Guernsey and Other Things That Sparkle
And NOW we've lost Billy Mays? WHAT is this world coming to? Who will inherit the “Best Infomercial Guy” crown now? Can't be that Sham Wow guy because nobody's gonna buy OxyClean from a prostitute beating perv. Unless it's really on sale.
I don't know why this commercial cracks me up, but it does. I laugh every time at the time sheet guy.
Did you know Rhode Island might shorten its name? When I first read that headline, I thought we were gonna have to call it Rhode or maybe R. Sometimes dropping a last name helps–like Madonna or Cher. But apparently this ministate is officially called State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. WHO knew? I didn't. The people who want it changed say that the word plantation reminds America that Rhode Island had slaves– on plantations. Are they seriously using tax dollars and House/Senate money to discuss this? Rhode Island, I hate to break it to you, but nobody thinks of you when they think slavery. And I don't even think my grandma's old Encyclopedias (big heavy books of multiple volumes that contained Google-like information and were very expensive, eventually stinky, and hard to sell at garage sales) refers to RI as State of Rhode Island Blah Blah Plantation Etc. We have pop stars and commercial stars dropping like flies here. These are crazy times, and America needs you to focus on things that count. Like a national holiday honoring Ed McMahon in which we go to work in sweats so we can comfortably ponder his contributions to this world.
So over my vacation to Ireland and Scotland, I read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. It really wasn't my type of book. I mean, Fabio was nowhere on the cover, so I had no assurance there would be romance and a big kissy payoff. But I LOVED this book. The first half was good. . .but the second half was awesome. It's a quick read–written in letters, which also usually doesn't thrill me. About 20 characters chime in, and I loved every one of them. Plus I learned something about the German occupation. Those sneaky authors–sliding in a little history. It's just such a clever, magical book that makes you want to put down your own pen and never write again for lack of worthiness. During the German occupation, “Elizabeth” and other Guernsey folk get caught out past curfew. So Elizabeth tells the soldiers they're just coming home from their book club. Then to carry off the lie, they all have to start a book club, with everyone getting a book and talking about it. It is so genius to see how the war affects their lives, how this character Elizabeth affects their lives, and how each person's book selection affects them. I'm tearing up now just thinking about it–this book will GET you. It's a beautiful message on the power of kinship in hard times, the broad definition of family, and the power of books.
Mary Ann Shaffer wanted to write this book on what she had learned about the actual island of Guernsey, but toward the end of the project, she got too sick to continue. So her niece, an author, helped her finish. Mary Ann passed away, but not before knowing that her book would be published and that it was expected to be a big, big deal. I love Amazon's author spotlight with the niece. You can see it HERE. I love how articulate the author is about the book. Whenever I'm asked about my books, I'm always like, “Um…it's about a girl…and she has problems…and there's a boy…he has two legs.” Really profound. I love to talk about other people's books though!
Anyway, Guernsey was so good. I finished the book in the Scotland airport, and two different times I was wiping away tears and feeling like a TOTAL sappy cow. And there's this character in the book that I just want to be when I grow up. Or tomorrow. I'd take tomorrow. It's also one of those books that when people see the cover, they will stop you and expect you to talk to them about it. It's a total conversation starter. People stopped me in the Shannon, Ireland airport to talk about it. I love that. Plus, it's a beautiful cover. It's weeks later, and I still can't stop thinking about this book. THAT'S a sign of a good book. And I don't mean I'm still thinking about it in the icky sense like when I read the first half of Kite Runner and was scarred for life and wanted to gouge out my own eyeballs. Or when I had to read this “great novel” in college called Lolita and I wanted to barf on my professor. Not like that at all!
So I'm giving away a copy of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society! Because I think everyone should read it. And then we can ALLL want to be this one particular character in the book. (But I have first dibs.) To win, all you have to do is leave a comment in answer to this question: What is one thing you are looking forward to this summer? Mine is just having time off. Which I'm wasting. Because I'm a time off waster. Someone told me today not to feel guilty about “doing nothing” because in a few months when I was writing/teaching/deadline stressed, I could think on my happy days of nothingness. And it's true. Pondering nothing always perks me up. You have from now until this Thursday evening to to leave your comment to win the book. The new proud owner of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society will be announced Friday.
Last night I went to my church's fireworks show. This is our second year to have them, and they do an awesome job.
My camera does not do an awesome job. I like how it takes a simple image of pretty fireworks. . .
And makes it look like Armageddon. . .plus a few sparklers.
It's the end of the world. . .and it's pink and smells like bottle rockets.
We have three giant crosses on our church grounds, so it's cool to see the fireworks against that backdrop.
Because nothing says we love Jesus like explosives.
I was sitting there on the church grounds with the 1000s of other people (and my mom and aunt), and I noticed the people behind us screaming and laughing. They were getting drenched, but I had no idea where the water was coming from. Then about fifteen seconds later…the water hit us. I totally got HOSED. Seems the church forgot to turn their sprinklers off. And these are not your typical sprinklers. These are like put out a burning building sprinklers. Water the Sahara sprinklers. Take out small children and elderly sprinklers. Ruin a girl's Chi'd hair sprinklers. . .
Side note: A friend just emailed me from Gulf Shores and sent this picture with the following caption…
“Obviously we aren't going dolphin watching tonight.” (Speaking of Armageddon… That looks straight from the movie.)
Don't forget to leave a comment between now and Thursday evening (cutoff time somewhere between Charlie Gibson and Letterman) to be entered to win Guernsey. You do not want to miss this book. Also stay tuned for zany trip pics and an interview with awesome author Kathleen Fuller, where I ask her what is the DEAL with all these Amish books. You won't want to miss it.
See you Wednesday!
JEN
