This paperback was bought from a stall in Beeston Regis church, Norfolk some time ago. I previously read another copy borrowed from a friend when I was on holiday in New Zealand visiting my son but wanted to re-read it.
It tells the story of Juliet Ashton, a budding author, who gets a letter out of the blue from a man who lives on the island of Guernsey who has acquired a book that once belonged to her. This leads to her visiting Guernsey after corresponding with several of the islanders and consequently becoming very interested in the German Occupation of the island during the 2nd World War, with a view to writing a book about it.

REVIEW:-"I really enjoyed this book second time around after also recently seeing the film on tv. I was keen to compare the two and feel that the book was better. However I did enjoy both although they differed quite significantly. The book is very unusual in that it comprises totally of letters. I was soon drawn into the story of Juliet and the contrast between her normal London life and the stark differences when she travelled to Guernsey and became friends with (most of) the islanders and began to hear of their dreadful experiences during the German occupation. The story brought me to tears a few times but I was content with the ending."
Reserved for my sister-in-law in the first instance and thereafter for Plum-Crazy who is also interested in reading it.

This book was given to my sister-in-law Cathy today when we met briefly for a socially distanced Christmas present exchange which took place on her front driveway. (What a weird world we live in at the moment. Roll on the day when we're all safely vaccinated and can mix freely with our loved ones again.
I've asked Cathy to return the book to me in due course so I can send it to Plum-Crazy.

To the finder:-
Welcome to bookcrossing -you have found a travelling book. Please make a journal entry now to say where you found the book in case it has been moved. Then, when you have read it, please come back and make a further entry saying whether or not you enjoyed the book and why. It is now yours to do as you like with it, pass it to a friend or just leave it somewhere different for someone else to find and help it with its' journey. Of course if you can't bear to part with it at the moment then keep it, but please let me know that you have found it. If you join bookcrossing, which is free and spam-free, you can follow the book on its' travels as you will get an email each time it changes hands, but if you prefer to remain anonymous, that's fine too. Please also say what you intend to do with the book next. Thanks for coming onto the site to let me know you have found the book.

I already have books travelling in many countries around the world-a list can be found on my bookcrossing profile.

When re-releasing this book please be aware that airports are not a good place to leave books unless they have a specific book exchange shelf or area, due to security problems, so they may well just be disposed of. Also charity shops may well discard books that have been labelled in any way and they mostly chose only the books in the very best condition
to place on their shelves and discard the rest-so another bad release option.

Heard today that my SIL has read and thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be returning it to me when next we meet so I can send it to Plum-Crazy.

Received back from my sister-in-law today and reserved for Plum-Crazy.

This book will be sent in the post to Plum-Crazy. Date is approximate as I'm not sure when the other parcel I have to send will be ready.

To the finder:-
Welcome to bookcrossing -you have found a travelling book. Please make a journal entry now to say where you found the book in case it has been moved. Then, when you have read it, please come back and make a further entry saying whether or not you enjoyed the book and why. It is now yours to do as you like with it, pass it to a friend or just leave it somewhere different for someone else to find and help it with its' journey. Of course if you can't bear to part with it at the moment then keep it, but please let me know that you have found it. If you join bookcrossing, which is free and spam-free, you can follow the book on its' travels as you will get an email each time it changes hands, but if you prefer to remain anonymous, that's fine too. Please also say what you intend to do with the book next. Thanks for coming onto the site to let me know you have found the book.

I already have books travelling in many countries around the world-a list can be found on my bookcrossing profile.

When re-releasing this book please be aware that airports are not a good place to leave books unless they have a specific book exchange shelf or area, due to security problems, so they may well just be disposed of. Also charity shops may well discard books that have been labelled in any way and they mostly chose only the books in the very best condition
to place on their shelves and discard the rest-so another bad release option.

It's here! Thank you so much for this, I'm looking forward to it - although it will have to go on my ever increasing TBR mountain for now.

I’ve had at least one copy of this book pass through my shelves unread as I just didn’t think a book about the German Occupation of Guernsey would be for me - no thank you! Oh, how very wrong I was…

This book was a delight from start to finish. Told in the format of letters with the correspondence being between writer Juliet & various inhabitants of the island of Guernsey, these letters were both quirky & charming making me smile & like Juliet I think I fell a little bit in love with the characters myself. But some of the letters were heart-breaking & shocking too. I feel a bit ashamed to admit that I’d never really considered the plight of the Channel Islands during the Occupation & was shocked to hear how they were in effect abandoned by England…
" It was as plain as day that England could not use up her men and ships to defend us. They needed to save them for when their own invasion began in earnest. So we were left to ourselves" That last line really made me feel for them.

It really is a beautifully written story made all the more poignant by being based on a real event.

Thanks for sharing it daff, I'll probably share it again by adding to a book box.

Added to the Random Bookbox to find a new reader....

I've read this and seen the film but I've taken it from the random Bookbox for my friend who wants to read it. She isn't a bookcrosser but she will tell me her views of it and will leave it somewhere.

My friend really enjoyed this and has left it on the bookshelf at Deva Point extra care housing.