A Word for Wednesday

"Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad books."

~from The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows~

Let's Bust a Recap : The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

The day has come. The title of this blog post could not fit on one line. Oh sad, sad day. But this book is worth it.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society was not on my radar, but I picked it up one day as I was browsing through The Book Shelter simply because I couldn't pass up a title like that. I mean, look at it. My husband has dubbed it "The Governor's Luncheon and Pecan Pie Club" because he can't ever remember the actual full name of it. (Though how he consistently remembers "The Governor's Luncheon and Pecan Pie Club" I'll leave you to puzzle out. He's silly.) When I realized it was a historical novel on the German occupation of the island of Guernsey during WWII, I was sold. 

I had no intention of reading this book this year, and I was completely oblivious to the fact that it was recently adapted to film and Netflix would be releasing it last month. But the very week I happened to buy this book, my new bookish bloggy friend Sabrina at Tired Mom Reading mentioned on her Instagram account that she would be re-reading it in anticipation of the movie release and would anyone like to join her? That would be a quick Yes from me and Bob's your uncle, I was reading it the first week of August like it was my full-time job. I could not put it down. 

How this book escaped my notice for 10 solid years since its original publication in 2008 is beyond me and a total tragedy because it instantly earned All Time Favorite status with me. I immediately made my mom and then my best friend and then her mom read it because it is that good, y'all. I've waited to post this recap until I could watch the film (which I waited until I could watch with my mom and sister-in-law over the Labor Day weekend) so stick around for my thoughts on it at the end of this post. 

The novel is actually set in 1946 after the war has ended and is made up entirely of letters sent between all the characters in the book, the main character being Juliet Ashton. Juliet receives a letter from a perfect stranger who lives on the Isle of Guernsey and has somehow acquired a copy of a book Juliet used to own, and from this first letter, a correspondence begins which leads Juliet to the island to meet her new friends and learn more about the German occupation they lived through during the war. 

This book is captivating. Every character is quirky and lovable (I want to adopt Isola Pribby), and the way Shaffer and Barrows managed to capture different attitudes and emotions of Guernsey's inhabitants about the war and the occupation was remarkably believable and relatable and unique to each voice portrayed. This book had me laughing and crying and sighing and grinning and shaking my head. It elicited every response a good book ought to and I loved every second of it.

As for the movie: I was disappointed. My mom and I were the only two out of our little watch group that didn't like it, and all my internet friends liked it, too, so I'm guessing I'm in the minority with my disappointment. But let me tell you what will ruin an adaptation quicker than a wink for me: when the actual plot is changed from what was written. I understand that a movie can't be developed the same way a book can and that things are going to have to be cut. But when you start changing the things that you actually do put in, that's when I'm done with it. On top of that, Lily James' portrayal of Juliet Ashton was an extreme letdown. She didn't capture her vivacity or charm at all in my opinion, and I wasn't impressed with the other female leads either. I did think that Michiel Huisman, Matthew Goode, and Glen Powell were wonderful as Dawsey, Sidney, and Markham, but that did not make up for the glaring flaws in this film. Sad.

Annnnnnd.....unpopular opinion time over. Have you read the book or seen the film? What did you think? Anyone that read the book and watched the film care to offer a defense for it? 

A Word for Wednesday

"Perhaps there is some secret sort of homing instinct in books 

that brings them to their perfect readers. 

How delightful if that were true."

~from The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows~

Let's Bust a Recap : Song of Deborah

Song of Deborah by Bette M. Ross was originally published in 1981 and is the retelling of the Biblical story of Deborah the prophetess who led Israel to victory over the Canaanite leaders Jabin and Sisera. You can find the Biblical account of Deborah's life in chapters 4 and 5 of the book of Judges which I would highly recommend you read in any case but especially if you intend to read this novel. While I enjoy reading novels based on people from the Bible, I believe it is of first importance to read the actual Bible and keep the truth at the forefront of our minds when we're reading (or watching) someone's dramatized interpretation of the facts. 

