War on the Margins by Libby Cone (a review)

3 out of 5: If you liked The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (see my review here), you might like War on the Margins, which also tells the story of the German occupation of the Channel Islands during World War II. Unlike Guernsey, War on the Margins is not the least bit frivolous or formulaic.

War on the Margins threads together the fictionalized stories of several Channel Island residents suffering under the German occupation. Historical documents and letters are mixed liberally into the narrative, giving the book a serious, realistic tone. Although these historical details lend authenticity, this added material breaks up the flow of the narrative, reducing the emotional effect. War on the Margins contains too many separate stories to allow for the satisfying development of any one story, further decreasing the emotional impact. The overall effect is a book that’s interesting and ambitious (and better than Guernsey) but soulless.