Evelyn Waugh

I had completely forgotten that I had signed up for these book rays, but as they are 1001 books, I thought I'd read them.   I have already read a few of his books, the most recent being   Scoop: A Novel About Journalists (Penguin Modern Classics) (diff. ed.), which I added to   Soffitta1's 3rd Bookbox (Africa Theme).  He does seem a rather eclectic writer from the books I have read, like A Handful of Dust (different cover),  Edmund Campion  and Black Mischief (Penguin Modern Classics)

The first to arrive was  Brideshead Revisited , I saw the ITV series a while back, but had never read the book.   From what I remember, the series was very faithful, but both have the same drawback - a slight let-down of an ending.  Next up is  Vile Bodies.  Hope it is as good as the others.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Another book on my wishlist, The Boy in The Striped Pajamas, I signed up to this a while back. I decided to take it to the cafe and ended up reading it in one sitting. Such a well-written book, the child's perspective of a heinous part of our history.

The Painted Veil

I have been wanting to read The Painted Veil for ages, ever since I saw the beautiful film a few years ago. When I lived in Guangdong in China, I visited the neighbouring region Guangxi a few times, so loved seeing the scenery in the film, despite the tragic plot. As ever the book was changed when made into a screenplay, but neither left me disappointed. The book was fast paced and the plot really grabbed you.

Passed on to a reader in Singapore.

A Sudanese Memoir

I signed up for a ray ages ago, The Translator: A Tribesman's Memoir of Darfur and finally it arrived! The ray was started by MarciNYC and has travelled widely, from the States to Switzerland, from the U.K. to me here in Portugal and on to Ireland. The account of a Sudanese translator in Darfur, thought-provoking and honest.

1001 Update Feb 2009

Busy month for 1001 books, been trying to boost my numbers, so have signed up to katrinat's 1001 Challenge. The idea is to read 10 or more 1001 books. I think I will do that easily, but it is a good way for 1001-Library members to pimp their books. Check out the forum topic here: http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5977240.

From the 1001-library
I am pleased that my stack of books has diminished, there have been more requests recently. A couple of the books I had donated 9 months ago without any interest. Look forward to receiving more as have signed up for a 1001-Library Virtual Bookbox, organised by missgyder. There have been a lot of forum posts about the 1001-Library, which has helped create awareness and get people requesting books.

Books received:
From ArwenG :Their Eyes Were Watching God, The Go-between (Penguin Modern Classics)
Books sent on:
Sent on to nikel27 in Germany: Tipping the Velvet, The Woodlanders ,David Copperfield (Wordsworth Classics) ,Regeneration (Penguin Celebrations), The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Devil and Miss Prym: A Novel of Temptation, Heart of Darkness

Sent to ArwenG here in Portugal:Howards End (Twentieth Century Classics), A Passage to India
Sent to KaKo27: Atonement
Sent to katrinat:The Pit and the Pendulum (penguin 60s S.) ,The Wonderful O,The Book of Laughter and Forgetting (King Penguin)
Sent to davemurray101 : The Postman Always Rings Twice

Also joined a couple of rays. Firstly, Evelina (Everyman's Library), a bookray set up by perryfran (a member of the 1001-Library), read this book, which took quite a bit of getting into but was worth the read.
Also read London Fields which another member of the 1001-Library, starflash, set up as a ray. My first of Amis' books, though a colleague at work has lent me The Second Plane, which I look forward to reading.

Elizabeth Costello

I signed up for one of cat207's 1001 Book rays, this time it was Elizabeth Costello by South African author J.M. Coetzee. I had already read Disgrace, a disturbing but good book, and have been trying to pick up more of his books. I found Elizabeth Costello a little strange, but still worth a read. Passed the book on to Tubereader, along with a copy of Disgace. Enjoy!

The Gargoyle (Book Ray)

I have finished this great book and decided to send it off on a book ray, so others can share in it. It is with the first reader and should travel on to South Africa, America and more...

Here is the journal entry: The Gargoyle

Writing in the Sand

I saw a post from a fellow Scottish bookcrosser, Nell-Lu , saying that this was a 10, so thought I'd sign up for the ray. Writing in the Sand , book set in the very north of Scotland, with different things going on: the country show, some smuggling and the old Gods returning. Dark, funny, a great debut from a Scottish writer.

The Lake of Dead Languages

Have just posted on The Lake of Dead Languages - a book ring. I enjoy taking part in rings and rays as you not only get to read good books, but are able to read the comments of others. A substitute for a book group maybe, but at least the comments are always there for you to go back to.

Jailbird

After hearing recommendations of Vonnegut's books from colleagues, I decided to sign up for this ring, Jailbird .
A really good book, just need to get hold of some more of his.

Amor, Curiosidad, Prozac y Dudas

Me mando el libro tehuti hace mucho tiempo como RABCK. Decedi ofrecerlo como un BRAY y mande el libro a Argentina. Amor, Curiosidad, Prozac y Dudas - el enlace si tienes interes.

Rays

A ray, which I had been waiting for, arrived last week: Finding George Orwell in Burma . It was worth the wait, not only a very interesting book, but also a very relevant book in these times. I have sent it on to the States.

I then decided to set off my own ring, of a book which I had been sent by another bookcrosser, Amor, Curiosidad, Prozac y Dudas . It is currently on its way to Argentina.