This is one of my favourite books, and like all bookworms, I think most books I’ve read are awesome; there are very few books I’ve read that I do not like at all.

This treasure was found in a book fair in Dubai around 10-11 years ago. My friend recommended it to me thinking I would like the narration, and she was right! The story-telling was unique to me; I had never read a book where majority of the narrative was in the form of letters.

I enjoyed reading the writing style we rarely indulge in nowadays.

Situated in the aftermath of WW2, the protagonist, Juliet Ashton (a writer herself), slightly off track in life receives a letter from Dawsey Adams, a resident of the island of Guernsey informing her as being the new owner of one of her books. What started as a hello, quickly morphs into story telling sessions between Juliet and various other residents of the same island; about life under the German occupation, what they did to survive and how they came to form the reading club.

This book is extremely small, but packed quite an effect. It reflects on quiet strength people are forced to draw upon when faced with scarcity of basic human needs; food, shelter, safety.

Though this book was written on a slightly cheery note, it struck a chord with me. It forced me to think how people are forced to survive in war times, which is more common now than it was before. The impoverishment; the fear; the uncertainty; the fight for survival by any means possible.

Has anybody else read this book? Are there any other books like these which you think should be read?

I’ll leave you all here, my tea and book wait for me…