The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Random House Readers Circle
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The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Random House Readers Circle Editorial Reviews
Source: Product Description
January 1946: writer Juliet Ashton receives a letter from a stranger, a founding member of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. And so begins a remarkable tale of the island of Guernsey during the German occupation, and of a society as extraordinary as its name.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Random House Readers Circle Customer Reviews:
Average Rating: 4.5 (1302 reviews)
Rating: 5 (Best read of the summer so far!) Was helpful to 7 from 10 votes
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows is a delightfully engaging book about the island of Guernsey in 1946. The entire book is told through correspondence between Juliet Ashton, a writer working on a story about the German occupation in Guersey during WWII, the members of the eponymous society, her agent, and her erstwhile boyfriend. Each letters sparkles with the writer's personality from Juliet's world-weary writer to Isola's gruff affection to Dawsey's sweet, unassuming observations of the world around him. The story flows quite easily without the extraneous detail of a novel told in the normal format. We may not see every scene and those we do see are only from one perspective, but the authors build suspense and romance in equal measures. When the truth about Juliet's feelings are finally exposed, I couldn't help but breathe with a little catch in my throat. This book reminded me of the joy I find in reading. Not a word was wasted, and every page was a wonder.
Rating: 5 (I really liked this book!) Was helpful to 8 from 10 votes
This is an easy read because its written in the form of letters between the main characters. And what characters they are!! It takes place in 1946 and starts when author Juliet Ashton receives a letter from a man who lives on the island of Guernsey. He has gotten hold of a secondhand book by Charles Lamb. Her name is in the book and he wants to know how he can get hold of other books by this author.
Guernsey is a British Island which was occupied by the Germans during World War 2 and the book revolves around things that happened during that occupation. Juliet becomes fascinated by the stories and wants to learn more - maybe to write a book about it. Various people from the island write to her - each one with their own personality and story. Eventually she goes to Guernsey and her life takes an unexpected turn.
This book is wonderful! It's dramatic and sad and funny and wry. Everything a book should be. It made me want to go to Guernsey and meet these people. They became that real to me.
This book really lives up to its quirky title. Enjoy!
Rating: 5 (For Lovers Of Literature And Life) Was helpful to 326 from 333 votes
I wasn't that eager to read this lovely book. The title sounded silly and I've read a few other books that were told entirely in the form of notes or letters like this one and I wasn't too impressed. And an aunt and her niece authoring a book together? I couldn't imagine it. Yet, miraculously, THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY manages to offer wonderful well rounded characters, a genuine sense of historic time and geographic place, some real inspiring stories of courage under hardship during World War II and a sweet if rather predictable love story.
The book takes place in England during the mid 1940's when the country was recovering from the effects of the long war years. The central character of the novel is Juliet, a thirty something single Londoner who has had some success writing a humorous newspaper column and is now looking for a book subject. Through chance and a mutual love of the power of literature Juliet begins corresponding with a group of diverse people on the British island of Guernsey who used books and the fellowship they found discussing them to help them get through the hideous occupation of their island by the Germans. The authors do a wonderful job giving unique voice and style to each of the letter writers (maybe having two authors really helped in this case) long before Juliet meets her new friends face to face. In the second half of the book, also written in letter form, Juliet is on Guernsey herself and this part of the book is not quite as strong as the beginning as the plot settles in to more of a traditional love story form and the literature themes are somewhat lessened. Still,through its final page, this is an original and entertaining book.
Rating: 4 (Like Corresponding With New Friends) Was helpful to 7 from 10 votes
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society was started one night during the Occupation of WWII. A group of neighbors were out past curfew after an illegal roast pig dinner, and had to think of an excuse quickly. Most of the participants weren't interested in books before the Society was born, but it opened up a whole new world to them. Through serendipitous circumstances, a London writer named Juliet discovers the Society and promptly falls in love with them.
The entire book is told through letters and telegrams, so it is very easy to read since there are no long chapters and the dialogue is conversational. The characters are vividly portrayed and by the end of the novel they seem as familiar as friends. Anyone who loves books and reading will enjoy this one. The characters discuss Charles Lamb, the Bronte sisters, Chaucer, Oscar Wilde, and others to some extent. The descriptions of each person's love of books is comforting. Some write in the margins, others alphabetize their book shelves, and still other use stacks of books as tables. This book's unusual title belies the sense of humor and homespun values within its pages.
Rating: 5 (I totally adore this book!!) Was helpful to 7 from 10 votes
I so completely love this book. First of all, let me say I am partial to books written as letters, journals and diaries. Not real ones though, which I guess is odd, maybe because people who publish their own journals, are doing so because their life is so sad!! I mean really, life can be so sad sometimes, I have my own problems and history, I'm not sure I "enjoy" reading about other people's terrible sadness. I do read some biographies, and non fiction books, but fiction is still my love. (Diary of Anne Frank an exception, this was probably the first diary I read as a child, was a favorite, always will be.)
Anyway, I received this book through the Amazon vine program and was so glad, it has been on my wish list since it first came on my radar. I also like stories from World War II that tell things from the people's point of view, how it was in England as they lived through their ordeal, and how it was in America,away from the fighting, but a part of things as well. Now with that all said, I loved this book. I loved the characters, the description of the situations, just the whole thing.
So pick this book up when it becomes available, I don't think you will be disappointed.
By the way, if you also like books that are journals or letters, two that I read that have always stuck in my mind are White Lies, by Jonellen Heckler and 1000 White Women: The Journals of May Dodd by Jim Fergus. I hope it was not rude to mention these in this review for this wonderful book by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. I just am putting this on my favorite shelf next to these others, and I just wanted Ms. Shaffer and Ms. Barrows to know, I consider them in good company.
By the way, I do not know much about the area and the occupation that the authors chose to base their story on, so I am headed off to the internet to do some exploring. Thanks!
OH and I didn't want to forget in the list of great letter books...The Border of Truth,by Victoria Redel...anyway, read The Guernsey Literary...lots of smiles, a couple of laughs out loud and even some tears.
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