<p>I loved the book. I read more non-ficton than fiction: I guess the rationale is that even if a non-fiction book is poorly written, at least I’ve learned something in the process. If a work of fiction can teach me about something new (the German occupation of the Channel Islands), while entertaining me, then so much the better.</p>
<p>I have been a lurker on these threads but didn’t finish the book until yesterday. I loved it. It did take me a while to get into because of the style of writing (letter format) but once I did, I really enjoyed the journey. I hate non-fiction and have left book clubs in the past when they started to go in that direction. I love to read fiction, fantasy, sci-fi, romance/drama, mystery but I want to be transported to another place and time. I loved Sarah’s Key and am looking forward to the August discussion. I still have to find a copy of the July book. I really enjoyed reading everyone’s comments on the book and for the most part, I concur. I agree that Kate Winslet would make an excellent Elizabeth but I don’t like Keira Knightly for the role of Juliet… Emma Thompson would make a good Isola. Did you see her as the wacky wizard in the last Harry Potter movie?</p>
<p>^ I didn’t, but I’ve loved Emma Thompson in everything else I’ve ever seen her in. Now that the movie rights have been sold, it will be interesting to see who will be cast as Juliet.</p>
<p>I prefer fiction over non-fiction, too (especially during the summer), but occasionally I’ll read a work of non-fiction that stays with me for a long time. I finished This Republic of Suffering last year and couldn’t read enough history on the Civil War for quite awhile afterward.</p>
<p>Coming really, really late into the discussion - just got my copy from the library a week ago - I enjoyed the book very much, though I thought it was a bit facile and obvious. I was annoyed by Isola’s diary being used instead of letters - it was very jarring and I didn’t see her as the diary keeping type. I’d have liked more descriptions of the literary society’s actual meetings as the ones we got were great.</p>
<p>^^^ Mathmom, I felt the same way about Isola’s diary , and "jarring " is the perfect description of that part of the book</p>
<p>I agree as well. Maybe the niece who finished the book felt that the journal was a necessary plot device, but it didn’t have the same quaint appeal as the letters. Also, Isola’s early letters made her sound sweetly eccentric, but the Miss Marple “spy” aspect of the journal made her sound one brick short of a load.</p>
<p>Nonetheless, I really enjoyed the book. As CBBBlinker said above, it’s an “engaging, enjoyable, quick read” with some interesting WWII history. I passed it along to a co-worker, who returned it to me today, saying she absolutely loved it.</p>
<p>I’m adding in very late, but did enjoy the book. Light, predictable, good history. We listened to it on CD for the car pool ride. That was all that I could get quickly from the library and I think that hearing individual characters held my interest more than reading the letter format.</p>
<p>That sounds like fun. I would like to hear the voices. Were there any famous ones?</p>
<p>Do we plan to read a book for September? If so, does anyone have any suggestions?</p>
<p>I’m game for anything, but would we have enough participants to make it worthwhile? Sometimes the school year brings so much hectic activity that no one has time for leisure reading or—more importantly for this site—time for writing about their leisure reading. Should we take a straw poll? Again, I’m in, but the more the merrier.</p>
<p>I know, I know … quite an old thread. It should now be titled "CC June Summer 2009 Book Club Selection.</p>
<p>I read the book several months after the discussion and enjoyed it. Recently, however, I happened across the audio version and downloaded it to my iPod. Really, really good audio version.</p>
<p>From Publisher’s Weekly:</p>
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<p>If you get a chance, listen. The characters really “come alive.”</p>
<p>^ Thanks for the tip! </p>
<p>By the way, the movie version of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is “in development.” Per The New York Times, Kate Winslet will be playing Juliet.</p>