The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

by: Mary Ann Shaffer and
Annie Barrows

I loved this book! It is charming and written the the form of letters being sent to many different people. You see the story unfold as you read these letters.

There is an Island, in the Channel Islands by England that is called Guernsey. This Island was occupied by the German troops for 5 years. This was an interesting part of history to learn about. The people on the island were cut off from all news of the war. The book takes place after the war is over, and one person, Juliet is contacted by someone on the island asking about a book. That starts many, many inquisitive letters.

Here is a quote from the end of the book from one of the authors:
from Mary Ann Shaffer
"I hope that my book will illuminate my belief that love of art - be it poetry, storytelling, painting, sculpture, or music - enables people to transcend any barrier man has yet devised."

Read it. It is worth it. It will make you want to be a letter writer!

Silks

Silks

by: Dick Francis

Not his best effort. Was readable, filled the void, VERY Dick Francis.

It was a fine story of a lawyer, sees things he shouldn't, people beat him up, should he now cower, or do what is right.

Very Dick Francis, right?

If you are a Dick Francis fan, you should read this, but don't buy it!

Belong To Me

Belong To Me
by: Marisa de los Santos


I quite enjoyed the beginning, some of the middle and the end. I did not enjoy the real middle of the book. It goes down such a sad path! Who wants to read a sad book. Ok, a woman dies of cancer. It is sad. I don't want to read about it for 100 pages!

This is a story of a neighborhood in (possibly) PA. Very suburb, folksy neighborhood. The story goes into every body's life, how they think and react to each other. Corniliea and her husband Teo just moved there. She is not working. They just moved from New York, he is an oncologist. They are very much in love. Piper is the neighbor Queen Bee. She acts her part very well. Elizabeth has cancer, a bit unhappy in her marriage. Lake is a single mother, hard worker, smart, a waitress.

I loved the writing of this book. The words were great. I usually do NOT like description, but this author did it amazingly. You want to read parts aloud. How the women interact seems very real. The author is a woman, she gets it right.

The story ebbs and flows. I did not enjoy reading about Elizabeth dieing. But I did enjoy see the lesson play out, "don't judge a book by it's cover". Another lesson, a person may act a certain way, but give them a chance and you may see the real person (better) buried deep inside.

Ok, there is the good and the bad, you decide if you want to read this book.

Dumping Billy

Dumping Billy

by: Olivia Goldsmith

Not so good, just fill dirt. I needed something to read, I was hoping this was good, it was so predictable.

Woman has several failed relationships. Meets a great looking guy, they don't like each other; she more than him. 2/3 through she starts dating him, finds he is great, they have a fight, break-up. The last page, oh, he asks to marry her, she says yes.

There, I saved you.

Chasing Darkness

Chasing Darkness

by: Robert Crais

This is a good author. He has several different characters he writes about. This book is about Elvis Cole (? I think, I suddenly can't remember!) He is a detective.

I like his writing. Good story. Not too violent or scary. I like the main character. Good read.

I need another book by this author!

Hey, did you know there is another/new Dick Francis out there! Kerry is reading it, when he is done, I will read it!

Love The One You're With

Love The One You're With
by: Emily Giffin

I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the protagonist. She was so well written, I could hear her in my head! I feel like Emily writes just like a girl thinks, it cracks me up.

This is a story of a young, happily married woman. Lovely husband, living in NYC. Her mother died when she was 13, she has a tumultuous relationship with a boyfriend that she is not sure she ever got over. Those two facts seem to color so much of her life and how she handles herself. It is funny and tender. At parts you want to yell at her to go another path, but that is how we all are, we don't travel in a straight line, neither does she.

It was a good book, I think the best of Emily Giffin so far. You should read it!

Happy Birthday, Tanner!!

To my dearly beloved Tanner man,

If you were the greatest man of Siam

Or if you were a Samuri of Japan

Or if you were the toughest in an Irish Clan

I would still be your greatest fan!

Now you live so far away from me,

We cannot plan to visit and have some tea.

You cannot dust my stairs or swat a bee,

Or pull some weeds for a big phat fee!

But I still love my Mr. T!

Now it's your birthday, I cannot celebrate,

You already did that, and sushi you ate!

You started school yesterday, I hope you weren't late,

You are now ten and the master of your fate.

Please always remember there is one little thing

I've said it before and it is comforting -

Wherever you go

And

Whatever you do -

You're never alone

For my HEART follows you!

Love, Nana

Tanner was born on a Wednesday - He was 4lbs, 13 ozs - - 18 and 1/2" long.

Girls' Poker Night

Girls' Poker Night
by: Jill A. Davis

This is my 2nd Jill A. Davis book. I enjoyed it, mostly, but by the end, I so wish that the characters of this book had a higher standard of morals. I would almost like to write the author and ask her to raise it all up a notch.

The main character is a writer for a newspaper. It is blurbs written about her life and friends. She sees a therapist, we learn about her life, why she has a hard time committing. It is funny and I enjoy her style. By the end, I just want to tell her about the Church. She would be happier.

Where the River Ends

Where the River Ends

by: Charles Martin

Don't read -- sad, sad, book. Only if you have far too much happiness, need to come down a bit, miss the feelings of loss and sadnes should you read this book.

What was the author thinking? Why would he want to delve into this every day.

Husband and wife, married 14 years, happy, her father does not like the husband. She gets cancer, she does not recover. It goes downhill from there!! No up side! Well, ok, at the end, the husband and father finally see the good in each other and like each other, this is at least a year after the wife has died.

I did NOT read this book fully. I was sick of the sadness. I skipped to see the happy ending, found non, started reading it backward (last page, then next to the last, etc.). Finally I understood the story was just sad! That was it for me.

Holly has read this author. Quite liked him. I will try him one more time. Every one of his book cannot be that sad!

Broken Leg Books

While me leg is healing, I am forced to read 3 books at one time....not my forte. But I can't bring a book with me from here to there with my crutches. So:



Breaking Dawn #4 in the Twilight series. I am really enjoying it. A bit too much teenage angst for me, but it is a quick, easy read. That book is at my bed. I will be done soon.



I FINISHED! It was good. If you like the twilight series you will like this book. The author ties up all loose ends. It is a big, long book, but an easy read.

What kind of name is Renesme??

P.S. While watching "The People's Court" the other day, one of the complainers was named ESME!!




At the Couch: The Last Lecture. I have only read a little of this, but I really am enjoying it. Recommend to all!

FINISHED: I really enjoyed this book. Great ideas. Great to think about. He knew how to make life a joy, have fun in the face of sad circumstances.

Read this.

In the bathroom: My Soul To Keep
I just saw this at the library (before the break), I was desperate, thought I'd try it. It is a Christian book, I think. A big movie star gets caught up in drinking and drugs, ends up in jail for 5 years, gets out, acts in local, city things, trying to do what's right in life. Interesting, but compared to "Breaking Dawn", it is a bit slow.

FINISHED! I really enjoyed this book! I enjoyed the Christian take on life. It was a nice change. The book puts 2 projects up against each other. One, regular Hollywood, the other being done by a new Christian group. They begin their meetings with prayer, sometimes a devotional! They pray for each other, care about each other, are willing to forgive and help. If only all the world would begin and end the things they do in prayer, how great that would be! It was also a tiny look into the movie-making world. I enjoyed that too. I would read this author again. Interesting note, the other day, while at the doctor to get my cast on, a woman began a conversation with me about my leg. She asked all about it. At the end, she told, I will pray for you. In light of this book, where they have many prayer circles, I appreciated her comments. It was a way better thing to say than, oh, you are a dork.