Book Review: Guernsey Literary Society

Asha and I discussed this book over Indian last night at the East Indian pub where we enjoyed a buffet of 29 items (we enjoyed about six of these items, "ate" another 5 and bypassed the rest). All in all, however, the food sufficed even if the atmosphere was a bit unpleasant, I think primarily because the people who worked there were either uptight or pathetic in this kind of weird way.

Anyway, the book. We both enjoyed listening to it, but we also found that once we started to discuss the book, it's flaws were readily apparent. Why did most of the people Juliette wrote never write her back (or if they did, why didn't the author want to show us that perspective); it made the book too Juliette one sided. The good people were too good (Elizabeth was like a saint); and the bad people too bad (just what did Juliette see in Mark? Can anyone say completely self absorbed and controlling). And, while we were glad she ended up engaged to Darcy (sp?) we realized we knew so little about him (except he used to stutter and everyone was persuaded by him when he wanted to persuade them except he almost never talked so how could he persuade anyone of anything?) it was hard to think that was a good choice except that it wasn't Mark. And while we get a feeling for Sidney we don't know anything about sophie except that she keeps having babies. So, our ultimate evaluation was that the book was not complex or well developed but still engaging.