genre: fictionrating: 5/5
A small island in the English Channel, recently liberated from German Occupation. A smart-alecky authoress in war-torn London who is searching for something fresh to write about. A hidden roast pig. A group of eclectic islanders who get together to discuss literature.
I am telling you, put these elements together and you get one of the most pleasant and entertaining reads I have enjoyed for a long time. It's a story of surviving a war and putting your life back together afterward. It's about the thrill of new friendships and the joy of old ones. It's about finding the beauty in a horrible situation and the people we meet that change the way we live our lives.
I don't want to tell you anything else because it was such a pleasure to discover on its own. Except, I do want to say that it's written in epistolary style, is as clever and witty as it could possibly be and that I wouldn't change a thing about it. If I could give it six stars, I would. If I could have these characters for my own neighbors, that would be even better.
14 comments:
I loved this book, too. I just hated for it to end.
This has been on my list for SO long now, and I've had so many recommendations for it!
I loved this book! I lived in Guernsey in 1984.
I'm so glad you liked it! I thought it was fabulous.
I'm reading this for my in-person book group in November, so I can eagerly look forward to it. :)
Melissa - I read it for my in-person group too! It's on Thursday *grin* cutting it a bit close!
Beth F - that's so crazy that you lived there!! Awesome!
This has been in my lust-list ever since it has been released :)
I was hesitant about reading this one. but your review just changed my mind. Sounds like it should be really good.
Ah, man! I wanted to recommend it in December as a fun, easy read for the holiday month at the Nook. I read a review of it a long time ago in the Seattle PI (before the paper folded) - just happened to walk by the book tables at Costco two weekends past and there it was, calling to me. It was a real pleasure to read. (I thought of you with the WWII tie in.)
And it was one of those books you could read at the last minute in a quick sitting! Hope your book group has a fun discussion.
6 stars!! I have this one sitting on my floor (actually gave it to my step-mom for Christmas and she loaned it back to me) and I've been thinking about making it my book club pick. But that's not until November!! :) So glad you loved it. And glad you didn't give too much away--discovering is so much fun.
i enjoyed this one too. i thought it was delightful, yet didn't downplay the horrors of war. nice review!
One of my favourite books from last year ...... loved it and will one that I will re-read again :)
Thanks for the review! I've posted it here.
--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric
I really enjoyed this one too, and I even finally got my review up! :) My in-person book group had a great discussion with this one. We ended up talking a lot about how books have influenced our lives.
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