Tuesday 28 July 2009

A Delightful Read



For those of you who enjoyed the book 84 Charing Cross Road and/or the 1986 film of the same name starring Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins, the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society may be just your cup of tea.

Set at the end of WW 11, in a style similar to 84 Charing Cross Road, it is a series of letters, starting with an author writing to her publisher. It develops into correspondence among the most unlikely people, one being a resident of Guernsey. I shall say no more about the plot.

The style of writing is free-flowing, light, sensitive and empathic, with the occasional dry wit making you smile.

I could say this book may be more suited to women, but who am I to opine the level of sensitivity in anyone. It's one of these books which would make a super gift, so gentlemen, remember birthdays and other important dates. For us women, I suggest you just buy it for yourself and enjoy wallowing in the escapism provided by this gentle work of fiction.

The author, Mary Ann Shaffer was born in 1934 in West Virginia. She became interested in Guernsey while visiting London in 1976. On a whim she decided to fly to Guernsey and so her fascination with the Channel Islands began. She died in 2008.

16 comments:

Great Big Billygoat Gruff said...

This is so write-ist that I will never read your blog again.

Vronsky said...

Feel somewhat obliged to second GBG's response. However, entering into the spirit of things (and pouring myself another pint of extremely decent sauvignon blanc) do you know the technical term for the insensitive area at the end of the penis?

A: A man.

subrosa said...

Billy I'm practising for a job as a book reviewer, didn't you know? :)

subrosa said...

No Vronksy. I've no medical background and I must have met incommunicative men.

A rather nippy Alsace here tonight with some fresh scallops.

Conan the Librarian™ said...

Heh Heh good one GBBG.
Subrosa, I used to review books for a wee local paper-NEVER AGAIN.
Had to read some so called literary fiction who's author was so far up his ain erse he could eat his dinner twice.
In keeping with the theme here and the Hootsmon, I'm currently drinking Brewdog's Punk IPA.

Great Big Billygoat Gruff said...

Crémant d'Alsace tonight with duck sausage and haricot verts

Conan the Librarian™ said...

Oops, forgot the food; M&S Cornish cruncher cheese with balsalmic vinegar onions, parma ham, crusty bread and the undivided attention of four dogs.

Oldrightie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Oldrightie said...

Oldrightie only drinks three days a week and this isn't one of them. Your public notices of libation are hard to take! So I've gone and turned one of my four remaining Sarget de Gruaud-Larose, 1999. ready for my state pension at the end of 2009!

subrosa said...

Conan, that's £9.99 a bottle! I think, after Billy's remark, that I ought to change direction. Maybe find something in the help the elderly area.

subrosa said...

Lovely Billy. How could ye no' jist say green beans though?

subrosa said...

With that on the menu Conan you'd have my undivided attention too. :)

Conan the Librarian™ said...

I wish subrosa, cheap end of the market for me, same brewery different beer.

subrosa said...

OR you're way out of my league with that rather grand tipple. I do have a special bottle of fizz set aside for my 65th though - if I live that long lol.

Great Big Billygoat Gruff said...

Because they are French ones!

Tney speak to me in French, after the second bottle of red biddy

subrosa said...

And here's me thinking they were called le Mistral haricot in French :)

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