Literary Brooding

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows Kindle Edition, 257 pages Published May 10th 2009 by Bloomsbury Publishing I have had this book on the to be read pile for a long time and kept putting off reading it. There has been an awful amount of hype about the book and to be honest it was putting off reading it for that reason. Well, this book is a little gem. It is friendly, funny, engaging and just a wonderful escapist read. World War 2 is slowly receding away and Juliet Ashton is touring the English country promoting her latest book a collection of articles is favourably reviewed. This brings into Juliet's world the New York publisher Markham V. Reynolds, Jr and he woos her by sending copious amounts of flowers. Sidney her publisher, warns Juliet to be careful about Mark but his intentions are romantic. Then Juliet receives a letter from Dawsey Adams, a complete stranger from Guernsey. He writes to her about his love Charles Lamb an

Two books about sisters, two books that could not be more different. The Van Apfel Girls Are Gone by Felicity McLean Kindle Edition, 352 pages, Published June 25th 2019 by Algonquin Books It is 1992, it is hot in Australia, Lindy Chamberlain is being compensated and the three Van Apfel sisters have disappeared.  Tikka was friends with the three sisters and through her eyes we unwrap the mystery.   This is a complicated little story, told by one narrator but at different points of time. Some when she is 11 and others when she is in her 20s. Tikka 11 is trying to find her way, she worships Cordelia Van Apfel and just wants to be a part of everything. Tikka 20s is a mess, coming to grips with trauma of the disappearance and riddled with the what ifs. As the narrative unfolds instead of clarity you are provided with more shades of grey. Could the teacher be involved, what is going on with Mr and Mrs Van Apfel and does everyone know the truth but chooses to look the other way?

Starting with a refresh Time to give the blog a freshen up for 2020 and do some reading calculation.  Looked at my Kindle and found at least 50 books to read and I have not even looked at the book shelves. At a guess at least another 100. Yes I have been buying and reading but perhaps more buying of late.  Time to make a significant dent in the list and resist buying more. That is so not going to happen but I can but try. I have started reading 'The Van Apfel Girls are Gone' by Felicity McLean. So far it is a meandering piece that is slowly revealing the story. I am intrigued but will it hold my interest? I am sure to let you know.