The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

This was our book group selection for December. I think we all universally agree that we loved it. Recommended for women and book groups everywhere.

Wicked Lovely

A young woman who has the ability to see fairies finds herself sought after by one of their Kings.  This was the first book in a long time that sucked me in.  I read it in one day, which used to happen all the time, but lately hasn't.  It was nice to realize that I can still do that.  I read on another blog (sorry, I can't remember which one)  that "Wicked Lovely" is kind of like "Twilight" for Goth girls.  I would agree with that.  For instance, the main love interest is a guy with multiple piercings.  Marr describes these piercings (which seem never ending) in detail.  Frankly, that doesn't really do it for me, so I sort of winced through physical descriptions of him.  That being said, I enjoyed the story and the day long escape from reality it provided.

We also did this as a book group book, and while everyone had complaints, it seemed to be enjoyed overall.

Julia's Chocolates

This was our selection for August, but we weren't able to get together until September to discuss it.  We all enjoyed it quite a bit, which is interesting considering that we all found something to complain about.  Several of us were a little annoyed that while chocolate is heavily referred to in the story, Lamb doesn't go into the process of Julia's creations at all.  The characters are so wonderful that we all laughed out loud at all sorts of wonderful things.  I think we all walked away with a few new favorite quotes as well.  (Some of them better for polite company than others.)  

When we gathered to discuss the book, we had a chocolate fountain as our treat.  We all gathered around the table, full of various yummies to dip in chocolate (including bacon...but, never again), and talked and talked and talked until midnight.  I don't know if it was the chocolate or the feeling of female comraderie that the book inspired or just the fact that our book group has some of the coolest broads I know, but it was wonderful to be together to laugh and share and laugh and eat.

Head to the library and pick up a copy of the book.  But be sure to also pick up some chocolate before you head home to read it.

Vive la chocolat! 

Treasure Island

This was our book club's selection from last month.

I didn't love it. It was written as an adventure book for boys. It's still an adventure book for boys. My oldest son loved it. I decided it was worth reading because it launched a whole new genre of pirate themed stories. And now I can be done and never read it again...unless I have to...or if my boys want me to read it to them.

Maybe they'd just be content with the Muppet version.

These Is My Words

This was the selection for April's meeting. It seemed to be universally enjoyed and appreciated (Though that could have just been us moaning over the deliciousness of Dee's cookies and lemonade. Mmmmm....cookies.)

"These Is My Words" is a story about a young woman in the Arizona Territories in the late 1800s. It's written in diary form and is actually based on some of the diaries of author Nancy Turner's great Grandmother.

We broads are from all over the U.S. (with a token Irishwoman) and we all thoroughly enjoyed this story of wagon trains, homesteading, building up a city, and a woman's life in general.