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Crossing Paths
BookCrossing, a real online bookclub, is in many ways a parallel universe. It is a place where someone in the US may buy a book for a BookCrosser in Australia, without the two of them ever meeting. It is about finding books on the end of a pier, at Paddington Station, at your favourite park and unless you are on the site you don’t know these books are there. People walk past them oblivious; some pick them up briefly but then leave them behind. BookCrossers know to catch these books to find out where they have been, read them and then release them.
At BookCrossing, books are registered and released with an individual tracking number. A good many drop off the radar and then turn up years later at the strangest of places. In Crossing Paths, the main character Jane disappears - for the other characters who are worried about her the clues to where she might be are on her BookCrossing bookshelf. Russell Dark, a book store owner and Jonathan Fairlight, a new age writer, begin to track her through the books she leaves behind. Within these pages eight people who cross paths with Jane Townsend will have their lives changed forever.
At BookCrossing, books are registered and released with an individual tracking number. A good many drop off the radar and then turn up years later at the strangest of places. In Crossing Paths, the main character Jane disappears - for the other characters who are worried about her the clues to where she might be are on her BookCrossing bookshelf. Russell Dark, a book store owner and Jonathan Fairlight, a new age writer, begin to track her through the books she leaves behind. Within these pages eight people who cross paths with Jane Townsend will have their lives changed forever.
- GenresFictionBooks About Books
600 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 29, 2010
4 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Debbie Robson
13 books178 followersI was born in the Mater Hospital in Sydney and grew up on the Northern Beaches. I now live in Lake Macquarie. As a writer and reader I am fascinated by the first 60 years of the last century and very excited that my novella, The Hermitage, set in 1937 has been published in 2023.
My poems, micro, flash and stories have been published internationally, online and in print. Tomaree, my first novel, is a WWII love story and my second novel is Crossing Paths: the Bookcrossing Novel, inspired by the website of the same name. I am currently working on my trilogy entitled Paris Next Week, set in Sydney and Paris during the 1920s. I also write about an angel who drives a taxi cab in Sydney.
I blog on writing and researching historical fiction at debbierobson.net occasionally and review regularly here on Goodreads.
My poems, micro, flash and stories have been published internationally, online and in print. Tomaree, my first novel, is a WWII love story and my second novel is Crossing Paths: the Bookcrossing Novel, inspired by the website of the same name. I am currently working on my trilogy entitled Paris Next Week, set in Sydney and Paris during the 1920s. I also write about an angel who drives a taxi cab in Sydney.
I blog on writing and researching historical fiction at debbierobson.net occasionally and review regularly here on Goodreads.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
November 10, 2010
A gift to me from the lovely author of this book. Received October 9, 2010. Registered on BookCrossing October 14, 2010
Finished November 9, 2010:
Finished this last night and am amazed at a number of things. The author certainly put a lot of hard work into details in this book -- matching up books with specific locations etc. I must admit, it left me feeling a little inadequate. I love themed releases, and if I'm travelling, may seek books with titles or subjects that would fit my destination, but I've never travelled to someplace only because I wanted to release a book there. (No, wait, that's not true entirely. I wanted to release Fahrenheit 451 at Bebelplatz, the spot where books were burned by the German Student Association May 10, 1933, but I didn't travel to Berlin just to do it. I knew I was going to Berlin and brought the book with me for that release.)
But in this book, Jane/Ali/Sarah hops on a train and travels to another country just to make a release based on the book's plot. It was a little stalker-ish that there were so many people tracing and predicting her moves by her bookshelf, and trying to figure out where she'd go next based on the titles she had left to release. I guess our Charleston BookCrossing group, close as we are, doesn't interact the way other BookCrossers do. Or maybe we're not that attentive. Dunno. Are there really groups that are as close and intertwined (both as friends and lovers) as these folks are? And are there really people as fortunate to hunt and find as many books as these people do, or have as many catches out in the wild by other BookCrossers? If so, I'm living in the wrong part of the world. And though I'm fairly well-read, there were a number of titles I'd not heard of, which I will have to track down to investigate. I may have to change my approach to themed releasing, though. I'm pretty simple in those -- a book with boats in the title at the Marina, a book with "eye" in the title at an optician's shop. If I were to be a character in this book, I should have travelled to the Batangan Peninsula or to Yorkshire to make true themed releases.
Anyhow, this was an interesting exercise, and I applaud Debbie's efforts. How she kept the various threads straight and the books in the right hands is a wonder. I imagine she had a wall full of post-it notes that got moved around according to the timeline. I did get a bit confused, but probably due to reading late at night when I was already half in dreamland. But paths were crossing, indeed, all through the story.
One thing that I would have wished for is more of a sense of place in each location. Here were some fabulous and beautiful locations, yet I never really felt as if I travelled there in my mind's eye. I'd love to go to Greece, or France, or even to that lovely B&B in Canada, and am not likely to get there except through my reading. It was nice to run into familiar BookCrossing names in the journal entries, but I do wonder what someone who is not a BookCrosser will make of it all.
But, all in all, I'm glad I read it. It's a monumental effort and I'll be interested to hear what others think.
here has been a lot of discussion about various aspects of this book. For reference sake, here are some of the forum threads:
The books in the book here. (A total of 52 books get mentioned.)
Where BookCrossers first appear. (40 real life BookCrossers appear in Crossing Paths, including yours truly, though the section I helped Debbie with for Folly Beach and Charleston got edited out. But I do have a journal entry on page 138,)
Finished November 9, 2010:
Finished this last night and am amazed at a number of things. The author certainly put a lot of hard work into details in this book -- matching up books with specific locations etc. I must admit, it left me feeling a little inadequate. I love themed releases, and if I'm travelling, may seek books with titles or subjects that would fit my destination, but I've never travelled to someplace only because I wanted to release a book there. (No, wait, that's not true entirely. I wanted to release Fahrenheit 451 at Bebelplatz, the spot where books were burned by the German Student Association May 10, 1933, but I didn't travel to Berlin just to do it. I knew I was going to Berlin and brought the book with me for that release.)
