A Lifetime Burning
13 journalers for this copy...
‘The Dunbars are a good-looking family – even the old ones – and massed in black, as we are now, impressive. We’re a clannish lot, loyal to a fault - even when we hate each other. And I should know - flighty Flo, wicked Aunt Flora, poor Rev. Wentworth’s mad wife who, for everyone’s sake, really should have been kept in the attic….’the bluestalking reader
Synopsis
'Greedy for experience but determined to be good, Flora Dunbar spends a lifetime seeking love, trying to build a future out of the wreckage of her past - an eccentric childhood spent in the shadow of her musical twin, Rory; early marriage to Hugh, a clergyman twice her age; motherhood, which brings her Theo, the son she cannot love; middle-age, when she finds brief happiness in a scandalous affair with her nephew, Colin.'
Paperback.
407 pages
Weight 304 gms
Please Journal the book when you receive it.
Ask the next participant for their mailing details.
Journal again when finished, please keep no longer than one month.
If you have a problem with this contact Cassiopaeia.
Send on to the next on the list.
If you are last on the list and no other names have been added, please try to pass to another Bookcrosser if possible.
veganknitter, Bolton, Gt. Manchester, Uk
darkhorse4460, Banbury, Oxford, UK
Cassiopaeia mailing to US
classicfox, Arkon, Ohio, US
Rrrcaron, Lancaster, New Hampshire, US
Bibliocrates, Alabama, US
NMReader, Albuqueque, New Mexico, US
oldreader,Citrus Heights , California, US
msjoanna, New York, New York, US
aine-eireann, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
This bookray was split, you will find the second copy by clicking on the link below.
Second Copy ~ A Lifetime Burning
This book is now ready to start it's travels. I hope it travels far and safely and many people get to read it. It was sent in the Royal Mail today to veganknitter.
Journal Entry 3 by veganknitter from Bolton, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Got this a few days ago and have been gadding about so only just journalling it now.
Thank you! Will read as soon as possible and pass on.
Thank you! Will read as soon as possible and pass on.
Journal Entry 4 by veganknitter from Bolton, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Monday, June 25, 2007
What a responsibility writing one of the first journal entries!
I can't say too much for fear of giving away the plot but I found this book unusual, gripping and sexy. It deals with a difficult and controversial subject wonderfully well and with great humanity.
I found myself re-reading sections again and again (and not just the rude bits) and I loved the central character, Flora. I thought she was a real victim of her monstrously selfish brother and also the history of peculiar relationships between previous and current members of her family (not made clear whether she knew about some of these).
Don't just take my word for it - here are some 5 star reviews from Amazon.co.uk (some of the reviewers' names are familiar to me, hmmmmm)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lifetime-Burning-Linda-Gillard/dp/1905175256/ref=sr_1_1/026-5827366-4764465?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1182771091&sr=1-1
I think this would make a wonderful TV series, like the other family saga I love, The Crow Road.
I know that you are not supposed to judge a book by it's cover but I don't think the cover image does this book justice at all - it looks like a cyber / science fiction novel to me and I would not have read it if I didn't know about the usual excellence of Transita books.
Off to darkhorse4460 next.
I can't say too much for fear of giving away the plot but I found this book unusual, gripping and sexy. It deals with a difficult and controversial subject wonderfully well and with great humanity.
I found myself re-reading sections again and again (and not just the rude bits) and I loved the central character, Flora. I thought she was a real victim of her monstrously selfish brother and also the history of peculiar relationships between previous and current members of her family (not made clear whether she knew about some of these).
Don't just take my word for it - here are some 5 star reviews from Amazon.co.uk (some of the reviewers' names are familiar to me, hmmmmm)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lifetime-Burning-Linda-Gillard/dp/1905175256/ref=sr_1_1/026-5827366-4764465?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1182771091&sr=1-1
I think this would make a wonderful TV series, like the other family saga I love, The Crow Road.
I know that you are not supposed to judge a book by it's cover but I don't think the cover image does this book justice at all - it looks like a cyber / science fiction novel to me and I would not have read it if I didn't know about the usual excellence of Transita books.
Off to darkhorse4460 next.
Journal Entry 5 by veganknitter at Controlled Release in -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Thursday, June 28, 2007
Released 16 yrs ago (6/28/2007 UTC) at Controlled Release in -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom
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Sending to darkhorse4460
Sending to darkhorse4460
Journal Entry 6 by darkhorse4460 from Bletchingdon, Oxfordshire United Kingdom on Friday, July 6, 2007
Received today from veganknitter, many thanks, I'm really looking forward to this one.
