Summer Reading.

In addition to doing lots of other fun things on vacation, I read several books. My usual way to find stuff to read is just to go to the library and check out some books that catch my fancy, but occasionally I'll have things in mind before going. The results are usually mixed. For example: I read Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms and loved it, Lewis's Through the Looking Glass and thought it strange but good. In Country by Bobbie Ann Mason, though, was not really worth the time. My absolute favorite thing I read on the trip was actually something I picked up at the airport on the way home, having slightly miscalculated and not brought enough books with me.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows is a well written novel that is entirely in the form of letters between the characters. I have read a few other books written this way, and find it to be fairly creative and interesting way to tell a story. It is not a difficult read - I finished it on the plane - but was highly entertaining, funny, and moving. Before reading this, I had never even heard about the German occupation of these islands, but now I find myself wanting to do a little research. The characters came alive to me and I just couldn't stop reading. Before I knew it, it was over. I wished for a sequel. Sadly, the main author of this book passed away just as it was published, and it was finished by her niece. So if you need a good beach book (and don't mind maybe crying at the beach) I'd say pick this one up!

On a similar note, I'd love to hear some other suggestions about what I should read next....