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kimreadz's review against another edition
I had this one on my TBR for a long time. I’d heard good things about it and it was a recurrent selection for various book clubs hosted by our library system, so I knew I wanted to read it. When our book club realized that several of us had the book on our lists, AND that the movie version is set to be released later this summer, we decided to make it one of our 2018 book club selections..
Sadly, after that build-up I really didn’t enjoy the book much. One thing was the writing style, a epistolary novel written as a series of letters between the main character, Juliet, and other characters in the book. While I think this worked great as an introduction to the story, after a while it became tedious and made it difficult to discern between the characters.
That was another issue for me—keeping the characters straight. In particular, it was hard for me to distinguish between Eben and Dawsey for much of the book. There were just too many characters introduced too early for me to keep them straight.
Another problem for me was the slow pace of the story. Had it not been a selection for my book club, I’m sure I would have given up on it. As it was, I didn’t get finished before my book club meeting, but pushed myself to get to the second part of the book. At that point, the pace picked up, the story got more interesting, and I was able to finish that evening. Unfortunately, just when I finally felt like the story got started—it ended!
The book is classified as historical fiction, but it is not historical fiction at its best. I would classify it as ‘period fiction’; set in a particular period. I didn’t really learn much from the book (other than that Guernsey cows really originated in a place called Guernsey) and I wasn’t inspired to learn more about the period. Admittedly, that may be due to the fact that I read the ‘Deluxe Reading Group Addition’ that was well annotated, giving information about people, events and places mentioned in the book. I actually enjoyed the annotations more than the story! However, that probably slowed my reading and made the story appear more disjointed than it was. I’m not sure whether I’d recommend the annotated edition or not, so use your own judgement here!
One thing I did enjoy were some of the quotes about books that most readers will relate to. Here are a couple I liked.
About a visit to the local bookstore...
“always finding the one book I wanted—and then three more I hadn’t known I wanted”
“It was a sad wrench to part with the Selected Essays of Elia. I had two copies and a dire need of shelf-room, but I felt like a traitor selling it”About giving away a favorite book....
In fairness, I do have to mention that, as often happens, my book club rated the book much differently than I did. There were only four of us in attendance, and the ratings were 4, 4.5, and 5. After finishing the book yesterday, I give it a 2.5, for a book club average rating of 4.
Sadly, after that build-up I really didn’t enjoy the book much. One thing was the writing style, a epistolary novel written as a series of letters between the main character, Juliet, and other characters in the book. While I think this worked great as an introduction to the story, after a while it became tedious and made it difficult to discern between the characters.
That was another issue for me—keeping the characters straight. In particular, it was hard for me to distinguish between Eben and Dawsey for much of the book. There were just too many characters introduced too early for me to keep them straight.
Another problem for me was the slow pace of the story. Had it not been a selection for my book club, I’m sure I would have given up on it. As it was, I didn’t get finished before my book club meeting, but pushed myself to get to the second part of the book. At that point, the pace picked up, the story got more interesting, and I was able to finish that evening. Unfortunately, just when I finally felt like the story got started—it ended!
The book is classified as historical fiction, but it is not historical fiction at its best. I would classify it as ‘period fiction’; set in a particular period. I didn’t really learn much from the book (other than that Guernsey cows really originated in a place called Guernsey) and I wasn’t inspired to learn more about the period. Admittedly, that may be due to the fact that I read the ‘Deluxe Reading Group Addition’ that was well annotated, giving information about people, events and places mentioned in the book. I actually enjoyed the annotations more than the story! However, that probably slowed my reading and made the story appear more disjointed than it was. I’m not sure whether I’d recommend the annotated edition or not, so use your own judgement here!
One thing I did enjoy were some of the quotes about books that most readers will relate to. Here are a couple I liked.
About a visit to the local bookstore...
“always finding the one book I wanted—and then three more I hadn’t known I wanted”
“It was a sad wrench to part with the Selected Essays of Elia. I had two copies and a dire need of shelf-room, but I felt like a traitor selling it”About giving away a favorite book....
In fairness, I do have to mention that, as often happens, my book club rated the book much differently than I did. There were only four of us in attendance, and the ratings were 4, 4.5, and 5. After finishing the book yesterday, I give it a 2.5, for a book club average rating of 4.
ctieman's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
zarfus211's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Absolutely wonderful to read, enjoyed every second and hated to put it down
julierosem's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
A delightful book. I couldn’t put it down but at the same time didn’t want it to end. I loved the movie but the book was even better.
kellydarline's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
kristyloves2read's review against another edition
5.0
Update: Reread was just as good as the first time and the movie though slightly different was just as beautiful.
