o)

Running order

LindyB28 (sent 5/02/06)
Molyneux
Blaisezabini12

Thanks Netstation! This arrived yesterday and will be read in the not to distant future (hopefully before March 2nd when I might see the author!).

I finished this beautiful, inspiring book yesterday. Ali Smith creates 5 coherent voices whose stories are linked by a single event; yet she shows their lives to be much more than that single event. Her command of prose is Joycean in its creative disregard of convention.

Thanks to Netstation for sharing the book. I'll find out who's next in line and send it on.

Arrived in Oxford safely yesterday - thank you LindaB28!....and to Netstation for starting this ray -I've heard a lot about this book, so looking forward to reading it a great deal.

I've just finished reading it....and can understand why Netstation read it twice so quickly!

Each of the main characters speak to the reader in a distinctive style - the voice of the teenager Clare comes across particularly well. There are so many threads linking the dead girl to so many people - I love the way the book was brought to a close and because - I think - of the way in which this was done, made me want to go back to the beginning and read it all over again!

I won't though and will now PM the next person for their address!

I picked this up off Lynne today but I think it actually needs to travel to someone else... I should probably PM Blaisezabini12 for his/her address.

ooops.....;)

Ooooh, I've just been reading the comments other readers have made about this book (which I actually read a couple of years ago and then gave away to a friend when I moved house); and I will be reading it again very soon. I am a huge Ali Smith fan - in fact I'm reading and enjoying The Accidental right now (thanks to Flanners for starting that ring) so thanks to LizzyBee for including it in my NSSFC parcel which I have been looking forward to opening for weeks now! I love Bookcrossing!!

Released in Morecambe at my knitting group.

caught as knitting group meeting in local chuch hall