<p>^ Yay, mom60! I hope others are out there, too, who are at least enjoying if not posting. It seems like only a small contingent of us “talking” here, but there are 3,073 views and I SWEAR they’re not all by me. :)</p>
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<p>They must think that those of us who are actually answering the study questions are like the gunners in class who are always raising their hands…</p>
<p>RE: Romance between Elizabeth and the German Soldier.
This is not so unusual. In many wars there have been romances between soldiers and the enemy - and vice versa.<br>
I do think Elizabeth probably initially got closer to Christian for the benefits for her family and friends, but lonliness drove them both together. Once they saw each other as “people” and not German or British a relationship was probably pretty easy. Lonliness is a pretty powerful emotion. </p>
<p>I thought Remy was not developed enough as a character. All the build up to her and I thought we would get to know her better.</p>
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<p>I agree. But then again, that may be what the people of Guernsey thought, too. It would not be unusual for someone who has gone through what she went through to be closed off.</p>
<p>I wonder if the romance with the German soldier, was the authors way of depicting some Germans as kind and compassionate, hence she named him Christian, as opposed to Fritz.</p>
<p>Certainly everyone one in Guersney held the soldier in great esteem, as though worthy of Elizabeth’s affection. </p>
<p>I like that Juliet’s personality, her spunk, tenacity so similar to Elizabeth’s will be transferred to the spunky daughter, Kit, remember when she withheld her affection for Juliet, when they first met. </p>
<p>So time marches on, the torch is passed from one generation to the next , German blood mingling with English blood in Kit, individuals reconciling their past, just as nations must do, too.</p>
<p>^ So true, SJChessMom. </p>
<p>I agree that Juliet will be an able replacement for Elizabeth. I think the Juliet-Elizabeth “transference” was complete at the moment Juliet reached out and slapped Billee Bee after she took the stuffed ferret from Kit.</p>
<p>And since we’re on the subject of Juliet and Kit, let’s jump over question #8 for a minute to #9:</p>
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<p>What makes Juliet an unconventional, excellent mother?</p>
<p>Two words: Dead Bride.</p>
<p>^^ funny Mary</p>
<p>Here is question #8 from the reading guide, and also #14 because they are somewhat connected:</p>
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<p>For me, Eben was a memorable voice, and I liked his literary tastes, too (Selections from Shakespeare—what’s not to like?) Eben suffered a great deal, losing his daughter, son-in-law, and grandchild, but seemed to have made peace with the world. He used literature as sort of a mirror, to reflect back his own life with greater clarity. (“…Mr. Dickens and Mr. Wordsworth were thinking of men like me when they wrote their words. But most of all, I believe that William Shakespeare was.”) I was touched by the way Eben found comfort in Shakespeare’s words after experiencing his own tragedy–that when all he could think of to say was “damn them, damn them,” he realized later that what he really wanted to express was, “The bright day is done, and we are for the dark.”</p>
<p>Mary very nice description of Eben, and explanation of why he was memorable. I honestly have to look through the book again, because I read it so quickly.
Thanks for bringing Eben back to life for me.</p>
<p>As June and our discussion of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society both draw to a close, this is a reminder for those interested that the July book selection is Dreamers of the Day by Mary Doria Russell. So if you are in the mood, go ahead and shift gears, enjoy a couple weeks of reading time, and come back on July 15th! I’ll start a new thread with the July book title.</p>
<p>Thanks Mary… I hope I like Dreamers as much as Guernsey…</p>
<p>In retrospect, I realize that I didn’t have much to say about the June selection because I honestly didn’t care for it that much. I did become interested in the island and the occupation because I enjoy history, but I couldn’t get invested in the characters at all. There were so many of them that I didn’t feel as if any were sufficiently developed. The plot was awfully predictable. I do see a decent movie coming down the pike–in fact, it almost seems as if the book were written with a screenplay in mind, especially the romance novel ending. I’m hoping July’s selection has a little more to chew on.</p>
<p>MommaJ, in general, I think controversy drives the posting on CC and Guernsey isn’t a particularly controversial book, so we had a fairly mellow, slow-moving discussion on this thread. On the other hand, mellow and slow-moving is what summer is all about, right? </p>
<p>I don’t know what’s in store for us with Dreamers of the Day, but I’m looking forward to it. Opening a new book is one of my favorite things to do. :)</p>
<p>I have been having a hard time reading books for my RL book club cause I fall asleep- half the time I can’t finish it. :o</p>
<p>But even though I generally choose non fiction on my own & steer away from " romantic" novels, I greatly enjoyed Guernsey and appreciated the style of the book, although I can look back and say- well some inclusions in retrospect were obvious plot devices, but I didn’t feel that way while reading it.</p>
<p>HOwever, I was greatly disappointed to learn that one of the authors died in Feb of this year, because I was looking forward to a series of books about the characters on the island. ( it also would make a good BBC production- perhaps Judi Dench can fit in there someplace?)</p>
<p>The Sparrow and Children of God are two books that I have read for my RL book club ( by Russell the next author) and again, while I don’t generally read what is described as " science fiction" , I thought the Sparrow was brilliant.
I don’t think Dreamers will be science fiction, but I am looking forward to it.</p>
<p>MommaJ good reflection about the book,and I do understand your view of the book. </p>
<p>I hope the next book will lend itself to more discussion, because there must be many “lurkers” out there ready to participate.
It seemed many posted they were interested in a CC bookclub, but few posts about Guernsey. I think you may express what many feel. </p>
<p>By the way, Mary kudos for your efforts.</p>
<p>So, now that the discussion of Guernsey is winding down, I’ll put in my 2 cents. Because I read the book several months ago, when it came time to jump in on the discussion here, I felt as if I couldn’t remember enough of the details. :(</p>
<p>In general, I did enjoy the book. Best book I ever read? No. Great literature/writing? No. Just plain engaging, enjoyable, quick read? Yes. And, IMO, that’s OK. I learned some about a small part of WWII history that I’d never read about, too.</p>
<p>Hope to have more to “say” about the next book!</p>
<p>CBB as the week’s pass since I read the book, I share your opinion. Because I enjoyed the reading the book, I finished it in two days, which makes the details about the characters blur, and it seems difficult to recall much of it.
But, overall, what I, too learned, about WW2 and the residents of this isolated island community will resonant with me, and I think the movie will be more enjoyable. </p>
<p>On to the next one ! Glad to joined in CBB.</p>
<p>I haven’t had a chance to study all the posts yet, but want to chime in and say Marion Schaffer, the original author of this book (it was finished by her niece when Marion became ill) would have loved this forum and the spirit of a cyber book group. Although I didn’t really know her well personally, she was a local figure and a smiling face in my neighborhood library for years. She loved books, book groups, and would have delighted to have this book be both the success it is and to draw so many souls into friendly conversation. My book group here loved it as well. Like others here, I was delighted by simply learning about a piece of history I had never known. Who knew the Guernsey Isles were British, or occupied in war? So much to learn, so many book, so little time…</p>
<p>^^ nice post, mmaah. Interesting that Marion Schaffer lived in your community. Where do you live?</p>
<p>Just north of San Francisco… I don’t know how Marion came to live here but maybe I’ll do some research on that.</p>