The writing style of this book, in the form of personal letters, taught me about the German occupation of the Channel Islands during WWII, a period in history of which I knew very little. However, because it was written solely in the form of letters (as primary sources), I found it somewhat difficult to keep the characters and characteristics straight. I devised a list of characters, traits, their favorite authors/books, and unique events in their lives. Each member's favorite author and/or literary quote uniquely captured their experience during the hardship of the war and 5 years of German occupation. The joy of companionship, united by a newly found love of literature, bonded the members of the society to eachother and ensured their survival.

I found the book to be delightful! It praises the joy of reading and the impact that a book can have on a person's life. There are so many beautiful lines, which I have personally written as my own memorable quotes, such as "reading good books ruins you from enjoying the bad books" (p. 53). I wholeheartedly agree. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is not to be missed.

A sweet, enjoyable story of a young woman beginning a life in a new land. Set in Bermuda in the early 1600s, the author weaves a tale based upon the shipwreck of the Venture and the first settlement in Bermuda. Following the shipwreck, as settlers struggle to survive, characters have the opportunity to grow, rediscover and reinvent themselves. If you like historical and romance novels, you will enjoy this book.

Our bookclub was fortunate enough to discuss our questions with Ms. Johnson via speaker phone. Ms. Johnson shared her writing process from conception of her ideas to published piece. We really enjoyed our discussion. Kathryn was a delight and made our meeting unforgettable.

Jean Kwok captured her life experiences through this fictional tale of hardship, survival and triumph. Kimberly and her mother flee China, liiving in impoverished conditions and working in Manhattan's Chinatown in a clothing factory owned by her maternal aunt and uncle. Kimberly enters school with no English and no knowledge of American Culture. The author opened our eyes to the harsh life in an American clothing factory. Sad to say, we were unaware that such hardships and violations of labor laws exist in America today. Kimberly struggles to hide and survive her secret life of dire poverty in Brooklyn, NY. You will find yourself cheering for Kimberly as she works to help her mother overcome.

The members of our club are predominately teachers who work in a public school in Brooklyn. Ms. Kwok helped to open our eyes to the unknown home lives of newly arrived immigrant children, as well as their struggles to assimilate and adapt to their new homeland. I would consider this book to be a modern day version of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, with Kiimberly as Francie Nolan. A wonderful read.

The book opens with the funeral of Jack in a small town in Minnesota. As the widow and her daughter Trudy rush home from the funeral to prepare a luncheon for their neighbors, who never attend. Trudy realizes that even in her grief as a widow, her mother, Anna, cannot open up and share her emotions.

The story then backtracks to Anna's life during WWII in Germany. Those Who Save Us follows the story of Anna, a young girl who just lost her mother and lives with her Inaffectionate, unemotional father. Her life consists of housework and chores, as she is seen by her father as nothing more than a substitute for his dead wife. Anna begins to vist the local doctor, Max, the only person who will discuss her mother's death and ask about her feelings. Max, a Jewish man with whom she falls in love, and to whom she bears a child. Following his arrest, Anna is forced to begin life on her own and goes to great lengths to provide for her half Jewish child in Nazi Germany.