Showing posts with label mary ann shaffer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mary ann shaffer. Show all posts

Monday, July 26, 2010

It's Monday! What are you reading? -- 7/26


Happy Monday! I am in such a good mood because even though my weekend was very busy I was still able to get a decent amount of reading done. Currently, I am reading Look Again by Lisa Scottoline (for book club) and A Wife's Tale by Lori Lansens (just started it last night). I finished the fantastic This Must Be The Place by Kate Racculia (review to come) and the outstanding The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (click on the title to read my review).

What are you reading?

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Review -- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows


by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Random House, 2008
288 pages
*I borrowed this book from the library.

Summary: Shortly after WWII, writer Juliet Ashton befriends the members of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society.

Review: I absolutely loved this novel. It is a wonderful light, easy read that just transports you to another time and place. Told completely through letters, the characters (especially Juliet) shine through the page and give the novel a light and breezy tone. The story of a community living through the Occupation is an upbeat survivors tale with a little history mixed in. All of the society members are wonderfully unique individuals that the reader can easily love. I definitely recommend this novel. Rating: ***** out of 5.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Book Club Spotlight



For next month's book club meeting, we chose to read the very popular The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. For anyone who hasn't read it, here is the Barnes and Noble description:

"I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers." January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she's never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb....

As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends--and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society--born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island--boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.

I am actually hoping to start this book while camping this weekend. Wish me luck! If you have read this book, give it some love in the comments section (or some dislike if you wish) -- but no spoilers -- I haven't read it yet!

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

3 W Wednesdays -- 7/14


This meme is hosted by Should Be Reading.

What are you currently reading? I am currently reading This Must Be the Place by Kate Racculia (my daytime / gym book) and The Passage by Justin Cronin (my nighttime / bed book).

What did you recently finish? I recently finished reading The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. It was fantastic (click on the title to read my review).

What are you reading next? I want to start next month's book club book early, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. I have heard nothing but fantastic things about this novel and am hoping it's a quick read.