But in this book, Jane/Ali/Sarah hops on a train and travels to another country just to make a release based on the book's plot. It was a little stalker-ish that there were so many people tracing and predicting her moves by her bookshelf, and trying to figure out where she'd go next based on the titles she had left to release. I guess our Charleston BookCrossing group, close as we are, doesn't interact the way other BookCrossers do. Or maybe we're not that attentive. Dunno. Are there really groups that are as close and intertwined (both as friends and lovers) as these folks are? And are there really people as fortunate to hunt and find as many books as these people do, or have as many catches out in the wild by other BookCrossers? If so, I'm living in the wrong part of the world. And though I'm fairly well-read, there were a number of titles I'd not heard of, which I will have to track down to investigate. I may have to change my approach to themed releasing, though. I'm pretty simple in those -- a book with boats in the title at the Marina, a book with "eye" in the title at an optician's shop. If I were to be a character in this book, I should have travelled to the Batangan Peninsula or to Yorkshire to make true themed releases.
Anyhow, this was an interesting exercise, and I applaud Debbie's efforts. How she kept the various threads straight and the books in the right hands is a wonder. I imagine she had a wall full of post-it notes that got moved around according to the timeline. I did get a bit confused, but probably due to reading late at night when I was already half in dreamland. But paths were crossing, indeed, all through the story.
One thing that I would have wished for is more of a sense of place in each location. Here were some fabulous and beautiful locations, yet I never really felt as if I travelled there in my mind's eye. I'd love to go to Greece, or France, or even to that lovely B&B in Canada, and am not likely to get there except through my reading. It was nice to run into familiar BookCrossing names in the journal entries, but I do wonder what someone who is not a BookCrosser will make of it all.
But, all in all, I'm glad I read it. It's a monumental effort and I'll be interested to hear what others think.
here has been a lot of discussion about various aspects of this book. For reference sake, here are some of the forum threads:
The books in the book here. (A total of 52 books get mentioned.)
Where BookCrossers first appear. (40 real life BookCrossers appear in Crossing Paths, including yours truly, though the section I helped Debbie with for Folly Beach and Charleston got edited out. But I do have a journal entry on page 138,)
October 19, 2025
I really enjoyed this! I was a little daunted by its 600 pages and some of the less favourable reviews but I was pleasantly surprised. I read it relatively quickly and found the chapters interspersed with BC journal entries chunked the narrative well. I was driving my little Renault Clio around Europe on my own in 2004 so this time period in Europe has real nostalgia for me which made me enjoy it more. I remember being in a campground in Austria and going to the common room/restaurant to watch the opening ceremony of the Athens Olympics which gets a mention. I wasn’t a bookcrosser then but I wish I had been! A fun read combining a couple of my passions - travel and BookCrossing.
December 24, 2010
It took a while to finish (while my sister was visiting, I didn't have enough own time to read - I didn't realize how much that affects my mood. Don't ever try to prevent me from spending time with books or computers for that matter. After she returned to Europe it was a few nights straight just read quietly on the bed with the hubby and the cats) this big book. I was on around page 200 when I got interrupted (the visit) and it took a while to get the speed up again with the story.
Debbie's definitely done research for the book. I like the idea of the book a lot, but hmm.. what would I have done differently? Or what do I think of the book now? Hmm... (maybe I'd have contemplated with the idea of a bookcrossing murder story. Imagine your detective go thru cryptic journal entries to find out who did it)
Many of the characters seem to think very much in a same way, very absorbed in their own world in the past, not getting past the death of their relatives/friends/husbands etc. They have similar kind of internal doubting and internal dialog. Jane seems also stuck in her past and internal dialogs when she gets the idea to do this around the world trip releasing (only) eight books. Why does she feel the urge to reinvent herself as Ali and then Sarah? What did really happen for Jane's late husband and why is she so stuck in the past? Those are among the thins that keep one wondering what will happen next (or rather what happened first). When she travels she doesn't seem to get excited about the things as a tourist would. The coffee should be different, all the small things people do and how everything smells and tastes should be different. (The sky was different color, but still...)
I wonder also how do non-bookcrossers see the hobby or the bcers after reading the book? I've met a bunch of bookcrossers (and been in meetings of them) in three countries. Unless I'm with the most hardcore hobbyist many concepts (conventions etc) would go beyond what they know of or are interested in.Stalking Following people because their journal entries or release notes are weird? All books that were released get captured? I guess a book can't get open leads, unlike the real life (where a 20 % catch rate for the truly wild books is good). And why are all the books classic literature (or at least I didn't recognize anything that would have been published first in the past 10 years)? Ok - to make the release statistics more realistic would have left way too many open ends, so perhaps it can happen differently in a book.
Most journal entries were in 2004. I'm trying to think what your average joes and janes would have done back then - wouldn't most people have had if not Facebook at least Myspace or some similar online presence?
The list of real life bookcrossers and books that are in this book is impressive. But most books seem to be classic literature - what happened to the books 'most people' read?
The book is huge, and has 600 pages, too heavy to read on the idle moments out of the handbag. Overall I liked it, but it would have been even better being a bit shorter, with more (and outrageous) external (rather than internal) action, maybe more travelogue or travel observations. More drama! And something of the writing style of Maeve Binchy would work awesomely with this story. And I definitely love the idea of a bookcrossing book.
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/8...
Debbie's definitely done research for the book. I like the idea of the book a lot, but hmm.. what would I have done differently? Or what do I think of the book now? Hmm... (maybe I'd have contemplated with the idea of a bookcrossing murder story. Imagine your detective go thru cryptic journal entries to find out who did it)
Many of the characters seem to think very much in a same way, very absorbed in their own world in the past, not getting past the death of their relatives/friends/husbands etc. They have similar kind of internal doubting and internal dialog. Jane seems also stuck in her past and internal dialogs when she gets the idea to do this around the world trip releasing (only) eight books. Why does she feel the urge to reinvent herself as Ali and then Sarah? What did really happen for Jane's late husband and why is she so stuck in the past? Those are among the thins that keep one wondering what will happen next (or rather what happened first). When she travels she doesn't seem to get excited about the things as a tourist would. The coffee should be different, all the small things people do and how everything smells and tastes should be different. (The sky was different color, but still...)
