From the back cover:
"Ruby Lennox was conceived grudgingly by Bunty and born while her father, George, was in the Dog and Hare in Doncaster telling a woman in an emerald dress and a D-cup that he wasn't married. Bunty had never wanted to marry George, but he was all that was left. She really wanted to be Vivien Leigh or Celia Johnson, swept off to America by a romantic hero. But here she was, stuck in a flat above the pet shop in an ancient street beneath York Minster, with sensible and sardonic Patricia aged five, greedy cross-patch Gillian who refused to be ignored, and Ruby...

Ruby tells the story of The Family, from the day at the end of the nineteenth century when a travelling French photographer catches frail beautiful Alice and her children, like flowers in amber, to the startling, witty, and memorable events of Ruby's own life."

An amazing book, everyone should read something by this author! This is my first book I ever read by Atkinson, but I'll make it sure to read more by her!

RING:

1)Angel135 (uk, ships everywhere)
2)Supertalya (ships in the USA)
3)snapdragongirl (ships in the USA and Canada)
4)Aramena (USA, ships within usa)
5)CynthiaA (Canada) <<<--- the book is here
6)Brujula (France ships in Eu or intl)
7)mucker28 (UK, ships intl if needed)

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

sent to Angel135, first bookcrosser of the list! enjoy the book girls!

Have received this book this morning from another bookcrossing member , as 1st part of a book ring. Looking forward to reading it.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sending the book onto another bookring member in the USA. I was alittle disappointed with the book, not a page turner. I talked to someone else about the book and they thought the same, but said when their sister had read the book she had loved it. So maybe it was not the book for me. I hope it is enjoyed by meny other bookcrosssing members. Angel135

Just received this one. I have two rings before it. I will get to it soon.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

This was sent to the next reader.

Arrived today! I have two books going already, but I'm really looking forward to this one so I'll be starting it soon regardless. This will be the second book I've read by Kate Atkinson, and I loved the first one.

Okay, this clinches it, Kate Atkinson is officially my new favorite author! It took me awhile to read this, mainly because of the holidays and not getting to take my usual breaks at work because we suddenly got really busy (after being slow for months), but in the past few days I've been able to devote some time to it and I have really enjoyed this book. To me the writing just flows effortlessly and wittily. (I love the line about Ruby's mother telling her "don't be clever" and Ruby's observation that her family really don't want her to be clever.)

This will be off to the next person on my next trip to the post office!

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Oh my gosh, I opened my desk drawer today and discovered I hadn't mailed this the last time I went to the post office! My apologies and it's about to be on it's way!

Arrived today, safe and sound!

Edit: Feb 19/09. Really enjoyed this book on many levels. Will look for more books from this author.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Was shipped to France today. :o)

this book arrived safely in my mailbox this morning. thank you!

I've really enjoyed this novel. It is set in an original way, and the story of this family is captivating.
Thank you very much for sharing this!

As the person after me has disabled pms, and Martjxox told me to do as I wished with the book, I've lended it to my sister Claire in Barcelona. I'm sure she will enjoy it!