The way I stumbled onto the whole idea of visiting the Channel Islands was from the book The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I briefly wrote about it here. Before I even finished reading the book I had already lined up several of my friends telling them they had to read it! Seriously, I shoved it down their throats and said "If you don't read it we will can no longer be friends". It was from the love of this book (and the subject matter of course) that I decided wanting to belong to a book club wasn't good enough any more ~ so I social media'd us up a book club ~ there are things for which facebook is absolutely priceless. :) PS ~ I've yet to hear a bad review on this book, but it is possible these lovely people are a tad bit afraid of me and my evangelical like enthusiasm.So the whole time I was reading (and falling nostalgically in love with the heroine and countryside) I kept thinking how amazing it would be to visit Guernsey. In fact, I was considering how absolutely fabulous it would be to visit all the places that I fall in love with through a book. What a way to travel the world with no possible chance of losing inspiration (not that I ever would).
Admittedly, when I started thinking in this way I only knew the name of one of the islands. Guernsey. Obviously. There are in fact 4 main islands and few uninhabited ones.
Sark is the smallest. About 3 miles long and half that wide ~ boasting 40km of coastline. Cars are not permitted on the island so people get around by carriage, bicycle or foot. There are about 600 permanent residents. Sark is a self-governing Crown Dependency which interestingly enough means it is not part of the European Union or the United Kingdom.
In the meantime go here: www.sark.info Along the menu bar it says Guide 2010. Check it out! I'm in love. I'm already wondering how I'm going to tear myself away when it is time to leave.
PS ~ I stole this picture off the same website. The quality is terrible but I think you get the idea.
4 comments:
What a great idea to visit all the special places you fall in love with through your reading. It could take a lifetime -- and what a time you would have. I am off to check out the Sark website. have a great weekend!
i obviously have to read this book!
there is nothing more thrilling than visiting a place you've fallen in love with in a book. it is probably the most romantic experience one can have (of course i mean that in the more classical sense of romance).
there is a book i'd like to recommend to you, if you haven't already read it: Tales of a Female Nomad by Rita Golden Gelman. i haven't yet visited the places she visits in her story - but they're definitely on my list. her book is the extrarodinary true story of a woman (herself) who after her children have grown and she goes through a divorce, decides to leave everything behind, including a successful career as a children's author, to travel to Latin America and live the way the people in less than affluent communities do.
this book dropped my jaw, made me cry and laugh continuously throughout... i have a feeling you might like it :)
Hey Angela, its Jen your partner for the Stationery Swap that Megan Sparke is hosting, I am excited and have a few sheets already stacked up for you, hope all is well <3
Hi Angela! That book has been on my "To-Read" list for some time now, I think it's time to move it to the top of the list!
Sark Island...WOW! That sounds so amazing. I especially love the Sheep Races they have in July (and the crowning of Miss Sark Bo-Peep)! I've always been enchanted with the idea of growing up in a small town on an island...maybe visiting there would fulfill that deep desire to have had that upbringing?
Thanks for opening my eyes to the island of Sark...can't wait to hear about your experience there! ;)
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