trip to guernsey?

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My copy of The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society arrived at my local library branch a few days ago.  And ever since I picked it up last night, I haven't been able to put it down.  After realizing that I have been reading oh-non-stop today, I decided to take a break to investigate this magical channel island nestled between England and France.

The novel is a series of letters back and forth among the many characters.  Some short, some long.  It has me wanting to write letters to my long distance (or nearby) friends.  Real letters.  Sent via mail.  Anyone down?

I caught myself (a few times) wanting to be Juliet -- writing letters back and forth with people she has never met only to develop everlasting friendships with.  To meet Dawsey and Kit.  To play in the wild flowers that lie in the meadow outside her little house just before the cliffs.  To have tea with silly Isola.  And to dream about The Elizabeth that so haunts (in a good way) the story.

I have a feeling that Juliet and Dawsey are perfect for each other.  Shh.  Don't spoil anything for me.  So long as she is not with Mark.  He's just not right for her.

I thought that now, with a mere 50 pages to go, would be a good time find pictures of Guernsey Island.  I love a book that removes you from the present reality and captures so much of your attention that you daydream about what life would be like if you yourself were the protagonist or the character in the corner.

I found some great old photos of Guernsey.  Perfect -- because the novel is set in the 1940's after German Occupation of the Islands.

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I found a few sites that have cottages to rent weekly if anyone is up for it.  Yes?

Book Review: The Pillars of The Earth by Ken Follett

 

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Tom Builder, Ellen of the forest, Jack Jackson, Prior Phillip, Aliana... and the loathsome William Hamleigh and Bishop Waleran... all characters of this one of the most epic stories I have ever read.  Taking place in the early centuries of England, cathedrals are built, torn down, and rebuilt again; famines and poverty strike the people; love stories are kept secret and shared with readers; political corruption within the church makes you sick; greed and jealousy spawn hatred and violence; love and justice attempt to prevail.

It was a "next page" clicker (aka. page turner).  Follett has a real talent for evoking emotion from readers, to the point where I almost didn't want to pick up and read more because a character that I hated (yes... hated) was still alive.  Brilliant.

Supposedly there's a series out about the book.  BBC maybe?  I'm planning on checking it out soon.

Careful -- it's a long story.  I read it non-stop over spring break in London and was surprised that I had only arrived at 49%.  For those non-e-book users, you have to get used to not seeing your progress by how far your bookmark is when you stand the book on end.  That doesn't exist in e-book land.  Instead, you have a percentage bar at the base of you page that tells you how far along you are.

Regardless of the length, the author did an absolute fantastic job with the story.  I'm actually disappointed that the story is over.  It's been a companion for over a month now, only because recently I've been very busy with school, moving, and unpacking.

What's next?  Not sure.  I have four books arriving tomorrow.  Real books.  With paper pages.  I try to alternate back and forth between my Kindle and books.  Two of them are about marriage and wifedom, one is about how to "purposely" raise our children (of which I do not have, but thought would be interesting to read), and one centering on student leadership (I'm planning on teaching a Leadership Education unit next year in one of my classes).  I'm sure they will make their ways into a post in the future.