Guernsey, Letters and The Human Comedy

In class we've been talking about how the book the Human Comedy has a theme, community, and that each chapter adds something more to the community. I think that Guernsey is also like that, each letter (or at least most of them) adds something more to the community on Guernsey.  Each letter adds more to each character and, as I think I mentioned before, you get to view the story through more than one perspective, which I really like.

But why is one practical reason why these people would write letters to each other instead of just discussing it in person. I think that during the occupation you didn't know who might be listening to your conversation.  Whereas if you write letters the letters can be destroyed. Read, destroy, read, destroy, read, destroy, making the correspondence both inaudible and invisible.  But the book takes place after the occupation, so... I think that the book is sort of meant to echo the occupation. The book is meant to tell the reader about what it was like for the people of Guernsey during the occupation. I mean, Juliet originally comes to Guernsey to write a book about the occupation.  It also might be a lasting affect that the occupation had on the residents of Guernsey, they're in the habit of writing letters or they're just still cautious.

Besides being inaudible and invisible letters can enable people to communicate more personal things.  Often times in books people say for example, "I'm writing this here because I'm too shy/embarrassed to say it to your face." This is another benefit of a book being written in letters, you get an even more inside look at the characters life.

In reading this book I have realized even more the meaningfulness (is that a word?) of hand written letters versus email. People really take a lot more time on letters than they do on emails, which makes it all the more personal. I know I love to get letters, but unfortunately I mostly receive email.

Guernsey *Spoiler Alert*

At the end of the book Juliet (the main character) marries Dawsey (the islander who first wrote to her).  I thought that I would look through the book for things that might have foreshadowed Juliet getting married.

Just before Juliet comes to Guernsey, Amelia (an islander) sends a letter to Juliet saying many things, but ending with how excited she is that Juliet is coming.  She writes, "There is no more beautiful approach to Guernsey than the one by sea... That is the way I first saw Guernsey, as a new bride." This is Juliet's first time coming to Guernsey, while she isn't a bride, she will be, so Amelia's comment is foreshadowing.

This quote doesn't only foreshadow something about Juliet's life but about Amelia's life and everyone's life in the Literary Society.  A new bride represents starting a new chapter in life. When Juliet comes to Guernsey the lives of many of the Society members change. For example, Dawsey becomes a little more talkative and less shy.  When Juliet comes she lives with Kit (a shy, hard to please, orphan four-year-old, and child of one of the founding members of the society). Kit slowly becomes more comfortable with Juliet and their relationship becomes like mother-daughter.  This also changes the lives of the society members.

Amelia's comment foreshadows many things to come in the book. Who knew?

Guernsey (Correspondence between Juliet and Amelia Maugery)

So another pair of letters interested me today (actually not today but, that doesn't matter).  Juliet (the main character who lives in London) writes letters to Amelia Maugery (an islander). Amelia is one of the founding members of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.  Juliet writes to Amelia to see if some of the other members of the society will write to her. Amelia writes back mostly saying yes, but expresses her concern that Juliet may write an article in the newspaper making fun of the society.

Here comes the interesting part. Juliet writes back saying she will have two people write to Amelia, one person who likes her and another person who dislikes her.  Why would Juliet have someone write to Amelia who doesn't like her, or as Juliet says, "wholeheartedly dislikes me"?  I think it is because Juliet wants Amelia to be able to see two perspectives that people have taken on her. It will let Amelia see two sides of her and will let her get a better picture of her personality.  Having these two different people write to her shows that Juliet isn't exactly afraid of being turned down by Amelia and really cares that Amelia has a good picture in here mind of who she is. I think it was a good and interesting idea for Juliet to have two very different people send letters to Amelia.

Just a side note, the letter that the person who dislikes her sends to Amelia is quite respectful. This shows that even the people who don't like Juliet still respect her. I think that that is an important thing for Amelia to know. I hope the same would be true for me.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

So, yes I actually am reading a book which I'm calling Guernsey just because it has such a long title.  So, the book takes place on the island called Guernsey located in the English Channel and also sort of takes place in London.  The island was one of the few parts of England that the Germans occupied during WWII.  The book is written in letters which is great because then you get to see the story from many different perspectives.  One of the letters particularly interested me.

This letter was sent between one of the residents of Guernsey (Isola) and Juliet (the main character, an author who lives in London).  Isloa is sort of nosy but not in a bad way.  She likes to get to know people and really seems sweet. Here is a quote from the letter she sent Juliet. "I see it that you cared to know about us, so I guess you would like us to know about you--only you just didn't happen to think of it first." I think that it is an interesting idea to assume people want to be asked questions. I know I, at least, liked to be asked questions about myself.  I think that it was very nice of Isola to ask about Juliet about herself, and I know Juliet appreciated it.

She then proceeds to ask Juliet many questions about a picture she saw of her: "Do you live by the water?" "Do you have a serious suitor?" "Is your flat cozy or grand? Be fulsome, as I want to be able to picture it in my mind." Isola says these questions are, "highly personal." Even though they are highly personal, I think they show that Isola is really interested in being friends with Juliet.

Besides telling the story of Guernsey and of Juliet, this book also talks about a good community (like The Human Comedy).  Isola is part of this community and this letter is an insight into the person who she is, caring and interested in others' lives (in a good way).