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 enlarge | Authors: Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows
Publisher: The Dial Press
Category: Book
List Price: $22.00
Buy New: $12.83
You Save: $9.17 (42%)
New (48) Used (15) Collectible (3) from $12.83
Avg. Customer Rating:  371 reviews
Sales Rank: 31
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 288
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 8.1 x 5.8 x 1
ISBN: 0385340990
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN: 9780385340991
ASIN: 0385340990
Publication Date: July 29, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand New, Perfect Condition, Please allow 4-14 business days for delivery. 100% Money Back Guarantee, Over 1,000,000 customers served.
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| Customer Reviews:
 jane austen would love this book January 2, 2009
Absolutely my favorite book of the year hands down! I suggested this book so many times at the bookstore during Christmas! Can't rave about it enough. Oh how Jane Austen would love this book! Books and stories like this don't come around often these days so I'm grateful this one got written, was accepted and bought and read with such enthusiasm. Only sad thing is that we won't be getting another book from this incredibly gifted author. I hope she's writing in heaven and having a literary ball!
An Excellent and Touching Book January 2, 2009
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I enjoyed this book immensely and I will be giving it to people I love. It is a history of the German occupation of one of the Channel Islands during World War II (Guernsey) and how the people survived without much food and with horrible things happening. And yet how they were able to make it through and maintain their sense of humor, deepen their relationships with others, and sometimes, the best of them, lost their lives. It is the story of heroic people who care more about others than themselves. It is the story of how literature and good books can make all of the difference in someone's life, and it is a refreshing story of a young and great female author and how she finds her life in a place she least expects. The life she finds is amazingly heartfelt and palpable.
There are many hilarious moments, tear inducing moments, insights into many different types of personalities, as well as great love and compassion that good people show to others. Each of the primary characters are different and well described to the point where I loved them and sometimes held my breath for them.
There are several heartbreaking sub stories about children being separated from parents, and parents dying in the war or dying young and leaving little orphans behind. And yet the stories aren't lugubrious, they are positive and good people step in to fill in for the lost parents.
This is one of the most positive and uplifting books I have ever read. I loved it.
Just lovely January 2, 2009
I read this book on my Kindle (Merry Christmas to me) and I absolutely loved it. The format of the letters was much better than just a book of fiction would have been. The characters were reality driven, you can just imagine any of them in real life. I loved the historical aspects to the story as well and the ties to WWII, all of the details in this book I had no idea about. Just a wonderful, easy read.
 Unrealistic fluff (sorry) January 2, 2009
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
Bibliophiles and anglophiles will enjoy this book for its embracement of a literary society, references to classic British authors' lives and its epistolary style. Its description of life in the Channel Island of Guernsey during and soon after World War II will raise readers' interest.
However, the characters seem to be caricatures: few people Britain have names like "Darsey" except in Bronte-sister books.
More research would have made this book more believable and interesting. For example, No-one in 1946 would have taken a sudden trip to Australia and the mail boat to the island took six hours and would not have been an evening sail. The Channel Islands' inhabitants have many traditions that are distinct from those in Britain: many inhabitants have French surnames. A farmer was unlikely to own one cow. These characteristics did not come out in the book.
The facts about wartime life in the island are though, based on true historical events. Although many seem to be included in the book in a very disjointed manner and with not-so-believable effect.
Being as I seem to be in the minority in not recommending this book, if after reading this book your interest in wartime life in the Channel Islands is sufficiently raised, may I suggest the true story "Prison without Bars" by Frank Keiller.
Fascinating, gentle and pure enjoyment January 1, 2009
I absolutely loved this book and finished it in record time -- much sooner than I wanted this lovely book to end. The war story of the natives on the Isle of Guernsey is little known and a glimpse at a piece of history that is often passed over for the more common stories of London bombings. While those on Guernsey endured terrible hardship they also forged deep and caring relationships with each other and with some of their occupying enemies. The reader quickly comes to love the characters and all that happens in their lives through their letters. I highly recommend this book but be warned it will be over before you want it to be.
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