The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

By Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

290 pages

8 hours and 11 minutes listening time

Grade A+

I loved loved LOVED this book! I had so much fun reading it! I tried to start listening to it, but since it is a book done as a collection of letters, it was really hard to follow along on audio, so I actually read this book! It really helped me get lost over this past weekend and put my mind in an entirely different place which was nice because I really didn't want to be in my own world.

The author writes in a way that you can totally fall in love with the characters. I felt that I had become friends with them all when I finished the book.

Basically, the book takes place in the time shortly after WWII. A man who lives in Guernsey, found a book that had Juliet's address in it. Juliet is an author in London. She starts writing back and forth with the man, Dawsey, and they become friends. Shortly after, other residents of Guernsey start to write to Juliet. Juliet starts to think she needs to write a new book about the Occupation on Guernsey. She plans a trip to Guernsey, and finds so much more than just information on the Occupation.

She becomes friends immediately with the residents and the members of the Society. And they all take to Juliet so fast as well. It makes you wish you were on the island with all of them.

I was so happy at the end of the book and so happy with the way it ended, but I was still so sad that it did end.

Anyway, read it. That is all I have to say :)

A Dirty Job

A Dirty Job
By Christopher Moore

405 pages
11 hrs and 49 min listening time

Grade C+

There is no way to review this book. None whatsoever. This book started off funny, got weird, stayed weird, got weirder and ended in this most weird way ever.

When I first started this book, I thought it was going to be a terribly sad book because right off the bat, the main character, Charlie, loses his wife after child birth, and is left to raise this little baby on his own, with the help of his lesbian sister. He soon finds out that he is a death merchant, which I have no IDEA how I would be able to explain what that is without making the three people that read this blog think that I am insane and lost it.

If you like weird and have a few hours to kill, go ahead and read this book. However, it is very strange so that is your warning.

Forever in Blue

Forever in Blue: The final summer of the sisterhood
By Ann Brashares

432 Pages
9 hrs and 4 min listening time

Grade A

With the final book of this series, I am in love. I LOVED this series. I related separately with each of the main characters. I especially related to Carmen in her first year of college. She felt alone, and just disconnected. The first year after high school, although I didn't move out of Vegas, most all my friends did. I lost contact with a lot of people and it was a struggle stay connected with those I did because everyone was just so busy with their new lives. I was so happy to see her break out of that miserable mold and reconnect with herself as well as with her friends.

I also loved to see how all the girls reconnected at the end. I am afraid I might spoil it if I say too much more, so I will leave it at this, just read the series. I loved it, and once I am done with this goal, I will probably listen to it again.

Girls in Pants

Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood
By Ann Brashares

416 pages
7 hours and 16 minutes listening time

Grade A

The third summer of the sisterhood did not let me down. It was just as cute as the first two and really kept me interested. I really enjoyed watching these girls blossom into young women and really grow. Some of it was predicable, but not boring predicable.

I don't know what else to say about this book without giving too much away, and not that there is too much to give away because there isn't murder or mystery but, regardless, if you read the first two books, you won't be disappointed with the third.

The Second Summer of the Sisterhood

The Second Summer of the Sisterhood
By Ann Brashares

448 pages
9 hours and 7 minutes listening time

Grade A

This book is the second in the Traveling Pants series, and it was just as good as the first. The girls continue to grow, fall in love, have heart breaks, but still remain true to themselves. I am in love with this series!!!!

The characters are so likeable, and loveable. Of course, like the first book, there were a few parts that made me cry, but it did make my feel good and laugh too. There aren't a lot of parts that I relate to like I have in a few of the other books that I have read, but I love the characters so much in this series that I feel like they are my own friends too.

I truly recommend this series to everyone, and I really cannot wait to get to the next book in the series.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
By Ann Brashares
352 pages
6 hours and 39 minutes listening time

Grade A

I REALLY enjoyed this book. I loved how the author really lets you feel the personalities, the emotions and the pure greatness of all the characters. I loved how I could see a bit of myself in each of them.

I really loved how even though they are best friends, and they are all depressed about having to spend the summer apart, they find ways to keep connected. I also really enjoyed how each of their characters grew. I loved sharing their experiences.

I laughed, cried and sympathized with each of them. I found myself really wanting to get to the next minute of the book to find out what was going to happen next.

I really didn't want to get into any series with this goal because I wanted to listen/read a bunch of different things, but I honestly cannot freaking wait to start the second book. As a matter of fact, I am going to start it tomorrow.

Thanks to Aunt Cindy and cousin Danielle for the recommendations!!!