That being said, I am always impressed by the imaginative scope authors possess to bring the Bible to life in ways I never could have dreamed up.

In Song of Deborah, Ross presents the prophetess as a very young woman (not even 16 at the beginning of the book), and she tells the story not just of Deborah leading the Israelites into battle alongside Barak, but of Deborah's marriage to Lapidoth and her relationships with other Biblical people such as Heber and Jael and even Naomi, Boaz, and Ruth. While I am skeptical of the potential accuracy of these connections as portrayed in the novel, it is interesting to think about how Deborah lived and related to people as a prophetess of God, especially to her husband. It never really hit me until reading this book that Deborah was a married woman according to Judges 4:4. How did she balance her role as a wife with her role as a prophetess? How did her husband feel when she agreed to go into battle with Barak? 

And though it's doubtful that Deborah ever met Naomi, Boaz, or Ruth, it broadens my understanding of the Bible to realize that the separate book of Ruth took place within the time of the book of Judges (Ruth 1:1). While I had the knowledge that Naomi and Ruth lived in the time when the judges ruled, I never thought about the implications of that in their actual lives. Which judge was ruling during their lifetime? Did they ever hear him (or her) speak? And did the family of Elimelech ever travel or interact with other tribes outside of their time in Bethlehem and Moab? 

Song of Deborah was entertaining, and I appreciate the way novels like this one bring these people to life for me, prompt me back to the Bible to read about them, and make me think about what life was really like for them and how grateful I am for where God has placed me in history. I've always enjoyed the stories of the judges (Deborah's in particular), and it was fun to read this novel about her. 

Who is your favorite Judge to read about? Have you read any novels that expand their lives beyond the Biblical account? And is anyone else thankful for the clarity that Sisera actually died in Judges 4:21? Because that verse always makes me laugh out loud. What are some of your favorite laugh-out-loud verses in the Bible? 

A Word for Wednesday

"What is the matter with me? Am I too particular? 

I don't want to be married just to be married. 

I can't think of anything lonelier than spending the rest of my life with someone I can't talk to, 

or worse, someone I can't be silent with."

~from The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows~

Let's Bust a Recap : 31 Days of Praise

This sweet little book is one to just leave right next to your Bible so you can keep coming back to it again and again. I can't recommend this praise-focused devotional highly enough. 

Each of the 31 days offers a unique prayer centered on God's character and emphasizing His goodness through every circumstance of life. This book helps re-train your mind to worship God at all times and find the things to thank God for even in the midst of trials or sorrow. 

As Dr. Pamela Reeve says in her foreword to the book, "31 Days of Praise is down to earth. It touches you where you live and walks with you where you plod. It is not a book that tells you to praise because 'you are supposed to' and 'you will be blessed' if you do. Rather, it inspires and motivates you to praise from the heart." I definitely found this to be true while I was working my way through this devotional. 

Apart from the daily prayers of praise which is Part II of this little book, I really appreciated Part III entitled "The Importance of Praise." In this section of the book, Mrs. Myers talks about at least eight reasons why praising God is so vital to the Christian. What is particularly excellent about this book as a whole is that Mrs. Myers incorporates Part III into the daily prayers by putting little notes on certain days of praise referring you to a specific section in The Importance of Praise including the page number where you can find that section. This was so well thought out and helpful.

I found that starting my mornings with one of these prayers of praise gave me a vertical focus throughout the rest of the day instead of a horizontal one, and I'm thankful for the extra tools (like this book) that God brings into my life to help me walk closely with Him. This book is a treasure.

"I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth."

Psalm 34:1

Casual Fridays

So apparently yesterday was National Tell A Joke day. There's a day for everything lately. In honor of that, I will share my favorite joke from yesterday with you. 

Three conspiracy theorists walked into a bar.

That can't just be a coincidence. 

Tell me your best joke!