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Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows, Mary Ann Shaffer
44 reviews
leithbookstagram's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
“what we call cheek and Americans call can-do spirit”
I wanted to read this book after watching the movie, so snatched this book up when I saw it in a charity shop!
I almost stopped reading when I figured out, after 20 pages, that this book was completely written in just letters (minus one entry near the end - I won’t say what it is to save from spoilers). I didn’t know how I felt about reading this format and thought it would lead, quite frankly, to a crap narrative.
But I’m glad I read on.
This is a really lovely, heartwarming, short read. Yes, at times it was very emotional reading about the things these characters endured during Guernsey’s Occupation in WWII, but this story was actually really funny (in an old-fashioned comedy way) and lighthearted!
I really loved reading all the history (although I don’t know how accurate this is so don’t quote me on anything) and found myself continuing to read to find out more about Guernsey’s Occupation.
Even though I was reading this because I loved the movie so much, there were some big differences between the two. To be honest, it was quite hard in some parts of this book to realise that the story was the same. I loved the movie so much and wanted this to replicate it, but this book is completely different.
The movie, in my opinion, was very focused on the romance element. This book was not and, to be honest, I didn’t expect the relationship to happen (I won’t spoil it for you!). The romance happened right at the end and was rushed into a few pages, it felt like it was just chucked in at the end. I would have actually rather the romance didn’t happen and I got an epilogue about Kit!
I’m giving this book 5 stars because it has left me feeling absolutely lovely and this will definitely be a re-read at some point. I wasn’t that fond of the letter format at the beginning, but got used to it and it wasn’t hard to follow and understand what was happening.
Forgetting about the letter format and the rushed romance, I loved this book and story. It is absolutely beautiful and I want to read more!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Murder, Genocide, Death of parent, and Death
eloiseisreading's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Police brutality, Violence, and War
Minor: Antisemitism, Child death, Racism, and Slavery
rieviolet's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I went into this book not expecting much, I thought it would be just a pleasant and easy read to end the year and start a new one, but oh boy it was much more! I'm not the biggest fan of WW2 fiction but this book was a very pleasant surprise.
I really liked how the authors didn't shy away from and handled the heavy topics related to war, occupation and concentration camps. But, at the same time, the book was also very hopeful and filled with such lovely humour and funny situations.
I really loved the big cast of characters, with all their idiosyncrasies, they felt really well depicted and vivid on the page.
I appreciated the narrative choice of telling the story through letters/telegrams and the theme of "reading/loving books" that was an undercurrent throughout the story.
I'm not giving full marks because some plot points and situations felt a little bit too predictable or far-fetched/bizarre, although it made for a very heartwarming and feel-good story.
All in all, a lovely way to begin a new reading year!
I really liked how the authors didn't shy away from and handled the heavy topics related to war, occupation and concentration camps. But, at the same time, the book was also very hopeful and filled with such lovely humour and funny situations.
I really loved the big cast of characters, with all their idiosyncrasies, they felt really well depicted and vivid on the page.
I appreciated the narrative choice of telling the story through letters/telegrams and the theme of "reading/loving books" that was an undercurrent throughout the story.
I'm not giving full marks because some plot points and situations felt a little bit too predictable or far-fetched/bizarre, although it made for a very heartwarming and feel-good story.
All in all, a lovely way to begin a new reading year!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Genocide, Police brutality, Slavery, War, and Violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Alcoholism, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Trafficking, Torture, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Excrement, Religious bigotry, Vomit, and Xenophobia
dear_alice's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A delightful, charming and easy read. Even as someone who generally avoids books related to either WW1 or WW2, I really enjoyed this book. Because of the way the book was made up out of letters and telegrams, it was very quick to get through. It provided me with a cosy feeling while also getting insight in the way that people had to rebuild their lives and communities after the war. Would definitely recommend!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia, War, Racism, Abandonment, and Death of parent
Minor: Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Gun violence, Murder, and Alcoholism
rosinawrites7's review against another edition
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
A great insight into Guernsey during World War 2 and a satisfying read, though I don't think I'd read it again. I do like the story being told through letters, that's fun!
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Violence, Slavery, Trafficking, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Genocide, and Death
Moderate: Death of parent
Stories about Nazi concentration camps and starving Nazi prisoners working on Guernseyrhosynmd's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This book was so much more than I was expecting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Animal death, Genocide, War, and Violence
Minor: Antisemitism and Child death
maaathiiilde's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Antisemitism, Death, Death of parent, Genocide, and War
Minor: Animal death and Cancer
s_reads_s's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Genocide, War, Death, and Death of parent
jaec11's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is the story of an author and how she finds inspiration by meeting a group of people called the Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. The story is told in letters.
Honestly, this book was okay. It was a little confusing to follow all the characters through their letters, but each character was interesting to read and had a big personality. I liked hearing their perspectives on the events of WWII. It was, however, a little dull, and I found it hard to be onboard with the romance when your only understanding of it was through biased letters. I also thought the ending was a little too tidy, and yet still not satisfying.
PG
Honestly, this book was okay. It was a little confusing to follow all the characters through their letters, but each character was interesting to read and had a big personality. I liked hearing their perspectives on the events of WWII. It was, however, a little dull, and I found it hard to be onboard with the romance when your only understanding of it was through biased letters. I also thought the ending was a little too tidy, and yet still not satisfying.
PG
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Xenophobia, Death, and Death of parent
danajoy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Excrement, Grief, Medical trauma, and Vomit