I wonder also how do non-bookcrossers see the hobby or the bcers after reading the book? I've met a bunch of bookcrossers (and been in meetings of them) in three countries. Unless I'm with the most hardcore hobbyist many concepts (conventions etc) would go beyond what they know of or are interested in.
Most journal entries were in 2004. I'm trying to think what your average joes and janes would have done back then - wouldn't most people have had if not Facebook at least Myspace or some similar online presence?
The list of real life bookcrossers and books that are in this book is impressive. But most books seem to be classic literature - what happened to the books 'most people' read?
The book is huge, and has 600 pages, too heavy to read on the idle moments out of the handbag. Overall I liked it, but it would have been even better being a bit shorter, with more (and outrageous) external (rather than internal) action, maybe more travelogue or travel observations. More drama! And something of the writing style of Maeve Binchy would work awesomely with this story. And I definitely love the idea of a bookcrossing book.
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/8...
August 7, 2011
I'm very sorry to say that I thought this book was terrible. It was always going to be hard to incorporate the BookCrossing hobby into a novel, but I'm afraid this was a miserable failure. Now, please forgive the long review because I really want to justify my feelings:
-- Of the dozens of books mentioned, I've only read one and have only heard of two others. They all just seem WAAAY to serious (and I'm not a fan of poetry either.) I'm afraid that someone who reads this book and doesn't know anything about BookCrossing will think we're a bunch of stuffy Lit professors, not the fun and eclectic book club that I know us to be.
-- Also, a non-BCer would think that the hobby is a lot more complicated than it is. Themed releases aren't the norm and we certainly don't have that many members out there actively hunting wild releases!
-- I'm afraid this author just doesn't have the chops to write about so many characters from different countries. She doesn't manage to give each of them a unique voice, the result being that the whole book sounds like it's one Aussie narrator telling the story from ten different perspectives. (An American simply wouldn't say he's doing "stocktaking" and an old lady from Ft. Worth would never say "she hasn't rung for weeks", for example.)
-- I was annoyed by the amount of dialog in this book. It adds un-necessary length to an already staggeringly slow read.
-- and finally: The whole plot revolves around one of my pet-peeves -- something that is always a fatal flaw, in my opinion... I can't stand it when characters "Fall in LOVE" immediately, before even getting to know each other. It's not even romantic. It's just stupid and unrealistic.
There were only a few good points to the book, mostly due to my experiences as a BookCrosser rather than the author's talent at storytelling:
-- I was happy to see flambard make a brief appearance. I've enjoyed a few trades with this fellow fan of Christopher Moore. :)
-- I was reminded that I've also had life-changing PM conversations with BCers who I've never met in person. About 5 years ago, BruceAlexander told me that he's a full-time RVer with a cat and he convinced me that I would be happy doing the same (and I have been since then!)
-- I was also reminded about how attached we get to our books. Some are meaningful to us in a way that nobody would understand and it's a great dynamic of BCing that you can keep them to yourself, or share your books/feelings with friends you know, or just set them free and see where the fates take them.
-- and finally, after the author mentioned around page 200 that Jeremy looked like John Cusack, I at least got to visualize that hottie for the rest of the book!
-- Of the dozens of books mentioned, I've only read one and have only heard of two others. They all just seem WAAAY to serious (and I'm not a fan of poetry either.) I'm afraid that someone who reads this book and doesn't know anything about BookCrossing will think we're a bunch of stuffy Lit professors, not the fun and eclectic book club that I know us to be.
-- Also, a non-BCer would think that the hobby is a lot more complicated than it is. Themed releases aren't the norm and we certainly don't have that many members out there actively hunting wild releases!
-- I'm afraid this author just doesn't have the chops to write about so many characters from different countries. She doesn't manage to give each of them a unique voice, the result being that the whole book sounds like it's one Aussie narrator telling the story from ten different perspectives. (An American simply wouldn't say he's doing "stocktaking" and an old lady from Ft. Worth would never say "she hasn't rung for weeks", for example.)
-- I was annoyed by the amount of dialog in this book. It adds un-necessary length to an already staggeringly slow read.
-- and finally: The whole plot revolves around one of my pet-peeves -- something that is always a fatal flaw, in my opinion... I can't stand it when characters "Fall in LOVE" immediately, before even getting to know each other. It's not even romantic. It's just stupid and unrealistic.
There were only a few good points to the book, mostly due to my experiences as a BookCrosser rather than the author's talent at storytelling:
-- I was happy to see flambard make a brief appearance. I've enjoyed a few trades with this fellow fan of Christopher Moore. :)
-- I was reminded that I've also had life-changing PM conversations with BCers who I've never met in person. About 5 years ago, BruceAlexander told me that he's a full-time RVer with a cat and he convinced me that I would be happy doing the same (and I have been since then!)
-- I was also reminded about how attached we get to our books. Some are meaningful to us in a way that nobody would understand and it's a great dynamic of BCing that you can keep them to yourself, or share your books/feelings with friends you know, or just set them free and see where the fates take them.
-- and finally, after the author mentioned around page 200 that Jeremy looked like John Cusack, I at least got to visualize that hottie for the rest of the book!
December 6, 2010
Wow, what to say about this book? First, it's huge (600 pages long) and very heavy. That's not so much of a problem, but along with the length of the book comes many characters -- almost too many for my tastes. I had a hard time remembering all of the "live" players in the story, as well as all the virtual characters (BCers) who are mentioned in the various journal entries, who did or did not always coincide with some of the live characters.I think the *idea* of this novel is interesting, but I'm not sure I believe the author carried it out adequately. Maybe it's that so much of it was just too darn 'cheesy'. First, the idea that so many of the characters (four different couples, each half of each couple being from different countries around the world) would fall in love with each other so quickly, based almost only on journal entries, and that they would be willing (and able) to follow each other around the world. Second, nearly every book in this novel gets 'caught' and journaled quickly and interestingly -- which we all know doesn't happen (sadly!). Third -- a psychic is involved? Really? (a bit far fetched, sorry). And finally -- one of my biggest pet peeves by foreign authors -- when the characters don't use the appropriate 'voice' or lingo in their 'speech'. The Australian author may use words like "come 'round" or "ring me", or "get things sorted", but an American in Boston or a Greek in Athens definitely would not. It just makes reading the story seem not very genuine when the 'voices' of the various characters aren't true to their culture or nationality.All in all, reading this book was a chore. It was interesting, and I enjoyed all the different cities and countries the characters visited ... but otherwise, I'd say it was only mediocre.
