Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 357
 Light of touch but deep of heart - perfect for lifting the spirits! September 9, 2010
E. Potten (Derbyshire, UK)
This is one of those books that will be inevitably be described as 'charming', 'quirky', and 'delightful' by reviewers. For me it was all of those things, though perhaps the profusion of hype about its nostalgic charm ended up ruining my reading experience a little. The perils of being late to the game and having heard so many other people's opinions prior to reading it, I suppose.
It started out wonderfully well. It reminded me very much of one of my favourite books of this year so far, '84, Charing Cross Road'. Juliet, the character that links all of the letters in this epistolary novel, is a London writer whose style and sparkling wit could have been lifted directly from Helene Hanff's own letters. Her enthusiastic book chatter and musings on reading cement the similarities even further, particularly in the letters to her publisher and dear friend Sidney. So far, so wonderful!
When she begins to receive letters from various members of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, she is intrigued and wonders if she's finally found a subject for a new book. The Society is an impromptu group formed during the German Occupation of the island, hastily invented to get them out of trouble during a clash with a German officer one evening. The members of the Society are wonderfully diverse and eccentric characters, and before long Juliet - and those around her - are eagerly looking forward to every letter. Finally, Juliet begins to wonder if she shouldn't just bite the bullet and go to Guernsey herself...
For me, the beginning and end of the book were the highlights. At the beginning there was plenty of bookish banter, friendly teasing and off-the-cuff reflections on literature which, for a book addict like myself, were very amusing to read. At the end... well, let's just say everything fell into place for Juliet and left this reader with a big smile on her face! Unfortunately I found the middle of the book dragged a little bit - not much, but enough - with some of the letters getting much longer (though not necessarily more interesting) and some of that wonderful wit disappearing for a time.
That said, it remained an easy read and was quite informative and moving regarding life under the Occupation. I was glad when it began to pick up pace again nearer the end so I could close the final page feeling like I'd read a truly lovely book!
 What a title dont be confused. September 7, 2010
pamelas
This book has been the the best read of the summer, Something to treasure and reread many times , I loved it. Living on an island myself, life on Guernsery during the second world must have been terrible, The isolation the lack of communication, I cant think of anything worse.
 Nice September 5, 2010
Sontee
I started reading this book at 1300 on Sunday and finished it by 2300 on the same day! A personal record.
There are other good things about this book, like it doesn't have any chapters. I didnt have to hurry through the chapter to get to my next errand. The vivid writing makes the characters' back-stories heart wrenching. I wanted to find out more about Kit growing up and it kept me engaged.
Why only three stars then? One letter too many for my liking and the Isola detective diary is slightly contrite.
A story in letters September 3, 2010
John Bibby (France)
A surprise and well worth it. The surprise is to have a novel in the form of letters, an epistolary construction with a writer as the central character, who receives or writes most of the letters that make up the story. It takes some time to get into the book and its collection of quaint, disparate, sometimes improbable and often eccentric characters who belong to the literary society but the effort is worth the trouble. We really do feel part of the scene - Guernsey immediately after the war, but with the occupation still very much alive in the minds of the people. We learn how cut off from the rest of the UK they were, and often from their own children who had been evacuated. We feel somewhat in a time warp, with attitudes and conventions from another age. After a time we know there is only one possible ending to the story, but we are happy to have got it right.
Please please read this (preferably in one sitting) September 2, 2010
"Eirlys"
I initially avoided reading this book as I didn't think it looked like it would be a very engaging story. I usually like my fiction to be a bit more far removed from reality than the channel islands! I bought this book on a Saturday morning and finished it by Sunday lunch time at a leisurely pace and couldn't have enjoyed it more! It is comprised of lots of short letters between numerous characters in the book, which makes for very easy reading (no large chapters to plough through). The inhabitants of the island are hilarious and engaging and you will without a doubt come to know and love their quirks by the final page. If you are looking for a fast paced thriller then this is not the read for you, however, if you feel like having a "comfy" and pleasant book to snuggle up to for the weekend this is definitely the right choice. 5 stars from me!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 357
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