The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

That's what I love about reading: one tiny thing will interest you in a book, and that tiny thing will lead you to another book, and another bit there will lead you onto a third book. It's geometrically progressive - all with no end in sight, and for no other reason than sheer enjoyment.

This book was "perfection". The cutest thing I've ever read. If anyone needs an uplifting read, this is the book to visit. Take a trip to Guernsey, you won't regret it. I've been a bit stuck in post world war novels and most of them have had their fair share of angst but this one has more light than darkness and even though there are sad things in this book you walk away with a light heart. 

This novel is composed of letters written between Juliet, a journalist in London, and the members of the Literary and Potato Peel Soceity on Guernsey, an island in the English Channel that was occupied by the Germans in World War II. The letters chronicle the occupation and post-war life on Guernsey, including the search for Guernsey's beloved Elizabeth who disappeared during the war after her arrest. These letters form a bond between Juliet and the islanders to last a lifetime and it was so wholesome and uplifitng to read. Very diferent from the Netflix movie (which is also amazing!) so don't worry about already knowing what happens because it's different enough to still pleasantly surprise and enrapture you.

Typically I have very little interest in books without dialogue so after I bought this one and got home and realized it was ALL LETTERS I didn't know if I'd like it (no matter how good the storyline may be). Boy, was I wrong. Letters are nothing but dialogue. It may not be the fast-paced back and forth conversation of typical book dialogue but it's still a conversation. A continuous conversation. It was amazing. The only negative thing about a book entirely composed in letters is that you miss all the "in-between". It felt like there was so much more between the arrival of each letter that I was missing out on. How did people greet Juliet when she arrived to Guernsey? What was her first impression of the island? What was Dawsey's reaction to meeting the young, beautiful woman who'd been exchanging correspondence with him over the span of months? Lots of unanswered questions but even though I longed for more, it was cute to see the love story unfold through small glimpses in the letters between each character that had observed it unfolding even when the two lovers themselves were clueless.

Reading the growing relationships between the characters was the best part of the book. From complete strangers to family. Juliet finding a mother figure in Amelia, a true friend in Isola (the resident witch), an unbreakable bond with Kit (the missing Elizabeth's left-behind daughter), and a partnership with Dawsey (the shy pig farmer). Juliet's "would be" fiance, Mark Reynolds, the rich American, is even more of a controlling ass than in the movie. In the movie he's just a typical, selfish, rich boy who thinks he's entitled to the world. He ends up not being completely awful even if he isn't the right man for Juliet. In the book we can add stalker who can't understand the word "NO" to his list of faults and he doesn't really have anything redeeming about him in the book. Good thing Dawsey is good enough to wash away the Mark Reynolds slime. My favourite character, however, was Sydney. He was the big brother this book needed. He came out the hero in every situation. Supportive of Juliet's new venture, disapproving of the wrong people in her life but still good enough of a friend to allow her to realize it on her own. Everyone needs a Sydney in their lives.

I want to read this book al the time. It's my new "pick-me up" read. I recommend it to all! My favourite quote in the book is:

"Perhaps there is some secret sort of homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers."

This was true for me, with the dreary fall weather and the rough harvest (I work with farmers and its been a rough few months for everyone here) I was a little blue but this book made me happy and reminded me to appreciate the simple, good things in life. So whether it is this book or another, I hope it finds you at the perfect time and when you need it most, a book finding its perfect reader. Obviously this is five stars for me. I can't fine anything inherently bad about it.