October 4, 2013
I have not finished this book yet, but it has opened my eyes to book crossing. I did a lot of researching reguarding book crossing and most likely would have joined if I still lived in a urban area. Right now I live in a town that is now up to the possibly the mid 60's. This book is for the more serious reader, one reason it is taking me so long to read it, I tend to go for the easy read. The beginning was confusing as you are introduced to so many characters and I had to back up several times. Still a fantastic book.
December 28, 2013
Congratulations to Debbie for pulling off such an ambitious project! I enjoyed the characters and their separate stories,and the way they were drawn together through Bookcrossing and synchronicity. Being a traveller, I also enjoyed the physical journey as the protagonist, Jane, travels the world, frenetically seeking her own truth. I felt like Debbie was telling her own story.
It's a complex plot and I sometimes found myself a bit lost, but I applaud Debbie for persisting with her vision.
It's a complex plot and I sometimes found myself a bit lost, but I applaud Debbie for persisting with her vision.
January 21, 2011
Bookcrossing European bookring, www.bookcrossing.com/journal/8400690.
Received December 7th 2010.
Received December 7th 2010.
November 10, 2017
I read this book back in 2011 as part of a BookCrossing ring....I mean, a book about BookCrossing, how could I resist?
So what did I make of this weighty tome? Well I didn't warm to Jane....or even Ali or Sarah!...& didn't really understand the hold she seemed to have over Jeremy. Romances seemed to flourish quickly with the characters prepared to fly across the world to meet someone they had exchanged only a couple of PMs with. Is it realistic? Well, it's never, & it's not going to happen to me (happily married!) but I like the thought that for others it might.
The books journalled all seemed so serious to me, I know Jane had issues & the books she released tied in with her mood but surely she could have found one book that was on the lighter side.
I did like the fact that real bookcrossers names were used but irritatingly I found myself continually referring to the sheet (albeit very handy) to check which ones were"real". But while the JE's were all connected to different bookcrossers, and this probably sounds picky, for me they all had the same sombre, staid tone to them....I'd have liked more variation in style.
Overall, I liked the book though felt it was overlong (thank goodness she had only 8 books to release!) & I think it's very much a bookcrossers book - not sure what a non-BCer would make of it all.
If you want to know what the other readers of the book ring thought have a look HERE!
So what did I make of this weighty tome? Well I didn't warm to Jane....or even Ali or Sarah!...& didn't really understand the hold she seemed to have over Jeremy. Romances seemed to flourish quickly with the characters prepared to fly across the world to meet someone they had exchanged only a couple of PMs with. Is it realistic? Well, it's never, & it's not going to happen to me (happily married!) but I like the thought that for others it might.
The books journalled all seemed so serious to me, I know Jane had issues & the books she released tied in with her mood but surely she could have found one book that was on the lighter side.
I did like the fact that real bookcrossers names were used but irritatingly I found myself continually referring to the sheet (albeit very handy) to check which ones were"real". But while the JE's were all connected to different bookcrossers, and this probably sounds picky, for me they all had the same sombre, staid tone to them....I'd have liked more variation in style.
Overall, I liked the book though felt it was overlong (thank goodness she had only 8 books to release!) & I think it's very much a bookcrossers book - not sure what a non-BCer would make of it all.
If you want to know what the other readers of the book ring thought have a look HERE!
October 27, 2011
Spent a luxurious time lounging around in bed this am finishing reading this book :o) Its taken me a few weeks to read but could be due to its sheer size & the effort it takes to hold it up! I have also needed time to contemplate some of it's musings & to try not to freak out about the coincidences! I do wonder more and more if we are drawn to the books or if they in fact choose us! The pauses I have had in reading this book seem perfectly timed with certain events in my life at the moment... properly freaky!
Overall, the book has brought me a renewed love for BookCrossing and have to admit I felt quite ashamed at how poor a BCer I really am when I began reading it! The journeys and lives & crossed paths in the novel made for good reading but were all a bit too fast paced and timed at the beginning which I felt was unrealistic, but then it is of course a work of fiction and I feel that the whole BC experience of wild releasing was wildly fantasied, but then I also think that was the point! Can you see why I have needed time for musing?!?
Anyway, I've ended up updating my wishlist through some of the books that were being released in the story as they certainly sound like interesting reading and I think this is a book that I would like to come back to after reading some of the novels in the future...
Thank you Catherine for passing this onto me, it definitely sums up the karma of good literature!
Overall, the book has brought me a renewed love for BookCrossing and have to admit I felt quite ashamed at how poor a BCer I really am when I began reading it! The journeys and lives & crossed paths in the novel made for good reading but were all a bit too fast paced and timed at the beginning which I felt was unrealistic, but then it is of course a work of fiction and I feel that the whole BC experience of wild releasing was wildly fantasied, but then I also think that was the point! Can you see why I have needed time for musing?!?
Anyway, I've ended up updating my wishlist through some of the books that were being released in the story as they certainly sound like interesting reading and I think this is a book that I would like to come back to after reading some of the novels in the future...
Thank you Catherine for passing this onto me, it definitely sums up the karma of good literature!
February 18, 2016
I'm a bookcrosser and I would have liked to love this book as much as I love bookcrossing, but unfortunately this book was a great disappointment. I became annoyed while reading this book.
The thickness of the book shocked me when I saw it for the first time. I would have liked to read the story in much more compact form, now there were too many books and characters, too much dialogue - the amount of countries and continents also made me confused. I certainly had difficulties to follow the characters which had similar voices. The love affairs didn't sound believable at all, and the whole book described bookcrossing as travelling, making themed releases all over the world and hunting for intimate relationships. The bookcrossers were described as 'serious' and 'profound' analytical readers, as literature professionals, not 'ordinary' people. Unfortunately this book doesn't offer a realistic picture of bookcrossing for someone who doesn't know what bookcrossing is about.
