The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

I recently read this book for the book club I am in at work. While at first I found it a little hard to get into, I ended up loving this book and the overall message it contained.

This entire book is written in letters back and forth. This is what made it a little hard to get into, because it is not just between two people, it is between one person, Juliet, and several others. But, once you get into the book it becomes quite easy to distinguish who is writing because you get to know their personalities, especially Juliet's quirky personality (loved it!).

The book begins explaining how Juliet had become a famous author in England/Europe because a book she had written composed of the columns she had written under a pen name during the second World War. This is done to give a foundation for her personality. Then, she receives a letter from a man from Guernsey. He writes to her to ask her about books because he had acquired a book she had previously owned, and he loved it, found her address in it and was writing to get further suggestions for reading. He tells her about The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Naturally, with such an interesting name, Juliet asks how such a society had come to form. It turns out that during the second World War the channel islands were occupied by German soldiers, and this occupation was hard on the residents of Guernsey. One night, some of them had met in secret to enjoy a hidden meal (the Nazi's had rationed all their food, so they had to hide the pig they roasted). While caught up in the festivities and having a full belly, they missed curfew. As some of them were walking home, the Nazis stopped them. To get out of trouble, they claimed they were at a book club, reading a German novel. The soldiers believed them, but then they had to actually form the club since the commandant said his soldiers would be stopping by to expand their minds. And, since all good book clubs have good snacks, Potato Peel Pie was made, a substitute for delicacies due to the rationing.

Eventually, Juliet begins to correspond with the different people of this group because she is interested in writing a story on the German Occupation of the channel island. So, through these letters we hear of the past, the occupation, and how the people of this club came together. It touches Juliet so much, she ends up moving there, sacrificing a promising life in London to have a peaceful life on the island.

What I absolutely love about this book is the expression of personalities through letters and interpretations of the literature they read. I love listening to people talk about books, and I love when someone talks to me about something I have also read, especially when they have a completely different view of the book than I do. The people not only tell us how they like the literature, but you see how reading books really brought these people together. It is something they did together, and shared, in one of the hardest times in all of history. Through this rough time they lost many people they loved, but found strength through being there for each other. Awesomely powerful message, if you ask me.

I loved the sprinkling of history through the book, too. I learned about the occupation in England, something I knew very little about. It gave a view of new things, and a perspective to show you how they affected certain people. Another major plus of this book is the love story. There is one, but it does not consume the entire novel. It is cute, dignified, and drama free.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. But, I warn, at first it is a little hard to get into. But, once I got to know the characters, it as quite enjoyable.

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

So, I was sitting in a waiting room and got bored so I took out my iPod and checked out the new list of books on my Kindle App from my friend Fran. I stumbled upon this and stopped because I though the cover was amazing. They title was catchy and I vaguely remembered hearing about it before, so I started reading. I finished it in one day, it was that captivating. I loved this book and am unreasonably excited to find out that it is actually a series.

Aislinn is the main character and she is phenomenal. Right from the start you learn that there is something special about her. She can see faeries, and I'm not talking about Tinkerbell. She sees them everywhere, hears every word they speak, and has to pretend like she cannot. She lives by three simple rules: 3. Do not stare at invisible faeries; 2. Do not speak to invisible faeries; 1. Do not attract their attention. She sticks to these rules as her life lines, but suddenly that changes. Suddenly, one takes on a glamor and approaches her. Only, he does not know she can see him regardless, and she does not know that her destiny is far greater and more intertwined with the faery world than she ever could have imagined.

Keenan is the faerie that approaches her, and he approaches her because he is hoping she will be his Summer Queen to rid him and the faery world of the curse placed on them. But Aislinn has no interest in him, not the way he needs her to have. Now she has to figure out how to keep her sanity, save the world, and protect the ones she loves while staying alive and human. But there is far more going on than meets the eye, even with Aislinn's visions.

