That Just Happened!

Shaffer, Mary Ann & Annie Barrows.  The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.  The Dial Press (2008).

The letters comprising this small charming novel begin in 1946, when single, 30-something author Juliet Ashton (nom de plume Izzy Bickerstaff) writes to her publisher to say she is tired of covering the sunny side of war and its aftermath. When Guernsey farmer Dawsey Adams finds Juliet’s name in a used book and invites articulate—and not-so-articulate—neighbors to write Juliet with their stories, the book’s epistolary circle widens, putting Juliet back in the path of war stories. The occasionally contrived letters jump from incident to incident—including the formation of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society while Guernsey was under German occupation—and person to person in a manner that feels disjointed. But Juliet’s quips are so clever, the Guernsey inhabitants so enchanting and the small acts of heroism so vivid and moving that one forgives the authors (Shaffer died earlier this year) for not being able to settle on a single person or plot. Juliet finds in the letters not just inspiration for her next work, but also for her life—as will readers.

Amazon.ca

This book was recommended to me by Jenners @ Find Your Next Book Here  after I had expressed my pleasure over Clara Callan.  Both books are compilations of letters written between people that tell a story.  I really do enjoy this format, it provides a little bit of curiosity because you don’t read about things as they happen, but find out after the fact, when they are referred to (sometimes vaguely) in a letter.  Events are sometimes mentioned in passing, but not elaborated on and it serves to remind you that you are only getting a glimpse into the character’s life.  There are probably many, mundane events that transpire that the Reader may only guess at. 

The storyline was nothing new.  War-torn countries trying to piece together their lives and villages,  missing persons never found, and memories that won’t fade.  What was refreshing was the humour used to lighten up the lives of the characters.  This is a sweet story about a woman who is confronting her past and deciding her future with some help from friends.  I liked the ending, which always changes how you feel about a story.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who appreciates written correspondence and likes books about developing relationships between people from different walks of life.  This should definitely be Put on Your TBR List.

Go here to read Jenners’ review of this book written in letter format. What a great idea!  This only leaves one more thing…what is Potato Peel Pie?  Read the book to find out!

Stein, Garth.  The Art of Racing in the Rain.  Harper Perennial (2008).

Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver. Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, like racing, isn’t simply about going fast. Using the techniques needed on the race track, one can successfully navigate all of life’s ordeals.

On the eve of his death, Enzo takes stock of his life, recalling all that he and his family have been through: the sacrifices Denny has made to succeed professionally; the unexpected loss of Eve, Denny’s wife; the three-year battle over their daughter, Zoë, whose maternal grandparents pulled every string to gain custody. In the end, despite what he sees as his own limitations, Enzo comes through heroically to preserve the Swift family, holding in his heart the dream that Denny will become a racing champion with Zoë at his side.

A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a beautifully crafted and captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life…as only a dog could tell it.

From the Author’s Website

Well, well, well.  I actually enjoyed a book written from the dog’s perspective.  There was a bit of apprehension there based on past experience, but there was no need.  This novel was so touching and well-written.  I really felt empathetic towards Enzo and I loved the racing references.  I have in the past gone to the Toronto Indy and I really enjoyed watching the races.  I also know someone who races cars, so I can appreciate how serious and committed people are to the sport.

I really felt for the characters in the book and it is a sad story that happens a lot, unfortunately.  Reading about it from the dog’s perspective gave a somewhat unbiased view of events.  Although he clearly favours his owner, there are so many insightful observations made that, as humans, we sometimes overlook because of our tendency to talk rather that listen at times.  Written from a dog’s perspective, there is no need for arrogance, or to change the facts because he can’t really do anything about it anyway.

There were a few times when I did get a little teary.  Sometimes it was sad and other times it was out of sheer frustration.  I really felt this is a book you should add to your TBR list if you like tales of the human condition (even if it is told through a canine’s point of view).

 On the cover of this book is a quote by Sara Gruen, the author of Water for Elephants, which is an excellent book, and definitely worth a read.  You can read more about it here.

Buck, Pearl S.  The Good Earth.  Washington Square Press (2004).

Though more than sixty years have passed since this remarkable novel won the Pulitzer Prize, it has retained its popularity and become one of the great modern classics. “I can only write what I know, and I know nothing but China, having always lived there,” wrote Pearl Buck. In The Good Earthshe presents a graphic view of a China when the last emperor reigned and the vast political and social upheavals of the twentieth century were but distant rumblings for the ordinary people. This moving, classic story of the honest farmer Wang Lung and his selfless wife O-lan is must reading for those who would fully appreciate the sweeping changes that have occurred in the lives of the Chinese people during this century.

Nobel Prize winner Pearl S. Buck traces the whole cycle of life: its terrors, its passions, its ambitions and rewards. Her brilliant novel — beloved by millions of readers — is a universal tale of the destiny of man.

Reading Group Guides

Originally published in 1931, I read this for my TwentyTen Challenge  (and because my Mom said it was great). 

First, let me start by saying how difficult it was to find a short overview of the story.  It seems that no one can condense the plot into a paragraph because there is just so much to say.  The plot is layered and rich, and to leave out one part of it seems to do injustice to the rest.  I really enjoyed this book.  The storyline was compelling and I really wanted to know what was going to happen next.  Wang Lung’s ambition, at first, is endearing and it really made me want to see him succeed.  As the story goes on, the Reader can see this ambition turning him into a different person.  At first he envied the wealthiest family in the village, but as he works to become the wealthiest family, all of his goals seem to turn from humble to grandiose.  It’s difficult to read about these changes because at the beginning of the book, you want so much for him to succeed.

I thought that the setting of the novel was interesting.  It takes place in Pre-Revolutionary China.  Rural China is so different from the urban center Wang Lung and his family must travel to.  There is much unrest in the cities and as we read on, the unrest spreads to the village as Wang Lung prospers.  The difference between the rich and the poor is great and war breaks out as the poor try to take what they feel should be theirs.  It was interesting to see this unrest in relation to Wang Lung, an “everyday” person.  It does affect his life, but he tries to continue on and achieve his dreams despite this.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes to read modern classics.  The Good Earth  is a Pulitzer Award Winning Novel and an Oprah’s Book Club Pick.  It is also the first book in a trilogy, so if you have already read and enjoyed this book, there is also Sons  and A House Divided.  It was also made into a movie entitled “The Good Earth” in 1937.