The thickness of the book shocked me when I saw it for the first time. I would have liked to read the story in much more compact form, now there were too many books and characters, too much dialogue - the amount of countries and continents also made me confused. I certainly had difficulties to follow the characters which had similar voices. The love affairs didn't sound believable at all, and the whole book described bookcrossing as travelling, making themed releases all over the world and hunting for intimate relationships. The bookcrossers were described as 'serious' and 'profound' analytical readers, as literature professionals, not 'ordinary' people. Unfortunately this book doesn't offer a realistic picture of bookcrossing for someone who doesn't know what bookcrossing is about.
November 17, 2015
Like FutureCat before me, I did find that the characters were a little confusing, but they got clearer towards the end, so much so, that I went back and re-read it. It took me a while to really get into it, but as I got closer to the end I was positively racing along!
The fact that I'm a sucker for a love story helped a lot :D
I especially loved the mentions of BCers I know, and it was a little frustrating not having internet while reading this, I kept wanting to go and look things up!
OH, and I think I've somehow ended up with Lakelady's copy of Sonnets From The Portuguese, which I didn't realise until after I'd read it! Thanks to Skyring for that one :p
The fact that I'm a sucker for a love story helped a lot :D
I especially loved the mentions of BCers I know, and it was a little frustrating not having internet while reading this, I kept wanting to go and look things up!
OH, and I think I've somehow ended up with Lakelady's copy of Sonnets From The Portuguese, which I didn't realise until after I'd read it! Thanks to Skyring for that one :p
October 2, 2010
From the back cover:
"In an endeavour to come to terms with her past, Jane Townsend travels overseas armed with eight BookCrossing books to releases in three different continents.
But after crossing paths with Jeremy Braithwaite her life starts to unravel and it is up to several other BookCrossers to trace her movements through her virtual bookshelf and find her before it is too late..."
"In an endeavour to come to terms with her past, Jane Townsend travels overseas armed with eight BookCrossing books to releases in three different continents.
But after crossing paths with Jeremy Braithwaite her life starts to unravel and it is up to several other BookCrossers to trace her movements through her virtual bookshelf and find her before it is too late..."
April 23, 2012
Bookring.
I liked the mass release of Agatha Christie books and the guy running after the Bookcrosser saying 'you've left your book'. Then he joined so that was OK. I didn't have a problem with remembering the characters. It would have been good to have a date on each chapter so I could see how the JE's related.
I liked the mass release of Agatha Christie books and the guy running after the Bookcrosser saying 'you've left your book'. Then he joined so that was OK. I didn't have a problem with remembering the characters. It would have been good to have a date on each chapter so I could see how the JE's related.
May 28, 2013
My first kindle read, on my new Asus tablet!
July 28, 2022
I'm impressed with myself that I read it all, I was not expecting that from myself from how things took off in Latvia... but then synchronicity, I guess - I got Covid and a lot of time to read.
A very strange book. A book about BookCrossing, which she compares to "a parallel universe." She does create a parallel BookCrossing, where everybody seems to be a bookcrosser, they fall in love with each other after one message, they confess love in journal entries, they pass the same book back and forth to each other several times, the books seem to follow them, books travel from the US to Europe in less than a week, and everyone interferes with other people's business. I must say that I prefer the real BookCrossing to this fantasy BookCrossing.
I could not feel Jane's grief and she often really acted like a mad woman. And what was so special about her that all the men were falling head over heels over her? Finally, all that new age stuff was getting too much for my liking towards the end. And finally finally, there were quite a few typos - misspelled words, mixed up names (somebody had corrected one such place with a pencil) and two places where time was mixed up - PM with AM.
What I liked about the book - BookCrossing references, familiar names such as over-the-moon and MissMarkey, travelling (I often Googled up pictures of locations and discovered some nice ones on the way) and bookish references (most literature seemed too depressing for my liking, but maybe I will note down some AUS/NZ related books and authors). Ah, and even if it seems (and IS) too long with 600 pages, it reads faster than I thought because of many book journals and half-pages.
A very strange book. A book about BookCrossing, which she compares to "a parallel universe." She does create a parallel BookCrossing, where everybody seems to be a bookcrosser, they fall in love with each other after one message, they confess love in journal entries, they pass the same book back and forth to each other several times, the books seem to follow them, books travel from the US to Europe in less than a week, and everyone interferes with other people's business. I must say that I prefer the real BookCrossing to this fantasy BookCrossing.
I could not feel Jane's grief and she often really acted like a mad woman. And what was so special about her that all the men were falling head over heels over her? Finally, all that new age stuff was getting too much for my liking towards the end. And finally finally, there were quite a few typos - misspelled words, mixed up names (somebody had corrected one such place with a pencil) and two places where time was mixed up - PM with AM.
What I liked about the book - BookCrossing references, familiar names such as over-the-moon and MissMarkey, travelling (I often Googled up pictures of locations and discovered some nice ones on the way) and bookish references (most literature seemed too depressing for my liking, but maybe I will note down some AUS/NZ related books and authors). Ah, and even if it seems (and IS) too long with 600 pages, it reads faster than I thought because of many book journals and half-pages.
May 1, 2022
As much as I wanted to like this book, unfortunately, it's 1,5 stars for me. I was glad to see some familiar BC names, such as over-the-moon, but that basically sums up everything nice that I have to say about this book.
Those fictional Bookcrossers sounded a bit like lunatics to me! They send 1-2 PMs to other BCers and - voila!- " fall in love"! Or, they start chasing their fellow BCer around the world, when she clearly wants to be left alone - that's creepy!
Who the hell is being let next to the luggage carousel at the airport arrivals to meet someone? Who can "travel around the world in 80 days" without ever needing a visa? Who gets in touch over the internet with people they've never seen before and considers them "a family"? Those are our fictional Bookcrossers! Oh, and Ruth the psychic - I'm not even going to say anything here, in the end, everyone seems to be just doing whatever she has imagined or dreamt, without ever questioning her sanity. What?
The plot is simply boring and unrealistic, the characters are dull and lack any common sense and the book has too many pages for what it has to offer to the reader.
Those fictional Bookcrossers sounded a bit like lunatics to me! They send 1-2 PMs to other BCers and - voila!- " fall in love"! Or, they start chasing their fellow BCer around the world, when she clearly wants to be left alone - that's creepy!