I absolutely loved this book. I ate it up in one day. My affinity for fantasy aside, this was an extremely well written book. It is enticing and interesting and keeps you wanting to know more. Another perfect thing about this book? A female protagonist that kicks ass. She is strong, confident and gets things done. I hate whiny female protagonists (aka Bella Swan).
If you like realistic fantasy *oxymoron anyone?*, meaning it isn't so far fetched that it couldn't happen, then I recommend this book. Also, it is a quick and captivating read if you need something on a rainy day.

Check out the awesome trailer the author made:

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

I have been recommended this book by several people for the past couple of years. I had been putting off due to the now ridiculous list of things I would like to read until it was physically given to me this summer. I decided, hey, it's in my hands, let's give it a shot. Overall, I didn't hate this book, but I do not think it was as good as I was told it was.

This story revolves around Jacob Jankowski, a ivy league trained veterinarian who meets up with a circus after running away from his parents' death. It starts out as him as an old man and alternates between his present life in a nursing home and his past life in the circus. This is one of the biggest pluses to me in the book, but that is only due to my affinity for multiple perspectives in a novel.

I found it very difficult to want to finish this book. In fact, it took me months, plural. This is highly unusual. I was not driven to find out what happened or to create an emotional bond with any character (Well, I kind of liked the dog, Queenie). Why? I don't know. Maybe I am too close to my Gramma and do not like the thought her being miserable in the nursing home as Jake was, or maybe it was because I couldn't feel the bond he was feeling between Marlena and himself, or maybe because I worked at a circus and a fair (true story) and this seems completely normal to me, I don't know. Don't get me wrong, it was not an awful book, I was just never anxious to continue reading it.

Overall, not a bad choice. It has a decent plot, but there is no depth to it that I could get into. It is all surface value to me. We never get to delve into the affects of his parents dying while he was young, or how the vast change in life style affected his overall life, or pretty much anything that has to do with why he is the way he is or was. The most we get is that keeping a secret, a vastly obvious and reasonably unimportant secret, has been REALLY hard for him. It was kind of like listening to someone's vacation story. Interesting, some cool things happen, but you don't walk away feeling like you have been given a new perspective on things or learned new information about something that you can ponder over. It just kind of was. If Seinfeld were to write about a circus, I imagine it would resemble this book.

And, having worked with an elephant in real life via the circus at Enchanted Forest with an awesome guy named Circus Josh (in my phone anyway), I can attest that no human being can carry enough water for an elephant.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

So, I have been wanting to read this book for a while, but it took my friend Fran insisting to get me to do it. I am so glad because I loved every bit of it.

Skeeter just graduated from Ole Miss and returns to her hometown of Jackson, Mississippi. Though she had grown up there, she doesn't really seem to fit in. Unlike most girls her age in 1962, her goal in life is not to find a husband and settle down. She wants to write something, something deep and meaningful, not just the League's newsletter. This begins to cause a rift between her and her childhood friends, Hilly and Elizabeth that only worsens as Skeeter finally finds something she is passionate to write about: black maids and how they are treated in the South.

Skeeter is inspired to do this by two people, Elaine Stein and Constantine. Elaine Stein is an editor at Harper and Row, where Skeeter had applied for a job. She is shocked at the audacity of Skeeter applying for a job fresh from college when at least five years is required. But, she takes note of this ambition and pushes Skeeter to write about something that no one talks about. Constantine was Skeeters housemaid/nanny while growing up and they had grown very close through Skeeter's life. Then, all of a sudden, when Skeeter returns home Constantine is gone and no one will tell her a straight story of what happened. This two events, along with her friend Hilly's blatant disregard for common decency toward the maids, incite Skeeter to want to interview the maids of Jackson to find out what it is like working for the white women. This task will not be easy, especially in 1962 in the South. There are consequences for everyone involved, black and white.

What I loved about this book is the multiple perspectives that it is told in. It is told through the eyes of Aibileen, a black maid in Elizabeth's house; Skeeter, and Minny, another black maid with attitude. The multiple perspectives give real incite into the different attitudes of the time period as well as with the events of the novel. You get to see the good and bad sides of all the situations involved, and it really helps develop an emotional attachment to the entire story. All these characters are strong in their own way. The transitions between narrators is distinct, and you are never left wondering who's voice you are reading.

