*ring* Everything Is Illuminated

by Jonathan Safran Foer | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 0141025271 Global Overview for this book
Registered by Laui of Utrecht, Utrecht Netherlands on 10/14/2006
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10 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by Laui from Utrecht, Utrecht Netherlands on Saturday, October 14, 2006
"A young man arrives in the Ukraine, clutching in his hand a tattered photograph. He is searching for the woman who fifty years ago saved his grandfather from the Nazis. Unfortunately, however, he is aided in his quest by Alex, a translator with an uncanny ability to mangle English into bizarre forms; a 'blind' old man, haunted by memories of the war; and an undersexed guide dog named Sammy Davis Jr, Jr. What they are looking for seems elusive - a truth hidden behind veils of time, language and the horrors of war.
What they find turns all their worlds upside down..."

A nice book full of mysteries. I enjoyed reading it, though I must admit that I wasn't entirely satisfied at the end.

Journal Entry 2 by Laui from Utrecht, Utrecht Netherlands on Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Offering as international ring:

Madnad (ES, EU shipping)
gunvor (DK, EU shipping)
LaPitchoune (FI, EU shipping)
UlrikeW (UK/DE, int'l shipping)
faerie-glen (DE, int'l shipping)
FreePages (AU, AU shipping)
davemurray101 (AU, int'l shipping)
allthesepieces (US, int'l shipping*)
bindibooks (US, int'l shipping*)
jsara (US, int'l shipping?) <-- now here!
Back to me!

Some rules:
1. When you receive the book please ensure that you journal it.
2. Read it as soon as you can, if you take longer than 1 month, please keep us all informed by posting a new entry or sending me a PM to inform me (either way I get an e-mail and I know what's up with the book).
3. When you've finished reading it, make a journal entry and contact the next person on the list.
4. If no response is received after two attempts, contact me and then the next person on the list.
5. When you send the book on please make a journal entry or release note.

*as discussed, march '09.

Journal Entry 3 by Laui at a RABCK, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases on Friday, February 27, 2009

Released 15 yrs ago (2/27/2009 UTC) at a RABCK, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases

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Mailed out to madnad today!

Journal Entry 4 by madnad from Tenerife - Adeje, Santa Cruz de Tenerife Spain on Wednesday, March 4, 2009
This arrived in yesterday's post - thank you, Laui! I'll start this as soon as I've finished my current book:)

Journal Entry 5 by madnad from Tenerife - Adeje, Santa Cruz de Tenerife Spain on Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Having read and adored Safran Foer's "Extremely loud & incredibly close", I couldn't wait to put my hands on this book. Several people I know who enjoyed the other novel weren't keen on this one at all, so I didn't have too high expectations - needlessly, though! I really, really enjoyed this novel and was reminded of his other book many times in its style, the play with language, the weirdness of the characters etc. I laughed a lot but also admit that at times the story line was confusing (who is the narrator? Is this important to the actual story line?) and towards the end I looked forward to finishing the book, too, as I felt it was getting a bit long (even if with less than 300 pages, it wasn't). I hope we'll get more books by this wonderful writer!
Thanks so much, Laui, for sharing this!

The book will be released in 3 hours and on its way to gunvor;o)

Journal Entry 6 by gunvor from Herlev, København Amt Denmark on Sunday, March 15, 2009
When I got home last night, the book had arrived! I hurried in and put my son to bed, brewed a nice cup of tea (thanks madnad!) and started reading. I read a couple of chapters, its one of those books were you have to concentrate a lot when you read, as least for me. This book struck me to be one of those books that is half fiction half truth, I'm eager to know more of the story and find out more about the author.

Journal Entry 7 by gunvor from Herlev, København Amt Denmark on Wednesday, March 25, 2009
I've now finished the book and I am ambiguous about it. I really love the changes of narrator, the different styles and fonts and the fact that the author places things that did not exist at the present time (or at least I don't think they existed). All this might seem unprofessional but its really very clever and challenges the reader all the time. On the other hand it took me a while to get hooked by the story, which is a bit far fetched at times and I got a little annoyed with some of the characters. But all the positive things about the book landed on a good rating of the book. I look forward to reading his next book since there seems to be no limits for this author.

I never found out how much truth there is in the book, if some of it is the author's history or not. Maybe someone else knows?

I'll ship the book this weekend to LaPitchoune.

Journal Entry 8 by gunvor at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Monday, March 30, 2009

Released 15 yrs ago (3/28/2009 UTC) at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada

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The bookring continues.

Journal Entry 9 by LaPitchoune from Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Monday, April 6, 2009
The book is with me. Thanks for the surprise tea!

Journal Entry 10 by LaPitchoune from Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Tuesday, July 28, 2009
The book is n its way to UlrikeW (Leipzig, Germany). I couldn't find any air mail stickers, so it may take a while. Thanks for the ring and sorry about the delay! I really tried to understand this book but it was just too weird for my taste.