This book was so sweet!!! Sad at times as you hear about the experiences that could have and were true during WWII but the story itself is beautifully written. The book reads as a series of letters, telegrams, and notes back and forth from all the characters in the book. I love this because it provides the reader with so many different POVs that you can truly appreciate each of their lives and personality.
Definitely a must-read!!!
Now I'm going to have to go watch the Netflix movie!!!
This book was so sweet!!! Sad at times as you hear about the experiences that could have and were true during WWII but the story itself is beautifully written. The book reads as a series of letters, telegrams, and notes back and forth from all the characters in the book. I love this because it provides the reader with so many different POVs that you can truly appreciate each of their lives and personality.
Definitely a must-read!!!
Now I'm going to have to go watch the Netflix movie!!!
katieeereadsss's review against another edition
1.0
okay so i DNFed
i think it's a case of right book, wrong time??? it was putting me in a reading slump and i really don't want that
i think it's a case of right book, wrong time??? it was putting me in a reading slump and i really don't want that
agrippinaes's review against another edition
5.0
I watched the film before reading the book, and I sort of assumed that the book would be very much like the film - a gentle romance. It is, kind of, exactly that, but with a heartbreaking centre that I did not quite expect.
There is some truly lovely, beautiful writing in this. I’m not usually a fan of epistolary novels, but the format worked so well and I thought it was a very effective way of telling the story. There’s so much more depth to the novel than there is in the film. Whilst there is a romance, the true story in this book is the occupation of Guernsey by Nazi Germany - or, in a lot of ways, how people can find joy during and following a traumatic experience. As I said earlier - there is a truly, truly heartbreaking side to this book, but there is also a gentle warmth and sense of humour that runs throughout it.
The real highlight of the book is the relationships - everyone in the Society, Sidney and Juliet, everyone with Kit. The writing really shows how strong all of their bonds are. The characters are also really good - the characterisations of everyone is very strong and in a book with so many characters it was easy to tell them all apart. I loved Dawsey in particular, but also Isola; Elizabeth, obviously, is a wonderful character.
The romance is very sweet and lovely, and I liked that it took a backseat rather than being the main focus. The ending of the book was also good -
Finally - I loved the way that the novel described Guernsey - I was very jealous of the idea of Juliet being able to start a new life there.
Overall, this is a lovely, often heartbreaking but beautifully written story about love and survival; I’m not sure I’d reread it, but I’m very glad that I did read it.
I would recommend it if you want to read a well-written epistolary novel with some romantic elements that focuses on World War II.
Content Warnings:
There is some truly lovely, beautiful writing in this. I’m not usually a fan of epistolary novels, but the format worked so well and I thought it was a very effective way of telling the story. There’s so much more depth to the novel than there is in the film. Whilst there is a romance, the true story in this book is the occupation of Guernsey by Nazi Germany - or, in a lot of ways, how people can find joy during and following a traumatic experience. As I said earlier - there is a truly, truly heartbreaking side to this book
Spoiler
the story of the girls from the brothel, for example, or Remy’s story of Ravensbrück, for exampleThe real highlight of the book is the relationships - everyone in the Society, Sidney and Juliet, everyone with Kit. The writing really shows how strong all of their bonds are. The characters are also really good - the characterisations of everyone is very strong and in a book with so many characters it was easy to tell them all apart. I loved Dawsey in particular, but also Isola; Elizabeth, obviously, is a wonderful character.
The romance is very sweet and lovely, and I liked that it took a backseat rather than being the main focus. The ending of the book was also good -
Spoiler
I loved that Juliet proposed in the way that she did.Finally - I loved the way that the novel described Guernsey - I was very jealous of the idea of Juliet being able to start a new life there.
Overall, this is a lovely, often heartbreaking but beautifully written story about love and survival; I’m not sure I’d reread it, but I’m very glad that I did read it.
I would recommend it if you want to read a well-written epistolary novel with some romantic elements that focuses on World War II.
Content Warnings:
Spoiler
Details of the occupation of Guernsey by Nazi Germany; descriptions of concentration camps, slave labour, forced prostitution, bombings, war in general, antisemitism, animal death.jiva's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
theuncultured's review against another edition
4.0
I was surprised to like this book. It was such a delight to read. It's nothing deep or informative but it's sweet and melancholic in some ways. The end was very obvious but I won't hold that against the author because I genuinely had a good time reading this stupid bestseller.