Between the different relationships formed, the funny quirky events, the tie in of actual historical events and the reality of what happened at that time, this novel is truly well written and entertaining. It is a book that has a solid content without being too heavy. I highly recommend it for a lazy weekend or perhaps a long travel. I enjoyed the author's writing style and look forward to reading some more her works.

Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson

This is the first story I have read by Anderson that has a male protagonist, and I have to say, she nailed it.

Tyler is a senior in high school who is dealing with a prank gone wrong. Tyler had previously been a wall flower, blending in, not making waves. Then he decided to pull a prank the summer before his senior year (spray painting the building) and ended up with probation, community service, and a new reputation.

The upside? All the community service made him jacked. That doubled with his reputation as dangerous puts him in the cross hairs of Bethaney, the most wanted girl in school. The downside? His dad is a control freak who is convince that Tyler's goal in life is to ruin his. Then, when Tyler goes to a party and gets accused of doing something absolutely awful (which naturally has to involve Bethaney, I mean, why else would the most popular girl in school be interested in a former dweeb if it did not end horribly for him?), he gets a target painted on his back and has to figure out if this semi-charmed life of his is worth figuring out or just ending.

Anderson does not fail to grasp the reader with this novel. Her writing style is straight forward and feels like you're hearing the thoughts directly from the characters head. As I mentioned previously, this is the first novel I have read by her that had a male protagonist (I, on a side note, have loved every book I have ever read by her and highly recommend reading Speak) and being a female myself I thought it might be difficult for me to totally adhere to this character, but it wasn't. Anderson wrote him in such a way that you can totally imagine him as a kid in your high school (well, it was only five years ago for me, so it was easy for me). You can feel his anger, his sarcasm, and his resentment in a way that make you want to punch the same people in the face.

As usual, Anderson tackles teen issues with a realistic outcome and characterization. No "Leave it to Beaver" here. Highly recommended for teens, but good quick read for adults as well.

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

This book is one of the best books I have read in years. It was recommended to me by friend Krisha, and I loved it so much I have read it twice and listened to it once. I have been a Jennifer Donnelly fan since I read A Northern Light back in college. I love her strong female protagonists and her ability to write a complete story, with nothing left out but not boringly spilling every detail. She grasps the reader and holds on through the whole story. Absolutely amazing, though I do think her books are aimed at a generally female audience.

Revolution is a historical fiction novel with two stories intertwining. First you meet Andi. She is an anxiety ridden senior in a prestigious private school in NYC. She is dealing with the tragic death of her little brother, for which she blames herself, and is focusing all her rage and hurt into her only passion in life, playing guitar. But she can't get over the death of her brother, and this leads her to the brink of her own suicide, often literally. Andi's sarcasm and cynicism immediately drew me into liking her. She has a bit of a "This is who I am, F**K you if you don't like it" persona that is clearly a facade, but leads to many hysterical encounters immediately within the novel.

When her father forces her to go to Paris with him to finish a research project in order to graduate from high school, she stumbles upon an old hidden diary. In this diary we learn the story of Alexandre, a girl the same age as Andi that lived during the French Revolution. She had written a diary to keep track of her harrowing story of defiance as she did everything in her power to save Louis Charles, the son of Mary Antoinette, who was locked in a tower and left for dead during the revolution.The parallel between these two girls is immediately apparent. Both are dealing with the stress and depression of losing someone they care about and were responsible for. The intertwining of the stories culminates in an out-of-body experience where Andi is forced to face her past and to fight for her future, instead of giving in to her depression.

While the main characters are extremely well developed and you can immediately be drawn into their lives, I also loved the role of each of the supporting characters. Each character you meet in this novel plays a role, but not in that "overly complicated have to keep track of everything everyone says" way. They contribute to the novel in a way that helps you understand the main characters that much better because this is the life that is surrounding them.

One aspect of the book that I loved was the inclusion of the music. Throughout the entire novel we see how Andi lives through music and how it intertwines into everyone's life and connects them together. Also, when Donnelly names specific songs, if you know them (or youtube them, let's be honest) you can see how fitting they are and they really help set the tone. If you don't get all the music references, you aren't going to be "missing out" and I like that as well.

