<p>Well, my youngest graduated from HS this weekend…and with that along with Proj Graduation and track championships, I did not start the book until today…and I am only 60 pages in so far…but I am totally enjoying this book…</p>
<p>I am laughing out loud at some of Juliet’s throw away lines in her letters…
“My neighbor Evangeline Smythe is going to have twins in June. She is none too happy about it, so I am going to ask her to give one of them to me.” How precious is that image? </p>
<p>Amelia Maugery’s description of Dawsey:
“I don’t believe he is aware of it, but Dawsey has a rare gift for persuasion - he never asks for anything for himself, so everyone is eager to do what he asks for others.” The character he reminds me of so far is an older one from Anne of Green Gables, Matthew Cuthbert, Marilla’s brother. I think we all know he is the hero of that book… as he is the one who first understands the joy of Anne. Dawsey is intriguing… at first I thought Dawsey was a young girl… ultimately I did realize he was a he… and I think the way he talked about having a farm made me think of him as a younger worker…</p>
<p>I am looking forward to watching how Markham Reynolds evolves into a bad guy, because 60 pages into the book, he seems to be charming. Maybe Alec Baldwin could play him? Alec does charming and nasty…</p>
<p>thanks again Mary for starting this … really like the book…</p>
<p>Matthew Cuthbert is one of my favorite literary characters and I think he was played to perfection by Richard Farnsworth in the Anne of Green Gables mini-series. I think we need someone about 20 years younger for Dawsey, however. </p>
<p>(Now that I think about it, those eccentric folks on Prince Edward Island are not unlike the eccentric folks on the island of Guernsey. Mrs. Rachel Lynde = Miss Adelaide Addison?)</p>
<p>I like how the characters are full fleshed people. Markham isn’t a bad guy, he’s just not the right one for Juliet. And I could see how she fell for him at first. It’s very appealing when someone pursues you and sometimes it takes a while for you to realize that you don’t have much in common.</p>
<p>Regarding thow away lines, I love how when one of the Guernsey women is describing how she had to burn things when the firewood ran out, she said she burned the Books of Job and Revelations … I guess if I was looking to the Bible for comfort, I could live without Job and Revelations!</p>
<p>Thanks for the link, kathiep. I knew next-to-nothing about that particular episode in World War II history, and it’s fascinating.</p>
<p>I’m being kidnapped by my 11 year old to go watch *The Journey of Natty Gann<a href=“no%20school!%20%20no%20bedtime!”>/i</a>, but I’ll check in later –</p>
<p>Did anyone else find it odd that in post WWII, replies across the channel were written within 2-3 days. I kept thinking ‘How could they respond to a letter which couldn’t have arrived yet?’</p>
<p>kathiep - I agree. The only thing I knew about Guernsey was that they bred stubborn dairy cows who gave rich milk.
I had no idea about the Occupation. This book really demonstrates the real sacrifices and suffering that civilians made during WWII. This is something we, as Americans just cannot fathom.</p>
<p>mominva - I had the same thought, frequently. In fact it was a little distracting at first. I’m very curious to know if that was realistic - I wonder if the mail really did travel that quickly. The author(s) seems to have done such careful research - I’d be surprised if she got that wrong.</p>
<p>I too knew absolutely nothing about the German occupation of Guernsey, or even the location of the Channel Islands for that matter. I had no idea they were so close to France. Thank goodness for the map in the beginning of the book!</p>
<p>It never occurred to me to be bothered by that. But now I am. Thanks, guys. :)</p>
<p>I went in search of an answer, and although I didn’t find one (yet), I ran across a really interesting website (well, really interesting if you’re into mail). Here’s the section on delivery in England during World War II:</p>
<p>At first I was impatient with having this story told by letters, but at some point it clicked into place. I then found it intellectually engaging to have to fill in the blanks created by this format.</p>
<p>I love well-researched historical fiction. I read a lot of this genre set in England and was also unaware of the occupation of the islands. I think this is typical of the British–to want to hide what they may consider a blight on their proud & mighty history.</p>
<p>How about Jude Law for the American boyfriend? (re: post #57) & I agree with Colin Firth as the male lead.</p>
<p>I would follow Colin Firth anywhere… love his voice, even… I have an interview with him on my iPod to listen to if I need help falling asleep when traveling!!</p>
