The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

I've recently finished the above book by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows and would heartily recommend it (though JR don't buy it as I'm going to send it to you!!). It's set in 1946 and author Juliet Ashton is stuck on a subject for her next book. Out of the blue she receives a letter from Dawsey Adams of Guernsey - by chance he's aquired a book that once belonged to her - and, spurred on by their mutual love of literature, they begin a correspondence. She is intrigued by his membership to the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and soon letters are flying back forth between Juliet and the other members of the society.
It's a charming, warm, funny read and the story is told entirely through the letters.
Letter writing is a lost art that maybe we should try to revive (JR - spooky that I was thinking this having finished the book and then read your letterpress love post) - I find that if I try to write now that I get cramp in my hand farily quickly as I only really take notes now rather than hand-writing any long passages. What I loved about this book is that it told the important details of the story but as had time for the little incidentals. It is those small moments that are the fabric of life and we should talk about them more.
I think we sometimes don't write as we feel that there is nothing to 'report' and that we should only communicate on a larger scale. However, I find the little incidents of life heart warming and love it when I get an email from a friend commenting on last night's episode of Ashes to Ashes and her concern that, due to the blustery wind blowing that day, she will soon see her pants out of the window flying down the street, having been torn off the washing line. But should they end up in a neighbours garden at least they would be clean - dignity at all times!
It those things, the shared humourous moment with a stranger, the sound of birds singing in the morning, the elderly couple holding hands in front of you, the seemingly unaccompanied herd of cows crossing the bridge over the motorway, the woman driving past you with her curlers in, obviously maximizing her use of time whilst driving to a night out and the list goes on. I want to know those things about my friend's lives (which is why I love reading DM and JR's blogs).
These instances will pass and they won't change the world but they do create a richer fabric which doesn't just consist of the doom and gloom that we hear on the news everyday.
I'm off to write a letter now in my bestest handwriting.......