NOTICE: As of March 2005, I am no longer an active BookCrosser, since other parts of my life are requiring more of my time and energy. This means that I no longer release, trade or participate in bookrings. If I am on a list for a bookring, please skip me, and mail on to the next person if possible. If this is a problem, feel free to PM me - I still check my PMs and respond when I can. Thanks for everything guys - I've loved it while it lasted!






Here’s what’s on my Bookshelf - click on a link to jump ahead:
A bit about me
BookRings and BookRays I am currently participating in
BookRings I am coordinating
What I’ve read in 2004
My rating system


A bit about me…

I first became involved in BookCrossing after reading an article in The Weekend Australian. I was instantly fascinated, registering some books and going on my first hunt that very day. A few months later I discovered BookRing and BookRays, and became even more enthusiastic about BookCrossing, spending at least half an hour on the BookCrossing website each day and at times enjoy spending a whole day BookCrossing – buying up second hand books, registering, labelling and releasing. I’m now spending less of my time BookCrossing than I have in the past, simply because other areas of my life are taking priority. But I still visit the site at least once a week, and try to do some wild releases every now and again.

Just before I joined BookCrossing, I’d reached a point where I never knew what to read next. I had tried working through lists of books that had won awards, with varying success. I’d read pretty much everything that was written by my few favourite authors, I’d re-read my favourites time and time again, and I felt overwhelmed every time I walked into the library, thinking I had no way of making an informed choice. But since joining BookCrossing I’ve got a TBR pile that’s virtually taller than I am! Simply by joining BookRing and BookRays, exploring the forums, and keeping an eye on what others are reading and releasing, I have read a range of books that I never would have previously considered, and have developed a much wider taste in reading. When I go second-hand book shopping, I often recognise books or authors that have been mentioned on BookCrossing, and can never leave without a big pile of purchases! I no longer try to read slowly, so that I don’t devour a good book too quickly. Now I can’t wait to finish a good book because I know there’s another great one just around the corner! Never again will I grumble that “I can’t go to bed – I don’t have anything to read!”.

My favourite forms of controlled release are BookRings and BookRays, which I tend to join a lot of, though probably less lately than I did previously. I don’t tend to get involved in BookBoxes, and trades aren’t really my thing either. But if you see something on my bookshelf that you would like to receive in a trade, by all means ask. I will consider all requests, but please don’t be offended if I politely decline!

I enjoy releasing books into the wild, and try to always have at least something showing in the ‘released in the wild during the last seven days’ field (though I haven’t really been keeping up with that lately). My catch rate is currently at around 15%. I’ve had five wild catches, and each one has been such a thrill! Here they are:

The Russia House
Not Without My Daughter
Timeline
The Misplaced Corpse
A Year in Provence


BookRings and BookRays I am currently participating in...

The Great Aussie Novel BookRing

Fast Food Nation

God’s Debris

Twice Upon a Time

Almost French

Einstein’s Dreams

Eat Mangoes Naked

Eats, Shoots and Leaves

The Amateur Marriage

Everything is Illuminated

Knowledge of Angels

Girl in Hyacinth Blue

Across the Nightingale Floor


I try to keep to a maximum of a one month turn around for BookRings and BookRays, so if you’re expecting a book from me, I’m sure it won’t be far away!

I’ve stopped joining BookRings and BookRays for the moment, since I’ve now amassed quite a collection of books of my own that I’m dying to read. I’m still interested in participating in the Rings and Rays I’ve already joined – just make sure you PM me before you send anything, in case I’m overwhelmed.



BookRings I am coordinating…

84 Charing Cross Road Aussie BookRing
This is an Aussie BookRing and is always open to new members. Please PM me if you are interested in joining. Legitimate personal reasons are getting in the way of Veracity being able to keep this book moving. She will be mailing it on as soon as she can, and in the meantime, we all know it’s safe.

The Vintner’s Luck International BookRing
We are currently experiencing a bit of a stall with this BookRing. The person who was responsible for the stall has now resurfaced, and assures us that the book will be moving again this week.

The Breadmaker’s Carnival International BookRing
This BookRing started its journey in early October. We currently have 10 participants in Australia and North America. Please PM me if you are interested in joining.



What I’ve read in 2004...

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius 6/10
(Cheating a bit here – I finished it on New Year’s Day – so realistically I didn’t read the *whole* thing in 2004. But I’ll use it to kick-start my list anyway!)

A Fortunate Life 10/10
A truly amazing book that exceeded all my expectations.

The Devil That Danced on the Water BookRing 7/10
Started but didn’t finish it. Somehow it just wasn’t right for me at the time, and I have so many other books that I can’t wait to read that it seemed like a good idea to cut my losses and move on.

Swift as Desire 8/10
Just lovely!

Songlines 7/10
Another BookRing book that I abandoned before finishing. Oh well, plenty more books on my TBR pile!

Timeline 8/10
A good fun read. Saw the movie and was totally disappointed in it.

Say When 7/10
Well written, but somewhat depressing.

Tirra Lirra By The River 10/10
Aussie classic that deserves that status.

