Over the past year, I've started to enjoy audio books more and more. Especially now that I'm commuting to work by car, audio books are a very joyful part of my everyday life. I can tell pretty quickly whether the audio book is one I'm going to enjoy, and I fell in love with The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society immediately (it helped that I had already loved reading the book version). Here's the GoodReads summary:
“ I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.” January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb….
As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is.
The top 5 reasons I loved this book:
1. The characters are well layered and loveable - and each played by a different voice actor. Which automatically endears me to any audio book. Characters you love reading about come to life in a totally different way when you can hear their "voices."
2. The characters all have wonderful British accents. And this American loves listening to British accents.
3. The story is about the life-saving power of reading and is basically a long love letter to books (similar to the Book Thief is that regard).
4. The story is comprised of letters written between the characters. And letters are wonderful.
5. The book made me laugh and cry. Hardly any books can claim that honor because I'm not usually one to laugh or cry at books (only at movies and TV shows). Which basically means this book is amazing.
Now I've done all I can to convince you to listen to one of my favorite books. The responsibility is yours to get yourself to your library and get listening. Hope you have a wonderful weekend, even if it doesn't involve any residents of the island of Guernsey.