I think the overall development of this story was amazing. It was clear that Donnelly put a lot of thought and research into this novel and it just makes it phenomenal. It was the type of book that as soon as I started reading it, I hated to put it down, even for sleep. Andi's internal struggle coupled with Alex's deliberate acts of defiance in one of the most dangerous times in France is such a pairing that you can feel the connection immediately. And the end is hopeful, which is rare. You usually get the depressed or the ridiculously corny, but not with this novel. I highly recommend this book to anyone.

The cover art is pretty fantastic, too. It has both Andi and Alex, with the key on the red ribbon. Cool thing about the key? It ties them together. Andi originally wore as a token from her brother who died, but it later opens up the hidden compartment of the guitar case that hid the diary. Also, the red ribbon was worn by family members of people who had died via guillotine during the French Revolution. So in my opinion, the cover is a definite win.

Trylle Trilogy by Amanda Hockings ***Spoiler Alert***

So, on a whim (mostly because I had a gift certificate for Barnes and Nobles) I bought Switched and Torn by Amanda Hocking for the Nook (copyrighted and all that jazz) app on my iPod (see previous parentheses). First, I would like to say that apps sucks, and I ended up repurchasing the books for the Kindle app (see first set of parentheses). I had never heard of these books/this author, but the summary interested me and, of course, the covers were intriguing. (For the record, I totally judge books by their covers). I would just like to say SCORE! I must say that these books were a definite find, and I loved them. Even luckier, I started the series after the third was finished, and thanks to the wonders of ebooks, was not subject to the patience grinding experience of having to wait from 2 a.m. to 8 a.m. for my local book store to open. Patience is a virtue that I do not possess my friends.

I loved this series, hated it sometimes, but loved it overall. I only hated it at the points I am quite sure that I was supposed to be frustrated.

The main character, Wendy, was wonderful. She was a strong female protagonist who voiced her opinions despite everyone attempting to shut her up. While she was strong, she had breakdowns but they only made her more realistic. She was not this stone cold heroin who showed no emotion and did what she had to do despite what was actually going on and was successful. She did what she needed to do, what she wanted to do and was always honest about how she felt about it. The only thing I did not like is who she ended up with. I personally prefer the dark and mysterious type versus the golden-god-like type, but hey, I didn't write the book.

This is a series that draws you and makes you want to find out what happens. The first and second end on a note that makes you want to continue reading, but not with such a cliff hanger that you are pissed if you don't have the next one. Of course, I still ended up buying the third instantly because I could, more than anything else.

Overall, I really enjoyed the concept of this series. It was paranormal without being completely fantasy. Wendy is a changeling, and finds out when she us 17 that her abilities to get people to do what she wants them to do is a result of her being a Trylle, or a troll. What I really like is that when one thinks of a troll, two images pop to mind. Ugly, bridge dwelling folk or cute, crazy hair gemmed belly dolls; not the case with Wendy. This is a new concept that I haven't run across before, but it seems more realistic.

What I didn't like was falling for Finn and then not getting to see them together. I was genuinely upset. I felt let down that we witnessed this fight for them to be together for her to be so easily distracted. But, like I said, I prefer the dark and broody type. But, I didn't hate Loki. Mostly for two reasons: awesome name and cocky attitude. Every girl like a guy with confidence and we all dream about meeting one and then seeing their vulnerable state as they admit they love us...ahhh. But seriously, I wish she could have been with Finn. I really liked him. He kept her in her place. I like me a tough guy.

I also like that she added an epilogue. Would I like to see more from this series? Perhaps. A spin off of Finn the tracker chronicles? Perhaps. But, if it still focused around Wendy, I am not sure where it would go. She defeated the major villain, I can't imagine another villain wanting to take that on. But hey, what do I know about the inner workings of the troll society?

Overall, I highly recommend this series. It is an interesting take on a hot fad without catering to the fad at all. I love Hocking's writing style and find her to be really talented. I plan on indulging myself with her other novels this summer.