Dirt Music
I read the first few chapters of this, and the style just didn’t grab me. Maybe another time.

Daughter of Fortune
Again, one that I’ve started but not continued – not because I wasn’t enjoying it (I was!) but because a BookRing book arrived, and I give them priority.

The Idea of Perfection 10/10
What a delight! I will definitely be reading more Kate Grenville!

The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency 7/10
Good light entertainment, but not much substance.

Interpreter of Maladies 10/10
A spectacularly simple collection of short stories that I thoroughly enjoyed.

The Secret Life of Bees 6/10
Didn’t enjoy it at all, so I gave up after a few chapters. Can’t understand why so many people rave about this book.

The Ancient Future 5/10
Given that this book was part of the Great Aussie Novel BookRing (which includes a variety of Australian classics) this book was a total let down. Nowhere near the calibre of some of the other books on the list.

Pretty Girl in Crimson Rose 7/10
Got a bit repetitive after a while, so I skipped the last few chapters. Ideally suited to someone who is into cryptic crosswords (which I’m not!).

Black Like Me, John Howard Griffin 9/10
Enthralling, shocking, moving and extremely thought provoking. I highly recommend this book.

The Handmaid's Tale 6/10
A very bizarre novel! I imagine it's meant to be thought provoking in the way that futuristic novels like 1984 and Brave New World are, but it just left me feeling strange.

Intimacy 5/10
I found this an unpleasant read.

The Lovely Bones 10/10
I can hardly begin to say how wonderful this book is. I read it in two days, and it has instantly become one of my all-time favourite books. No wonder it's the most registered book on BookCrossing!

The Pilot's Wife 7/10
A good quality book, but it didn't live up to my high expectations.

White Oleander
I only read 50 pages of this book, and decided to stop there since I wasn't finding it nearly as powerful as the film.

The Legacy of Luna 9/10
A surprisingly powerful and moving book. Highly recommended.

Life of Pi 10/10
An absolutely unique novel, that has left me quite speechless.

Blackberry Wine
Unfortunately life caught up with me, and I didn’t get to finish this BookRing book before I had to send it off on the next leg of its journey. I enjoyed the few chapters I did read, so I plan to come back to it one day.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
Ditto with this one.

Oscar and Lucinda
Another one that I only read a few chapters of…do I notice a pattern forming here?!

The Stone Diaries, Carol Shields 10/10
This is one of my all-time favourite novels. Re-reading it is like catching up with an old friend, which is just what I needed right now.

To Kill a Mocking Bird
Read a little bit of this, but put it aside for another time, for no good reason.

The Accidental Tourist, Anne Tyler 8/10
Although I enjoyed Anne Tyler’s style, I found this novel somewhat disappointing for its predictability and lack of character depth.

Me Talk Pretty One Day, David Sedaris 7/10
A bit of light relief.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull 7/10
A well written story, but not my style of spirituality

The Virgin Suicides
Didn’t get through more than about 50 pages of this before I realised that it wasn’t worth continuing. Just not my type of book.

Ladder of Years, Anne Tyler 10/10
One of my all time favourites, this was a re-read.

Love In the Time of Cholera
A bit too heavy going right now, I plan to return to this one later.

The Piano Tuner
I got bored with this one about half-way through. It wasn’t moving fast enough for me, so I’ve put it aside for a while, and plan to come back to it later.

Earthly Possessions, Anne Tyler
I’ve stopped reading this one after about only 30 pages. It was a bit too creepy for me at the moment.

Last Chance to See, Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine
Something fun to read while I wait for the next BookRing to arrive. I read about half of it, and am saving the other half for next time I need something light.

The Nanny Diaries, Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus [audiobook] 8/10
A fun book to listen to in the car.

The Time Traveller’s Wife, Audrey Niffenegger 9/10
I was looking forward to reading this for so long, and it didn’t let me down.

Brick Lane 6/10
This book just didn’t grab me, despite high expectations, so I gave up after 90 pages.

Year of Wonders 10/10
This book was sensational – definitely a 10/10, right from page 1.

The Red Tent 10/10
I cannot speak highly enough of this book. If I could give it more than 10/10 would! I’ve recommended it to all my friends, and have added it to my Christmas list so I can have a copy in my personal collection.

Me, Katharine Hepburn [audiobook] 8/10
Interesting, rambling tale, read by Katharine herself.

Hideous Kinky 6/10
Glad I read it, but it didn’t really grab me.



My rating system…

This is the scale I use to rate books on my bookshelf. It was adapted from the fantastic book rating system on florafloraflora’s bookshelf.

10: Excellent, at the top of its category. This book has impacted me deeply, challenged me profoundly, or has simply been a pure delight to read.
9: Great book - just a nitpick stands between it and a 10
8: Good, solid book that I would recommend to others.
7: Good book, but it didn’t grab me in a big way.
6: Decent, but not for me.
5: Maybe somebody else would like this. I didn't.
4: Only OK. Barely worth reading. The line between taking it and leaving it is very thin.
2-3: Has major problems. I don't recommend it.
1: It's hard to imagine anyone liking this book.


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Bookshelf last updated 13 November 2004.



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