Will read as soon as poss and pass on - and add a postcard!!!
Will read as soon as poss and pass on - and add a postcard!!!
Journal Entry 7 by darkhorse4460 from Bletchingdon, Oxfordshire United Kingdom on Saturday, July 28, 2007
Its hard to say too much about this novel without wopping great spoilers, so I'll be vague!! I enjoyed it - or rather I found it gripping and emotionally draining. It is very well written and cleverly put together, moving backwards and forwards in time over a period of nearly 60 years telling the story of Flora Dunbar and held together by Flora's own narrative told from beyond the grave. It is stitched together in pieces (appropriately for the quilt making author) and doesn't allow the whole picture to be seen until the end, which is what makes me want to go back and read parts of it again just as other readers have commented.
Flora is not an immediately likeable character but I did come to feel sympathy for her and understand how she was shaped by her bizarre and tragic life and the web of complex relationships within the Dunbar family. This novel deals with some disturbing subjects without sensationalism and with empathy but this doesn't stop some of the revelations dealt to the reader being real shocks. Sorry to use an old cliche, but prepare for an emotional rollercoaster ride with this one!
I agree it would make a great TV drama, if they could do it justice - definitely after the watershed material!!
To be returned to Cassiopaeia soon, to continue on its journey.
Flora is not an immediately likeable character but I did come to feel sympathy for her and understand how she was shaped by her bizarre and tragic life and the web of complex relationships within the Dunbar family. This novel deals with some disturbing subjects without sensationalism and with empathy but this doesn't stop some of the revelations dealt to the reader being real shocks. Sorry to use an old cliche, but prepare for an emotional rollercoaster ride with this one!
I agree it would make a great TV drama, if they could do it justice - definitely after the watershed material!!
To be returned to Cassiopaeia soon, to continue on its journey.
Journal Entry 8 by darkhorse4460 at By Post/Hand in -- By Post or by Hand--, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Saturday, August 4, 2007
Released 16 yrs ago (8/4/2007 UTC) at By Post/Hand in -- By Post or by Hand--, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom
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Posted this morning to Cassiopaeia.
Posted this morning to Cassiopaeia.
Received safely from darkhorse4460. Many thanks. Waiting for address to send on to the US.
In the post today by Airmail to classicfox.
Received today and will begin reading tonight. Looks good. Thank you, Cassiopaeia for sending this to me across the world--I love getting Royal Mail! I love the postcard from you and thank you for including the one from darkhorse4460. I will try and recruit a new reader for you.
This was a great book. Unique, unusual, spellbinding, un-put-downable and just plain weird. I have many more adjectives I could use to describe it but I'll let the next readers come up with some more. I loved it! As the other readers said, I can't really say much as it would result in major spoilers. All I can do is echo the above comments as there isn't much more I can add without spoiling it for the next readers. But I will say this; Flora was definitely *not* my favorite character. If I had to choose a favorite I think I'd choose Theo. A terrible victim of his family's selfishness, he remained a nice and decent person. This is a story of an extremely flawed family. Dysfunctional doesn't even begin to describe them. I couldn't put this book down. I am so glad I joined this ray. Thank you, Cassiopaeia for inviting me. I have pmed next on list and will be sending it out as soon as I get the addy and will add my own postcard and send it on with the others. Can't wait to hear more comments!
Journal Entry 13 by classicfox at To the next participant in Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Released 16 yrs ago (8/28/2007 UTC) at To the next participant in Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada
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Mailed first class today to Rrrcaron, next on the list--hope you enjoy this as much as I did!
Mailed first class today to Rrrcaron, next on the list--hope you enjoy this as much as I did!
I received this book in the mail yesterday. I have a few to read beforehand, but it shouldn't take long.
Ruth
Ruth
I sent this book on to the next reader today. Didn't get the chance to read it- but I'll try again in the future. Sorry for the delay in getting the book moving. I kept hoping to get it!
I caught this book in my mailbox this afternoon. Thank you very much for sending it my way Rrrcaron via Priority Mail! I will get to it as soon as I can, looks good, but I have several in front of it and I have finals coming up too. I don't see anyone else listed after me as of today, but please let me know if that changes and I will bump it up.What beautiful cover art!
Starting this book next, should finish by the weekend...