Who the hell is being let next to the luggage carousel at the airport arrivals to meet someone? Who can "travel around the world in 80 days" without ever needing a visa? Who gets in touch over the internet with people they've never seen before and considers them "a family"? Those are our fictional Bookcrossers! Oh, and Ruth the psychic - I'm not even going to say anything here, in the end, everyone seems to be just doing whatever she has imagined or dreamt, without ever questioning her sanity. What?
The plot is simply boring and unrealistic, the characters are dull and lack any common sense and the book has too many pages for what it has to offer to the reader.
January 29, 2025
I'm swinging between one and two stars. It really needs a one and a half to be fair.
This book is badly edited (lots of typos, wrong names in places, and really needed better shape editing too). I loved the idea for the novel, but it really is too long and could have been so much better with a good edit. It was SO hard going to read it. Normally I would have given up at the 100 page mark, but I felt I needed to complete it, as I've waited for over 4 years for it to get to me as part of a BookCrossing Ring. I felt I owed it to the others within the Ring to finish it.
I wish I could find something to redeem it, but the only thing I can say is how I enjoyed seeing a few BookCrossing names appear from people who are still on BookCrossing.
The reality here is that this book could easily be half this size. There is a lot of unnecessary 'telling' that should have been removed. I think the telling made me intensely dislike a few of the characters. I wish I had some better things to say, but I'm sorry I don't.
This book is badly edited (lots of typos, wrong names in places, and really needed better shape editing too). I loved the idea for the novel, but it really is too long and could have been so much better with a good edit. It was SO hard going to read it. Normally I would have given up at the 100 page mark, but I felt I needed to complete it, as I've waited for over 4 years for it to get to me as part of a BookCrossing Ring. I felt I owed it to the others within the Ring to finish it.
I wish I could find something to redeem it, but the only thing I can say is how I enjoyed seeing a few BookCrossing names appear from people who are still on BookCrossing.
The reality here is that this book could easily be half this size. There is a lot of unnecessary 'telling' that should have been removed. I think the telling made me intensely dislike a few of the characters. I wish I had some better things to say, but I'm sorry I don't.
August 27, 2012
Being a bookcrosser who has had dealings with Debbie, and several of those who get a name check in this book, I really wanted to like it. However I found it both frenetic and slow at the same time: the characters were whizzing around all over the place, trying to escape themselves, but some of their introspection was repeated and the first couple of perspective shifts were confusing, particularly as those people took time to become part of the main narrative. I did quite enjoy the race against time at the end, but was never quite convinced by the principal characters. It might be because of the lack of differentiation in their voices which other reviewers have mentioned, but I'm not analytical enough to say if that is so.
Another criticism others have made is the lack of a sense of place. I don't entirely agree with that one - I thought the cities were rather featureless, but I could visualise Mevagissey and the location of Mary's B&B from the descriptions. As to whether or not people fall in love or go chasing round after people they know first through their bookshelves, sorry oh cynical ones, it may not happen as frequently as this tale suggests (rather like catches, really) but were I a gossip I could give you a list and be sure it would be far from comprehensive!
In the week or so between finishing the book and writing this review I have sought out and read one of the novels featured and have dusted down my copy of ee cummings' Complete Poems so it was inspirational at least.
Another criticism others have made is the lack of a sense of place. I don't entirely agree with that one - I thought the cities were rather featureless, but I could visualise Mevagissey and the location of Mary's B&B from the descriptions. As to whether or not people fall in love or go chasing round after people they know first through their bookshelves, sorry oh cynical ones, it may not happen as frequently as this tale suggests (rather like catches, really) but were I a gossip I could give you a list and be sure it would be far from comprehensive!
In the week or so between finishing the book and writing this review I have sought out and read one of the novels featured and have dusted down my copy of ee cummings' Complete Poems so it was inspirational at least.
November 16, 2010
I had never heard of BookCrossing when I signed up to win a free copy of this on goodreads. I was just interested in the description of the plot. After receiving my book I was a little worried I might have to become a BookCrosser to understand what was going on, but happily that wasn't the case.
I enjoyed the journey of this book, and especially liked some of the characters I met along the way (Mary Christmas/Darling and Ruth/moonrunes). I had a hard time connecting with Jane/Ali/Sarah/ect. I understand her mental state wasn't the best, but I really didn't care for her most of the time. That surprised me since everyone she met in the book was inexplicably drawn to her or fell in love with her. There were quite a few books mentioned in this work and I wish I had been more familiar with them.
July 10, 2014
This is the story of Jane and her friends. All of them are avid Bookcrossers, and Jane is on a mission to release seven books at particular spots in the world. When she starts to act a bit abnormal, these friends step in to figure out what is going on.
Several love connection and friendship arise from this constant attention to journal entries. Don't know if a non-BCer would enjoy the book as the interruptions of PMs and journal entries break the flow of the story.
At first, the story is difficult to get into, but eventually once all the characters are sorted out, then the mystery of how and why becomes intriguing.
Several love connection and friendship arise from this constant attention to journal entries. Don't know if a non-BCer would enjoy the book as the interruptions of PMs and journal entries break the flow of the story.
At first, the story is difficult to get into, but eventually once all the characters are sorted out, then the mystery of how and why becomes intriguing.
not-finished
July 31, 2012I read about 1/2 of this ebook, but other books kept crying out to be read. I may come back to this book one day.
Want to read
July 6, 2013I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11878827
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11878827
Read
February 17, 2024This bookcrossing book is here as a ring, appropriately. I really wasn't sure what to expect and for some reason was not sure about whether I would want to read it. At some point I did sign up.
I don't know how easy this would be to follow if one were not a bookcrosser, but at the same time my experience as a bookcrosser (coming up on 20 years, wow!) is quite different from that described in the book (see below).
I tried not to read other reviews before starting mine (in general, but especially here), but I did catch a glimpse of Bethany's mentioning that she found there were a few too many characters or names. I agree that it took me a while to cotton on to the system, between the bookcrossing names and the character's names and the other names of people who released books but did not get involved in the (extremely) complicated connections. And of course, Jane very quickly starts taking on other names as well, which I found very strange indeed. Confusing.