Journal Entry 11 by AdoraBelle86 from Leipzig, Sachsen Germany on Thursday, July 30, 2009
The book has arrived and I'll get to it as soon as I've finished another ring I'm reading at the moment.

10.09
I started to read several times and loved the translator's strange English, but I kept putting the book away and off and couldn't really get into it.

Now I've sent it on to faerie-glen yesterday.

Journal Entry 12 by faerie-glen from Ulm, Baden-Württemberg Germany on Sunday, September 13, 2009
Arrived, thanks!

[Edit]
This book needs two separate reviews: For the present-day narrative, told by translator Alex in his wonderfully bad English, I give 9 to 10 stars. This part was challenging, but a great read.
The past narrative, however, is mostly plain bad. Maybe this weird writing style is supposed to be poetic or something, but to me it was just pretentious rambling nonsense that completely failed to draw me in.

Journal Entry 13 by faerie-glen at Ulm, Baden-Württemberg Germany on Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Released 14 yrs ago (9/22/2009 UTC) at Ulm, Baden-Württemberg Germany

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Sent to FreePages in Australia - shipping might take a while!

Journal Entry 14 by FreePages from Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Sunday, December 6, 2009
Received "Everything is Illuminated" in the mail yesterday. THanks for sending it along faerie-glen and everyone else before them.

As we are full swing in the festive season my reading time seems to have become a bit limited, but between Christmas and New Year I should have more time to read.
I have one other on Mount Toobie to send to DaveMurray101, so I'll probably try to read both and send them together.

Thanks again and Merry Christmas to one and all.
Cheers :-)

Journal Entry 15 by FreePages at Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Monday, January 11, 2010

Released 14 yrs ago (1/12/2010 UTC) at Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia

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Still gathering my thoughts on this one, but I want to get it in the mail to DaveMurray101 tomorrow, so I'll expand on this JE soon.
Quite an unusual book. Thanks for the opportunity to read it, Laui!



Journal Entry 16 by davemurray101 from Christiansted, US Virgin Islands US Virgin Islands on Friday, January 15, 2010
Recieved this one in the mail today. Thanks to freepages and Laui.

Journal Entry 17 by davemurray101 from Christiansted, US Virgin Islands US Virgin Islands on Saturday, January 16, 2010
Finished this one in super quick time. A very Hollywood novel, somewhat reminiscent of Coen Brothers work. Also a nice mixture of literary styles that helped to blur the line between reality and fantasy. PMing allthesepieces to send this one on.

Released 14 yrs ago (1/25/2010 UTC) at Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases

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On its way to allthesepieces of pensylvania

Journal Entry 19 by snarkhunting from Quincy, Massachusetts USA on Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Yay! Look what just came in!

I do have a few books to finish before starting this one, but I hope to get to it soon. Thanks for sending it to me!

Journal Entry 20 by snarkhunting from Quincy, Massachusetts USA on Monday, March 1, 2010
Just a quick update, because I'm sure I won't have this in the mail by tomorrow. I'm falling a little behind with my rings and rays, what with school driving me insane. I'm hoping nobody minds if I take a few extra days to finish up with this one. (If so, just send a PM and I'll have the book moving again ASAP.) I've sent a PM to the next participant for shipping information, and I should have a good portion of the day to myself to read tomorrow. I'll try to be quick, but thanks for understanding. Be back soon!

Journal Entry 21 by snarkhunting from Quincy, Massachusetts USA on Thursday, March 11, 2010
Still no word from bindibooks. I hope everything's OK. I've sent a PM to jsara.

Journal Entry 22 by snarkhunting at bookcrosser, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Monday, March 15, 2010

Released 14 yrs ago (3/15/2010 UTC) at bookcrosser, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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Well, finished or not, I will have this in the mail by the time the post office closes this afternoon. Thank you for the chance to read it and Happy Bookcrossing!

Journal Entry 23 by jsara from Stratham, New Hampshire USA on Thursday, March 25, 2010
arrived safely! thank you! moved to the top of the TBR pile

Journal Entry 24 by jsara from Stratham, New Hampshire USA on Thursday, April 29, 2010
I had a tough time getting into this one. With so much on my TBR pile, I decided to keep this book moving.
the book is on it's way back to the Netherlands.

thanks!
jsara

Journal Entry 25 by Laui from Utrecht, Utrecht Netherlands on Tuesday, May 4, 2010
This book arrived home safely. Thanks everyone for taking such good care of it! Thanks Jsara (at least I think you put it in ;-) ) for the lovely bookmark, it's beautiful!

A few months ago I watched the movie of Everything is Illuminated and I must recommend it to you all. It's a bit weird at times, but it's not as tough to get through as (parts of) the book. I'm not sure if I misunderstood the book, but I thought the movie had a different ending/conclusion. Either way, it's quite lovely.

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