Never before have I read a book with such a mass-casting of flawed characters, exploring numerous disturbing relationships within one immensely dysfunctional family, the Dunbar family, the twins in particularly, Flora and Rory. I found Flora to be a very sympathetic character and felt that things might have turned out differently for her if not for the selfish torment of her brother, Rory. "The web of tortured relationships in my family seemed Shakespearean in its ludicrous comlexity," concludes Flora, but this book is much more than an incestuous family drama. It is about love. My absolute favorite verbal exchange between Flora and Rory is when Flora asks of Rory, "How can loving someone be wrong?" and Rory replies, "It's not the love that's wrong. It's what love makes us do." I highly recommend this enticingly complex book, an emotional avalanche indeed, loved it!
I want to thank Cassiopaeia for sharing this book and allowing me the extra time I needed to get to it. Your patience and understanding were much appreciated :)
I also want to thank classicfox for recommending this book and informing me of this opportunity to read it. You were right! -I loved it-
My apologies to all of the remaining participants waiting patiently for their turn to read this book, sorry for the hold up. Hopefully, you will find this book much worth the wait...
I want to thank Cassiopaeia for sharing this book and allowing me the extra time I needed to get to it. Your patience and understanding were much appreciated :)
I also want to thank classicfox for recommending this book and informing me of this opportunity to read it. You were right! -I loved it-
My apologies to all of the remaining participants waiting patiently for their turn to read this book, sorry for the hold up. Hopefully, you will find this book much worth the wait...
Released 16 yrs ago (2/20/2008 UTC) at
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This book is on its way to NMReader to continue the ray. I hope you enjoy it :)
This book is on its way to NMReader to continue the ray. I hope you enjoy it :)
Arrived today. Looking forward to reading.
Released 16 yrs ago (4/22/2008 UTC) at
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I have been so busy at work I have not had time to read and feel horrible for keeping so long. I am sending to the next reader to enjoy and hope that I can find to read some time else.
I have been so busy at work I have not had time to read and feel horrible for keeping so long. I am sending to the next reader to enjoy and hope that I can find to read some time else.
arrived today.Will be next in line to read.
loved it and hated it at the same timeThe complexities of the characters were absolutely unreal.I nearly put it down a cuople of times in the beginning but then started to flow a bit better.So glad I read it.Really felt for poor Rory w/ all of his problems.On the way within the week.
Journal Entry 24 by oldreader at US Post in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Released 15 yrs ago (5/27/2008 UTC) at US Post in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
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on the way to msjoannah
on the way to msjoannah
This has arrived in NYC. I have a couple of other rings ahead of it, but will get to it soon.
One of the previous journal entries compared with books by V.C. Andrews, which seems about right. The characters are complex and compelling, the storyline is somewhat implausible, but engrossing, and the book deals with deeply incestuous relationships in a tangled family history. I enjoyed reading the book and found that the author managed the chronological and perspective shifting reasonably well. In general, I'm opposed to using a different font for a different character voice as I find it disconcerting to read, but it worked well here.
Overall, an enjoyable read, but not one that has particular literary merit or much that felt deeper than the surface message about how complicated families can be. I think I was overall less impressed than the previous readers, but still enjoyed the book.
I'll be putting it in the mail today if the lines at the post office aren't too horrendous.
(mailed 7/8/08)
Overall, an enjoyable read, but not one that has particular literary merit or much that felt deeper than the surface message about how complicated families can be. I think I was overall less impressed than the previous readers, but still enjoyed the book.
I'll be putting it in the mail today if the lines at the post office aren't too horrendous.
(mailed 7/8/08)
I've been out of town for 8 days and just arrived back today to find this book waiting for me. I see I'm last on the list but will get to it soon and send it back to cassiopaeia. Thanks so much!
The back and forth of different periods slowed me down at certain parts of the book, when I had, i.e. 'who -knew-what-when' moments, but I did find myself gradually becoming ingrossed in the story. It was certainly 'Shakesperean' in the complexity of the plot, but I will say that in the hands of a less skilful writer, the subject matter could have been offsetting. Gillard is a good writer and an intuitive student/observer of human nature, which brings the characters alive, warts and all. However, I did find it difficult to have much empathy for Flora, as she was on a fast-track to disaster, taking others with her along the way through her own selfish needs. Hugh, for me, had the most integrity of all the characters, and someone I would have enjoyed knowing. I zeroed in on the quote: "It's not the love that's wrong - it's what love makes us do" as encapsulating the story's theme. Thank you Cassiopaeia for bringing this novel to my attention.
This book will be in the mail tomorrow, on the way back to Cassiopaeia.
Mailed August 6 surface mail before I received cassiopaeia's email. Received thoughtful email from Linda Galliard re: my JE, and spent time on her interesting online site. I'll be looking for 'Emotional Geology' -I read an excerpt and found it compelling. I wish I could pop in for tea with Linda - she's a remarkable woman worth knowing.