On the whole I actually enjoyed this more than I expected - and appreciated Jonathan and Russell's story, and Ruth (and Teddy) and Daphne...
Hopefully no spoilers here. I did struggle with the wild love between Jeremy and Ali, given that they'd met perhaps twice before it was clear to Jeremy that this was his one true love. At the same time, he seemed concerned about how often he's going to have to be consoling and comforting... rather a shaky role to hold in a long term relationship, I think.
I did find Jane/Ali/Sarah difficult - apparently very young and nonetheless a veritable femme fatale when required. Her choices are more or less explained, but I was not touched by her apparent charisma, so often found her more annoying than anything else.
Likewise Pascal and Mary, as much as I liked Mary, their relationship took off so quickly it lacked credibility - but at least, unlike Jeremy and Jane, they actually wrote to each other beyond cryptic messages in the journals.
Perhaps coming from Australia, the criss-crossing itinerary of Jane is not shocking, but I couldn't help wondering about the logic. Also getting to the UK from France by train often requires at least changing in Paris, although she was keen to steer clear of it... for example.
What surprised me most about the book was the way the actual bookcrossing was depicted. I have not done a great deal of book hunting (although a bookcrossing friend did once indicate to me where she would be leaving a book in Luzern, and I was happy to find it there). Here the hectic pace of releases and catches surprised me - arriving too late to get the book as someone else had already snatched it up - my experience of wild releases has been sadly stagnant (So far only one book of the many I wild released was ever caught and it was only journalled once).
This is why I much prefer rings, rays, book boxes and VBBs.
Also I was surprised by the number of private messages in the book journals - I have made a number of bookcrossing friends, but we send each other private messages or even eventually exchange emails. I usually refrain from putting anything personal in the journalling of books, including real names. But maybe that's just me.
Anyway, I am very curious to hear how a non-bookcrosser would find this book.
Meanwhile I remain an enthusiastic bookcrosser - thanks so much lakelady2282 for writing this and sharing it with the world.
I don't know how easy this would be to follow if one were not a bookcrosser, but at the same time my experience as a bookcrosser (coming up on 20 years, wow!) is quite different from that described in the book (see below).
I tried not to read other reviews before starting mine (in general, but especially here), but I did catch a glimpse of Bethany's mentioning that she found there were a few too many characters or names. I agree that it took me a while to cotton on to the system, between the bookcrossing names and the character's names and the other names of people who released books but did not get involved in the (extremely) complicated connections. And of course, Jane very quickly starts taking on other names as well, which I found very strange indeed. Confusing.
On the whole I actually enjoyed this more than I expected - and appreciated Jonathan and Russell's story, and Ruth (and Teddy) and Daphne...
Hopefully no spoilers here. I did struggle with the wild love between Jeremy and Ali, given that they'd met perhaps twice before it was clear to Jeremy that this was his one true love. At the same time, he seemed concerned about how often he's going to have to be consoling and comforting... rather a shaky role to hold in a long term relationship, I think.
I did find Jane/Ali/Sarah difficult - apparently very young and nonetheless a veritable femme fatale when required. Her choices are more or less explained, but I was not touched by her apparent charisma, so often found her more annoying than anything else.
Likewise Pascal and Mary, as much as I liked Mary, their relationship took off so quickly it lacked credibility - but at least, unlike Jeremy and Jane, they actually wrote to each other beyond cryptic messages in the journals.
Perhaps coming from Australia, the criss-crossing itinerary of Jane is not shocking, but I couldn't help wondering about the logic. Also getting to the UK from France by train often requires at least changing in Paris, although she was keen to steer clear of it... for example.
What surprised me most about the book was the way the actual bookcrossing was depicted. I have not done a great deal of book hunting (although a bookcrossing friend did once indicate to me where she would be leaving a book in Luzern, and I was happy to find it there). Here the hectic pace of releases and catches surprised me - arriving too late to get the book as someone else had already snatched it up - my experience of wild releases has been sadly stagnant (So far only one book of the many I wild released was ever caught and it was only journalled once).
This is why I much prefer rings, rays, book boxes and VBBs.
Also I was surprised by the number of private messages in the book journals - I have made a number of bookcrossing friends, but we send each other private messages or even eventually exchange emails. I usually refrain from putting anything personal in the journalling of books, including real names. But maybe that's just me.
Anyway, I am very curious to hear how a non-bookcrosser would find this book.
Meanwhile I remain an enthusiastic bookcrosser - thanks so much lakelady2282 for writing this and sharing it with the world.
October 13, 2025
Crossing Paths by Debbie Robson is a beautifully layered literary mystery that celebrates the serendipity of books and the unseen connections they create. At once a story of loss, discovery, and community, it reimagines the digital age of reading as something profoundly human.
Through the real-world phenomenon of BookCrossing, Robson crafts an intimate world where novels don’t just travel they heal, unite, and reveal. When Jane Townsend mysteriously disappears, the trail of her shared books becomes both a breadcrumb path and a mirror of her inner life. Each reader who encounters her abandoned volumes finds their own story transformed.
Robson’s writing brims with emotional nuance and quiet suspense. Every chapter is a reminder that stories much like people leave imprints long after they’re gone. It’s an ode to literature as living connection, a narrative where coincidence feels like destiny, and reading becomes an act of rediscovery.
For fans of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and 84, Charing Cross Road, Crossing Paths captures the heart of bibliophilia the faith that books, and the people who love them, always find their way back to each other.
Through the real-world phenomenon of BookCrossing, Robson crafts an intimate world where novels don’t just travel they heal, unite, and reveal. When Jane Townsend mysteriously disappears, the trail of her shared books becomes both a breadcrumb path and a mirror of her inner life. Each reader who encounters her abandoned volumes finds their own story transformed.
Robson’s writing brims with emotional nuance and quiet suspense. Every chapter is a reminder that stories much like people leave imprints long after they’re gone. It’s an ode to literature as living connection, a narrative where coincidence feels like destiny, and reading becomes an act of rediscovery.
For fans of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and 84, Charing Cross Road, Crossing Paths captures the heart of bibliophilia the faith that books, and the people who love them, always find their way back to each other.
