Guernsey Literary Society

This book was a true treat for a bibliophile's soul. It received a decent amount of quiet recommendation from the middle class spectrum of critics. There are spectrum's - the romance machine press, the tween scene, and the intellectual pearls. This met the quiet "beach" read group's needs.

It is not a driving page turner, you may choose to put it down and experience little plot suspense. But the book's characters are so alive that I wanted to revisit them as soon as possible after finishing my work and school (and sometimes before that as well).

The book is written in a form of letters surrounding Juilet, a young writer on tour for her book "Izzy Bickerstaff goes to War." Sydney Stark is her publisher and brother to her childhood school friend, Sophie. Juliet receives a letter from a Dawsey Adams from the English island of Guernsey. It happens that one of her old books found its way into his hands, Selected Essays of Elia, by Charles Lamb. He wondered that if the essays were "selected" where he might find more, as he considers Mr. Lamb to be a kindred spirit and friend. Juliet is intrigued at the thought that ones of her favorite books found another open soul and begins a correspondence with Mr. Adams. Guernsey had been occupied during WWII, and had just recently reawakened in their freedom, curious to learn about the world's progresses while they were cut off. It turns out that Guernsey citizens had a fortuitous serendipity in starting a literary society. The Germans were strict about curfew and gatherings, and the society started as a cover so that friends could visit with one another. The stories that the letters tell break your heart and inspire your soul that the human spirit may find hope, even in the midst of oppression and isolation. While the stories of the occupation are fictional, the spirit behind the them rings sound. The knowledge that atrocious means are carried out on ordinary people in times of war is sobering and sorrowful. I cried as I read certain portions of the book. Tears of joy, wonder, and bittersweet sorrow. The courage and resilience displayed throughout the theme of the work make for an indescribable work of literature. I didn't want it to end, but I closed the back cover with a resignation that the characters' lives continue on, and so shall mine as well.

Insufficient Words
Yet, pictures frame the scene well
Reader's minds see through