Found this on the discount shelves of a local used bookstore. I put it in the mail to sundrop in West Virginia. It was on her wish list.

Hey buttonbright thanks so much for the book...

It's really crazy that you put a flier for Mannerland III in there because my best friend Jessica lives in Raleigh and is actually friends with those guys in Barefoot Manner, I've actually been to a couple of their shows at the Pour House...small world....

Update: I actually ended up being in Raleigh during Mannerland III and ended going over to Mebane to hang out and dance a little....

This book was quite different from the other Margaret Atwood book that I have read, The Handmaid's Tale. The setting and storyline take place in the present and past in Toronto Canada and are more realistic. The way that Atwood presents human relationships and actions remains the same however, dark and true. I really enjoyed exploring this great big story of a childhood and its consequences.

Mailing off to Kernow8 as a RABCK

This just arrived in the mail. It's going into my TBR pile for a short while...

Turning this into a bookray to give me a push to read it soon...

Current members (in order, which may change to accommodate new members):

1. Amanida (UK) *
2. lauraloo29 (Canada) - prefers mailing to the US
3. gomboggit (US - OR) *
4. ?
....

* = can ship internationally

I plan to have read and sent out this book some time in October. (Update Oct 25th - now planning to send out at the end of November - sorry!)

Started reading this, then realised it will be quite a long read so decided to move it down my TBR list a bit. Sorry to those I've promised it to as a short bookray - it'll be another month or so before it goes out now.

Finished reading yesterday - my first Margaret Atwood. It certainly won't be my last. I enjoyed this very much and am looking forward to The Handmaid's Tale which is also on my TBR pile.

Just before I read this I went to an open day to look at secondary school (11-16 year-olds) teaching as a career option. By coincidence the only school in a 30-mile radius which was involved in this national scheme was the one I went to as a kid. It was very strange walking around the old buildings (there was quite a lot of new development there too but most of my old haunts were still standing - as were some of my teachers from 20 years ago!) and thinking back to when I was 13 and thick as thieves with my then best friend. Reading this book reminded me of that, especially as said best friend once stole my lunch (at 10) and got me beaten up by the school thugs at 15. Childhood friendship between girls is a very strange business. Already my 5-year-old comes home complaining that one of the girls at school won't let her play. It's going to be an interesting 15 or so years until both my daughters (the other one is 3) are through those teenage years!

Thanks for sharing this - it is moving again at last - sent to Amanida this morning.

Arrived from Kernow8 this morning - hmmm it's a bit heavy to carry around on my travels this week, so will put it just below the summit of mt tbr, to be started next week!

Margaret Atwood is a brilliant writer - she can write about anything and make it captivating. How can she remember so well what it's like to be a child? Cat's Eye is a marble and Elaine is a painter in Toronto for a retrospective of her life.
Read on the beach at Koh Samui, Thailand, and brought back safely to send on to lauraloo29 when I get the address.

Arrived today. It is a thick book! Oh my. :) I have 2 rings before it. I will keep it moving.

I started reading this yesterday. Not sure at first, but I was quickly immersed in it. The book is reminding me of my mother and her childhood stories. And I LOVE reading about Canadian culture. Makes me happy. :) I hope to keep reading on the weekend, but I'm not much of a reader when sitting still (better on the bus), but I will finish next week.

A fabulous book! I did struggle through the middle part, but overall a wonderful read.

I've saved some lines that I found interesting:

Last night I felt the approach of nothing. Not too close but on its way, like a wingbeat, like the cooling of the wind, the slight initial tug of an undertow. - page 43

It's the darkest time of the year. Even in the daytime it seems dark; and at night, when the lights are one, this darkness pervades everything, like a fog. - page 59

It's the middle of September; the leaves are already turning, dark red, bright yellow. At night when I walk to the outhouse, in the dark with no flashlight because I can see better that way, the stars are sharp and crystalline and my breath goes before me. I see my parents, in through the window, sitting beside the kerosene lamp, and thay are like a far-away picture with a frame of blackness. It's disquieting to look at them, in through the window, and know that they don't know I can see them. It's as if I don't exist; or as if they don't. - page 72

Her touch glows briefly, like a blown-out match. - page 174

I've forgotten things, I've forgotten that I've forgotten them. - page 213

I loved the memories of birthday cake with a quarter and a dime wrapped in wax paper hidden between the layers. My mother did this for us when we were little. I also enjoyed the description of the coffee percolator. I have a very vague memory of one. :) The part about the Santa Claus parade intersted me. I know that it has just celebrated a big anniversary.

There is also a little part about the Macleods and Dunvegan Castle. These are my ancestors as well. Very interesting.

I'll send it on its way at the end of this week. Thank you so much for sharing!

I just received this in the mail today, and will start reading it promptly. ButtonBright, I love your bookplate. Do you know who the artist is? It reminds me of John R. Neill's illustrations in the Oz book series.
Can't wait to start in on it.

Wow! This was a big book! I had a tough time getting into it at first. It just seemed like there was so much description I wondered if there was a plot. But I finally started seeing the big picture and started to enjoy it more. I could relate to quite a bit of what the main character experienced in her younger years. The cruel little girls that are her "friends", especially, growing up with boys and being able to interact with them more comfortably than with girls, trying to block out the childhood memories of not being accepted by your peers and the cruel ways they let you know there was something unacceptable about you, and trying so hard to be loved by them, as well as a love for creating art. It seemed almost as though the author experienced parts of my life. In a nutshell, this book was uncomfortable yet enjoyable, and I think I would recommend it to others.

I plan to offer this up as another bookray.

bookray order:
1.saram23
2.CarynPic
3.eefa
4.nyassa
5.Supersue

I justgot this today and can't wait to read it. I still needs some repairs so I will see what I can do. Thanks gomboggit!

While this one wasn't as intense as some of her previous books I have to say it loved it. It was a bear to get through too. Be ready to take a bit of time to read this one. I am going to be emailing CarynPic to get her address.

read my notes

RELEASE NOTES:

I actually mailed it about a week ago, right before I went on vacation. It should be there soon I hope...

Received safe and sound. Is quite an intimidating weight, but can't wait to crack the cover.

I like this one better than "The Robber Bride", except I was always expecting a twist. Oh, well! On to "Handmaid's Tale".


RELEASE NOTES:

Sent to eefa in Ireland, next on the bookring list!

Arrived in post today from CarynPic. This is one heavy book!
Will start as soon as I finish Small Island (Andrea Levy)

As ever, Margaret Atwood doesn't disappoint. Not as fantastic as The Handmaid's Tale but a great read nonetheless.

Arrived safely today, many thanks!

I have another book to finish but should be able to start within a week or so.

So sorry for having forgotten to journal this book, which I very much enjoyed.

It went on its way to supersue at the end of October 2005