Friday, August 14, 2015
Wartime Poster
Today I found this picture of an old wartime poster. I think it's a good way of understanding how difficult life in Europe during WWII was for people.
Saturday, August 8, 2015
Finished!
A few weeks ago, I finished reading the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (but haven't posted until now due to an unusual amount of business).
I have to say, I really enjoyed this book. There was only one thing that I didn't enjoy -- and that was the ending. I'll try to explain it to you in a way that makes sense.
After a long period of conversing with the Islanders and learning about their Society, Juliet decides to visit Guernsey to begin writing a book about their story. Upon arrival on the Island, she is greeted very warmly by all the people that she had written; Dawsey, Isola, Eben, and more; and is welcomed to stay in the old cottage of Elizabeth (a woman who was taken by the Germans during the war and has not been seen since). There, she begins her book.
Not long after she arrives in Guernsey, Markham V. Reynolds (whom I despise) visits her and tries to get her to marry him. Just like I thought she should, Juliet declines and lets Mark steam off in a fit of rage, never to be seen again.
Soon after, the Islanders receive a letter from a French woman by the name of Remy Giraud, explaining that she was a prisoner in a concentration camp when she met Elizabeth, who was murdered after standing up for another woman (who was beaten by German soldiers because she was menstruating). Remy describes Elizabeth as a brave, heroic woman and says that Elizabeth's stories of beautiful Guernsey kept her going through the dark times. Dawsey and Amelia Maugery decide to bring Remy to Guernsey so that she can recover from her time at the camps on the Island. Once she arrives, Dawsey begins to spend a lot of time with her and takes care of her. This, oddly enough, makes Juliet somewhat jealous, and she begins to realize that she is in love with Dawsey.
Now here's the part that I don't like: at the very end, Isola tells Juliet about how Dawsey (sort of weirdly) has many pictures of Juliet and Kit in his home. This makes Juliet realize that Dawsey loves her back, so she immediately goes to where he is and asks him to marry her. He says yes, and the book ends.
Now, I'm not sure what other readers thought about this ending, but I thought it was sort of a cop out. The book ends so suddenly and quickly, and this thing that the reader has predicted would happen throughout the entire story (Juliet and Dawsey being together) finally happens in barely over a page. I would have written it differently, but that's just my opinion.
Despite the disappointingly quick ending, I enjoyed the book very much. If I had to rate it based on all the other books I have read over the years, I would probably have to give it a 7/10 (which is a pretty good rating for me, since I am a pretty harsh critic). I am honestly glad that this book was required for me to read for Academic Challenge, because otherwise, I don't think I would have had the opportunity to enjoy it.
I have to say, I really enjoyed this book. There was only one thing that I didn't enjoy -- and that was the ending. I'll try to explain it to you in a way that makes sense.
After a long period of conversing with the Islanders and learning about their Society, Juliet decides to visit Guernsey to begin writing a book about their story. Upon arrival on the Island, she is greeted very warmly by all the people that she had written; Dawsey, Isola, Eben, and more; and is welcomed to stay in the old cottage of Elizabeth (a woman who was taken by the Germans during the war and has not been seen since). There, she begins her book.
Not long after she arrives in Guernsey, Markham V. Reynolds (whom I despise) visits her and tries to get her to marry him. Just like I thought she should, Juliet declines and lets Mark steam off in a fit of rage, never to be seen again.
Soon after, the Islanders receive a letter from a French woman by the name of Remy Giraud, explaining that she was a prisoner in a concentration camp when she met Elizabeth, who was murdered after standing up for another woman (who was beaten by German soldiers because she was menstruating). Remy describes Elizabeth as a brave, heroic woman and says that Elizabeth's stories of beautiful Guernsey kept her going through the dark times. Dawsey and Amelia Maugery decide to bring Remy to Guernsey so that she can recover from her time at the camps on the Island. Once she arrives, Dawsey begins to spend a lot of time with her and takes care of her. This, oddly enough, makes Juliet somewhat jealous, and she begins to realize that she is in love with Dawsey.
Now here's the part that I don't like: at the very end, Isola tells Juliet about how Dawsey (sort of weirdly) has many pictures of Juliet and Kit in his home. This makes Juliet realize that Dawsey loves her back, so she immediately goes to where he is and asks him to marry her. He says yes, and the book ends.
Now, I'm not sure what other readers thought about this ending, but I thought it was sort of a cop out. The book ends so suddenly and quickly, and this thing that the reader has predicted would happen throughout the entire story (Juliet and Dawsey being together) finally happens in barely over a page. I would have written it differently, but that's just my opinion.
Despite the disappointingly quick ending, I enjoyed the book very much. If I had to rate it based on all the other books I have read over the years, I would probably have to give it a 7/10 (which is a pretty good rating for me, since I am a pretty harsh critic). I am honestly glad that this book was required for me to read for Academic Challenge, because otherwise, I don't think I would have had the opportunity to enjoy it.
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