Book Summary

“This curiously titled epistolary novel begins innocently enough: London, 1946. Juliet Ashton, having published a collection of quaint wartime newspaper columns, is searching for her next, more proper subject when a letter arrives from the small island of Guernsey off the English Channel. The correspondent explains he has come into possession of a book of hers, and an exchange of letters begins. As they banter about books and life, Julia is soon exchanging letters with other islanders, too. What might continue like an amiable BBC comedy turns more serious as the islanders reveal the origins of their unique literary society: Guernsey was occupied for most of the Second World War by German troops–the book (and baking) society was both a diversion to keep the Nazis ignorant of the islanders’ activities and, it turns out, a life-changing development for many of the rural Guernseyites, who discovered such faraway authors as Seneca and Wordsworth. The story of their island Occupation reads like a hidden piece of history, alternately moving and charming, but always memorable–as much for the human suffering as for the wartime humor that surfaces when needed like a forgotten gene.”

Book Review

by Jolene McKenna This is a must read. The idea of reading a book primarily of letters did not excite me but I heard so many good things about this book I added it to my read list. This summer, my sister and her husband drove with my husband and I back to Iowa for a family reunion. My sister who volunteers at a used book store is always pulling new books out of her bag for me to read. I hadn’t mentioned my desire to read ‘Guernsey’ but as we got on the road she reached into her bag and brought this book out and offered it to me to read. “oh wonderful!” I cried, “I’ll read this while we are in Iowa”, she told me to take my time. I brought two other books with me, one for my neighborhood book club but I was curious what ‘Guernsey’ would bring.

The character development is like a stove on low but hot enough to heat up a good character development, plot, and storyline. I enjoyed getting to know Juliet a little because of my dream to be a writer, a lot because of her gentle nature. My heart aches when I learned what happened in the Guernsey island during the second World War. I usually steer far away from anything to do with WWII but meeting these characters from Guernsey Island and Juliet’s developing relationship helped me through the heart ache of the war. You first meet Dawsey Adams who was a farmer on the island. He writes to Juliet to ask if she could find any books by an author who helped him through the war. Charles Lamb’s book brought some much needed humor during the German occupation of this tiny island. Juliet made contact with her publisher who she believed could find the book, but she was curious about this literary society and asked Dawsey to write and tell her the story behind this odd book club. Her letter writing extended to many other islanders, a few unrequested letters received were unrequested and warned her of the kind of person she was exchanging letters.

The characters you learn about and meet on this journey will stay with you for quite awhile if not forever. I read this book in the short 5 days we traveled to Iowa and had plenty of time for family, fishing and lots of laughter. One character that you learn a lot about from the stories of the Guernsey book club is Elizabeth McKenna. She is a character of unquestionable commitment to her friends. Her courage is remarkable, her story is one you must read.