And I don't even like potatoes!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Dial Press
Mary Ann Shaffer
Annie Barrows

To Juliet Ashton from DES, March 2nd, 1947

Dearest Juliet,

It was with great interest that I read the latest correspondence between you and the members of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I have to say that when you told me you were packing up your flat in London to "investigate" the possibility of writing a book about the Guernsey Occupation, I thought you were a bit mad. We've all been so broken by the events of the last six years that I honestly felt you should just move on to other, less painful things. Your columns during the war were fantastic, of course, and just what we needed to lift our spirits. When you shared the islanders' letters with me, however, I can completely understand what has drawn you to that corner of the world. Their stories are just so poignant. I rush to the mailbox every day to see if you've sent me more letters. I'm hoping you do something lovely for these generous people.

Now, not to switch topics too abruptly, but I was speaking with a mutual friend the other day and he seems quite put out by the fact that you've forsaken him for a "bunch of farmers and old women". In fact, just the other day I saw that viper Beatrice Worthington hanging off his arm at the club. They were getting awfully close if you ask me. He's such a catch, Juliet, are you sure you know what you're doing? You haven't met someone else have you? Surely you'd tell me. You would tell me, wouldn't you?

I must dash. Charles and I are off to see a new play this evening and I have yet to find something to wear. I lost the better part of my wardrobe when our apartment block was bombed and I still haven't persuaded Charles to fund a new one. Sigh. Oh, apparently the show we're seeing is getting rave reviews -- five stars, I heard. I'll tell you more in my next missive.

All my love,

DES

L'Élégance du hérisson

The Elegance of the Hedgehog

Muriel Barbery

Europa Editions

I don't know if I loved this book because it made me feel somewhat educated and slightly cultured, or because it made me feel entirely dull-witted and slow. I definitely had moments of both while reading this text and I am sorely pressed to say which captured me more.

Set in an elegant Parisian apartment, the novel intertwines the narratives of two of the building's residents -- Renée Michel, the building's dumpy, slow, and stereotypical French concierge, and Paloma Josse, a twelve-year old girl, whose understanding of the absurdities of life would put Ionesco to shame. Both characters go to great lengths to hide themselves from the outer world. Renée portrays herself as others expect her to be and she lives a clandestine life full of philosophy, music, art, culture and custom. Paloma hides by retreating into herself, rarely speaking, but keeping a journal of profound thoughts and movements. If I were still an academic, I think I would be tempted to construct a semester-long course around this novel. You could easily spend weeks discussing the ideas that each character presents.

What made this novel especially beautiful was the author's use and range of language. Even in translation, I was caught by Barbery's lush descriptions and gorgeous phrasing. She can find the rightness in quoting a lyric from Eminem as easily as she can find it in a passage from Tolstoy. The book was just so full of Beauty that I felt like I was breathing fresh air through my eyes. Five heartfelt sighs out of five.

I Need Brains ... In a Good Way

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Quirk Books
Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith


What do you get when you take a classic piece of English literature and add zombies, Shaolin-trained country misses, and the occasional honour-killing? Well, aside from the fact that it sounds like a perfect script for the next Bruce Campbell project, you get a fantastic read that makes you think about first impressions, class warfare (pun intended) and the topsy-turvy nature of relationships.

I loved this novel! I'm not exactly sure how Grahame-Smith managed to insert both zombies and ninjas into the text and still preserve that early Regency feel, but he did. His grotesque version of this story somehow enhances Austen's original work and his subtle addition of some off-colour humour about balls (um, of the dance variety) actually made me laugh out loud. Four decaying unmentionables out of five.