Book suggested and meeting hosted by Barb in her new home.Once again we read a first-time author, Mary Ann Shaffer. She was encouraged to write a book by her book club friends and we are very glad she was able to do so before her recent death in February 2008 (the copyright date is 2008). Her niece, Annie Barrows, helped with the completion of the novel.
This book received some of the highest marks of any book we have read to date. Most loved the letter format although some found it difficult to keep the characters straight in the beginning. Many kept a list of the people as they were introduced through their letters and it became quite a long list!
The Guernsey Literary Society gave the characters a diversion to the reality of their sad, depressing lives. It gave them a purpose and they were able to maintain a sense of community even through the great invasion of their town and their souls. We wish a clearer picture had been painted of Dawsey; we all had a different image of him. Was it a deliberate move by the author to give so few details of him?
This book was tragic, yet humorous; hopeless, yet hopeful. The characters had just that - character. They were resilient, strong, good people and it made us feel good just reading about them. The subject matter of the book could have been overwhelmingly sad but, because the book was told post-war and dealt with people who made it through alive, we were able to step back and see it as history rather than real-time tragic events.
Of the members who chose to rate the book, it received an impressive 8.4 average. Missy declared it the best book we have read to date!
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