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One of my favorite books ever, ever, ever! This was one of our cousins book club selections and I'm so glad we read it. The story was fascinating and taught me things I didn't know about WW2. For starters, I didn't realize that Guernsey was occupied during the war. The characters in this story were developed through their letters which moved the story along in a delightful way. I loved the way the story came to life through the individual voices in the letters. These individuals were brought together by the sudden formation of the literary society which turned out to be a unifying and helpful diversionary activity that helped these lovable characters through a terrible time in history. A book written by an aunt and her niece that is captivating and heart-wrenching and beautifully told. Just a few of the reasons this book is one of my favorites. ---------------- Hey, I just found this review I wrote when I first finished the book in 2009: I love this book! Told through letters between the characters, it took me a number of pages to sort out the who's who, but that was nearly as mentally stimulating as watching the story unfold throughout the intricately woven story. Interestingly enough, I hadn't really thought much about the Channel Islands during WWII and found myself looking up historical info about the time period once again. Thinking I was in the midst of a sweet, nostalgic story, I was surprised to find myself deeply entrenched in the horrors of Nazi occupation, wishing these gentle souls did not have to face such inhumanity. So very much like the real tragedy of the time. You know you have read a wonderful book when you get to the end and find yourself wishing you could read more about the quirky, endearing and sometimes tragic characters. And what reader wouldn't love a book about letters and reading bringing people together, especially during hard times. I'm definitely adding this book to my favorites list.

2020-08-17 08:25