<p>Although on the whole, I really liked the book, the Billy Bee and Gilly caper required some suspension of disbelief. It’s odd…I had no problem believing that Oscar Wilde’s lost letters were stored in a biscuit tin, but to have them stolen by a woman with a silly name in a sillier hat struck me as far-fetched. And I’m not sure that type of comic relief works well when juxtaposed with stories as serious as Remy’s and Elizabeth’s.</p>
<p>Mary,
I totally agree… the Oscar Wilde sidebar was fun, cause it gave Isola something special to have in her life… but the Billie Bee and Gilly subplot was absurd…</p>
<p>I just now finished the book…and my biggest dilemma is who to offer my copy to first… this is a very special book and I loved, loved, loved it… the characters touched my heart and I wish the story could go on…there is magic in this Juliet… and can’t you just see Suri Cruise as Kit?? One of my favorite actors of all time is Linda Hunt… who played Stella in Silverado… she could play Isola…I think… </p>
<p>And, Pride and Prejudice is my favorite book ever… and I love how they introduce it late in the story as a book that was unknown on Guernsey… and the following throwaway:</p>
<p>Isola’s notes: “For now, I will ask Kit over for supper and to spend the night with me so that Juliet and Dawsey can have the freedom of the shrubbery - just like Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet.” Freedom of the shrubbery is toooo perfect…</p>
<p>And the note to Sidney:
“What an inspired present you sent Kit - red satin tap shoes covered with sequins. Wherever did you find them? Where are MINE?” (The all caps are mine!!) I laughed out loud at this… the easy friendship between Sidney and Sophie and Juliet is to be coveted, is it not? </p>
<p>I do wish there was more dialog going on here about this book… it moved me… and I would love to hear more thoughts from others…</p>
<p>Not quite finished yet, but getting there! </p>
<p>The epistolary (written all in letters from one character to another in this case) nature of the book was originally a bit disorienting to me, but I soon got into the back and forth rhythm - in a way it reminded me of postings on a forum! The technique allows you to learn more about the characters, and in a more personal way than through a narrator. </p>
<p>First impression of Dawsey - I originally thought of him as older, perhaps having to do with the routine of his life and the fact that he seems such an established figure in Guernsey. A few hints that wasn’t the case - the reference to him by the gossipy and critical Adelaide Addison as a stutterer (he himself tells Juliet he outgrew his childhood stuttering) implies that this history wasn’t so far in the past. There were also references to the fact that he had inherited his farm. In addition, the type of work he does is physical and demanding. My first impression of him was that he is far less sophisticated than the men she is used to, ie Markham and Sidney, with a love and appreciation of literature that came to him naturally , rather than through the benefit of any kind of formal education. </p>
<p>I love the voice of Juliet throughout the novel- her sense of humor is delightful as it is original, even with the recent war and all its horrors as a backdrop to her story.</p>
<p>We started discussing the book on Monday (the 15th), but the thread will be active (I hope!) through the end of the month. After that, we take a break to read the July selection (Dreamers of the Day by Mary Doria Russell). Discussion on Dreamers will begin July 15th (on a new thread).</p>
<p>The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a quick read, probably because of the letter format. You’ll be surprised how quickly you’ll get through it.</p>
<p>By the way, I wonder if the authors limited their market too much by choosing the title, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I live in a pretty un-macho household; nonetheless, I think my husband or son would have to wrap the cover in brown paper before reading it on the train. :)</p>
<p>I love Juliet as well. Note that is is “older” - 32 already and no husband. A lot of lives were put on hold during the war. She surely must have felt her biological clock ticking and I thought it delightful that she will have Kit. Both orphans, both only knew Elizabeth only through hearsay.</p>
<p>I admit I didn’t get at first that Sidney was gay until it was pointed out, then it made sense!<br>
I liked the mention of Pride and Prejudice and I had already been thinking that Juliet and Dawsey’s relationship was a little bit Elizabeth Bennett and Mr Darcy. </p>
<p>I wish the character of Remy had been developed more - we met her and then she was gone. When they talked about the attitude in Post-War Europe toward victims of the camps being as being a “get over it” - this is correct from what I have heard and read.
She clearly had PTSD as did many others. The post war years were tough. I would have liked to have read a happy ending for her.</p>