January 22, 2024
Well, I finally finished this last night. I have to admit I have read another book in-between - I desperately needed a break!
This wasn't at all my cup of tea and I honestly don't know why I finished it. Even my husband asked "are you still reading this book?" ;-)
There were way too many characters and since I only have time in the evening to read I needed quite some time to get into it again and sort out who's who!
I didn't like Jane at all. And I didn't understand her.. this to and fro and J yes and J no.. poor man.
What was so special about her that they all started chasing her around the world?
Same for Russel and Jonathan... will he like me? oh he's so good looking.. Am I good enough for him? oh man!!
But worst of all was the constant "the Canadian" "the young Australian" "the Frenchman", the "Englishman"... after three repetitions on ONE page I really wanted to scream!
The book was way too long and I have to admit I do not know ANY of these books mentioned here... but that's probably me and my choice of reading.
And - as mentioned several times - bookcrossing doesn't work this way!
This wasn't at all my cup of tea and I honestly don't know why I finished it. Even my husband asked "are you still reading this book?" ;-)
There were way too many characters and since I only have time in the evening to read I needed quite some time to get into it again and sort out who's who!
I didn't like Jane at all. And I didn't understand her.. this to and fro and J yes and J no.. poor man.
What was so special about her that they all started chasing her around the world?
Same for Russel and Jonathan... will he like me? oh he's so good looking.. Am I good enough for him? oh man!!
But worst of all was the constant "the Canadian" "the young Australian" "the Frenchman", the "Englishman"... after three repetitions on ONE page I really wanted to scream!
The book was way too long and I have to admit I do not know ANY of these books mentioned here... but that's probably me and my choice of reading.
And - as mentioned several times - bookcrossing doesn't work this way!
April 17, 2021
I have been really fascinated by the concept of this book since I first heard about it, so I was very excited to read it. I found it fairly easy to read (although the jumping around of characters and a few other bits did confuse me). I didn’t like the main characters of Jane and Jeremy as their instant obsessive love and the lengths they went to wasn’t very believable. I did enjoy some of the other characters, especially Ruth, who was my favourite. I think the author tried to include too many good ideas to be able to execute them all in one story. It might have been better to make this story idea into a trilogy to do everything justice.
Read
December 28, 2020This book is legendary in BookCrossing circles, but I'd never seen a copy of it. So I jumped at the chance to join the bookring. This follows one Australian BookCrosser around the world as she seeks to release six symbolic books following the death of her husband. It sorely needed an editor - two, in fact, a structural editor and a copy editor - but it was really effective in reminding me of the joy of sharing books in general, and BookCrossing in particular, and it was lovely to see some familiar BC names.
December 31, 2021
I wish I'd enjoyed this book more. Unfortunately I found it a bit of a slog. As a bookcrosser I also found that the bookcrossing world portrayed holds little resemblance to the one currently in existence. Books aren't just sitting where they get left waiting for you - if that was the case we'd all have caught and journaled a lot more wild releases.
February 1, 2015
Oh dear I wanted to read this a long time ago but always just missed a copy at Bookcrossing meet ups etc. I'm so glad I didn't buy a copy! I saw this was included in the Kindle Unlimited selection, and as I have a free trail for another week thought this was my chance to read it.
It's far, far too long.
It's confusing.
The characters do not have distinct voices. They are the same one dimensional sketch. They do not sound authentic, using terms and expressions that sound as if the author has not visited the countries, or even knows people of the different nationalities.
Bookcrossing is not what exactly what I would describe as an online book club. The way that books are left and immediately snatched up is not actually what happens. I've come across books left for others to find outdoors, in really busy areas, which are sopping wet and unreadable because no one has picked them up for a few days. The mad dash and disappointment finding a released book has been taken, that characters experience, is not often the case for most releases. Once I left a pile of books at my favourite bustling cafe, then realised I'd included a book my cousin had specifically said she wanted returned. So I went back to the cafe the next day; not only was it still on the book exchange shelf but it had my bookmark in place too
Bookcrossing was a great idea and has enabled many friendships both online and in the material world, it's definitely a great way to share books and get people socialising, but the reality is that most are not journaled, even by other Bookcrossers.
There seems to be quite a lot of confusion about geography; the main character refers to visiting Greece AND Europe. Another guesses which people are European, or English. Oh dear.
As many others here have said there is an impression that Bookcrossers only read classic literature. There no mention of any chick lit or lighter reads that you mostly find in hostels, cafés and book exchanges, those books which people read for light entertainment and are happy to pass on.
I read the first part, skimmed a hefty section of the rest and gave up well before my kindle said I'd reached the 50% mark. There are far too many other good books waiting to be read. Shame, but you win some, you lose some.
It's far, far too long.
It's confusing.
The characters do not have distinct voices. They are the same one dimensional sketch. They do not sound authentic, using terms and expressions that sound as if the author has not visited the countries, or even knows people of the different nationalities.
Bookcrossing is not what exactly what I would describe as an online book club. The way that books are left and immediately snatched up is not actually what happens. I've come across books left for others to find outdoors, in really busy areas, which are sopping wet and unreadable because no one has picked them up for a few days. The mad dash and disappointment finding a released book has been taken, that characters experience, is not often the case for most releases. Once I left a pile of books at my favourite bustling cafe, then realised I'd included a book my cousin had specifically said she wanted returned. So I went back to the cafe the next day; not only was it still on the book exchange shelf but it had my bookmark in place too
Bookcrossing was a great idea and has enabled many friendships both online and in the material world, it's definitely a great way to share books and get people socialising, but the reality is that most are not journaled, even by other Bookcrossers.
There seems to be quite a lot of confusion about geography; the main character refers to visiting Greece AND Europe. Another guesses which people are European, or English. Oh dear.
As many others here have said there is an impression that Bookcrossers only read classic literature. There no mention of any chick lit or lighter reads that you mostly find in hostels, cafés and book exchanges, those books which people read for light entertainment and are happy to pass on.
I read the first part, skimmed a hefty section of the rest and gave up well before my kindle said I'd reached the 50% mark. There are far too many other good books waiting to be read. Shame, but you win some, you lose some.
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