This book has returned to Wales, many thanks aine-eireann and to all the other bookcrossers who have read it and helped it on it's successful journey. Thank you for all the wonderful postcards, they will make very interesting bookmarks! Hopefully this book will continue its travels at the next opportunity.
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
I am passing this to molekilby. Please give to another Bookcrosser when finished.
I am passing this to molekilby. Please give to another Bookcrosser when finished.
Received today from Cassiopaeia, many thanks. I heard Linda speaking at the Convention (reading the opening of this book), so although I have been reluctant to read Transita books (I'm male approaching 40) as some topics do not interest me I was persuaded to try it. I will move it swiftly up the order and will pass on afterwards.
I finished this during the week, so I apologise for not journalling sooner.
The phrase I heard linda use, that kept popping into my mind during this book was not wanting to hear Flora Dunbar's voice speak to her for a long period of time. I didn't find Flora to bad at all. As with the other journal entries it is tough to erite without giving the game away. So I'm going to put in a spoiler box to help.
With that done I kept thinking throughout the book that themes had been repeated elsewhere, with other relationships that weren't mentioned. Although this did not detract from the narrative.
I wandered through Linda's website afterwards, and noticed that Linda describes the book as looking at the five females and how their roles interact in the 20th/21st centuries. On reflection this would be a good way to approach the book.
I will read more of Linda's books, the writing was great and the book moved at a good pace. I did think early on that it wouldn't be for me (maybe my own prejudice colouring my thinking).
This is set to have a new home and will be sent out soon.
The phrase I heard linda use, that kept popping into my mind during this book was not wanting to hear Flora Dunbar's voice speak to her for a long period of time. I didn't find Flora to bad at all. As with the other journal entries it is tough to erite without giving the game away. So I'm going to put in a spoiler box to help.
Click here only if you wish to see the spoiler!
Rory was utterly contemptible, but I found, to begin with, my sympathies lay with him. His actions were selfish. He would stop at nothing to protect himself (including it would seem murder). It made me wonder if Theo had taken more of his mother's genetic fabric and Lottie more of her father's when looking at their later relationship.
Rory was utterly contemptible, but I found, to begin with, my sympathies lay with him. His actions were selfish. He would stop at nothing to protect himself (including it would seem murder). It made me wonder if Theo had taken more of his mother's genetic fabric and Lottie more of her father's when looking at their later relationship.
With that done I kept thinking throughout the book that themes had been repeated elsewhere, with other relationships that weren't mentioned. Although this did not detract from the narrative.
I wandered through Linda's website afterwards, and noticed that Linda describes the book as looking at the five females and how their roles interact in the 20th/21st centuries. On reflection this would be a good way to approach the book.
I will read more of Linda's books, the writing was great and the book moved at a good pace. I did think early on that it wouldn't be for me (maybe my own prejudice colouring my thinking).
This is set to have a new home and will be sent out soon.
Released 15 yrs ago (11/10/2008 UTC) at
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Enjoy
Enjoy
Journal Entry 36 by Sunnybubble from Wallasey, Merseyside United Kingdom on Monday, November 17, 2008
I really enjoyed both Linda Gillard's talk at the conv and Stargazing which I read earlier this year..Looking forward to reading this and passing it on !
Journal Entry 37 by Sunnybubble from Wallasey, Merseyside United Kingdom on Saturday, January 24, 2009
Wow, what a book.
This was not what I was expecting at all, it is so different from Star Gazing and in my opinion even better.
Gillard explores one of the last taboos of our society in such a way that the reader is crying with sympathy for Flora, Rory, Theo and the rest, but you never quite lose the feeling that something is terribly awry with the situation.
I seem to be reading this author's books in reverse order so Emotional Geology will be next.
THis copy is now going traveling to Holland
This was not what I was expecting at all, it is so different from Star Gazing and in my opinion even better.
Gillard explores one of the last taboos of our society in such a way that the reader is crying with sympathy for Flora, Rory, Theo and the rest, but you never quite lose the feeling that something is terribly awry with the situation.
I seem to be reading this author's books in reverse order so Emotional Geology will be next.
THis copy is now going traveling to Holland
Journal Entry 38 by Sunnybubble at BookObsessed.com, A book trading site -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, January 24, 2009
Released 15 yrs ago (1/24/2009 UTC) at BookObsessed.com, A book trading site -- Controlled Releases
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CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
off to Jordanne
off to Jordanne
It arrived safely, thanks a lot!
