It’s 1946 and author Juliet Ashton can’t think what to write next. Out of the blue, she receives a letter from Dawsey Adams of Guernsey – by chance, he’s acquired a book that once belonged to her – and, spurred on by their mutual love of reading, they begin a correspondence.
When Dawsey reveals that he is a member of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, her curiosity is piqued and it’s not long before she begins to hear from other members.
As letters fly back and forth with stories of life in Guernsey under the German Occupation, Juliet soon realizes that the society is every bit as extraordinary as its name.
Reviews
What a wonderful book! What comes across (to me) is the humanity of the characters, their foibles (and don't we all have some?) and not least the humour. A lovely little story and one that warmed the heart. Irresistible!
Am just reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and can't recommend it enough. My daughter read it first and enjoyed it so much she bought me a copy for Mother's Day
I too thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was one of the readers who didn't want the story to end - surely the sign of a good read! I loved the idea that everyone who read the book became a new member of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I shall certainly recommend the book to my Reading Group - and I'm sure it will engender a good discussion.
I enjoyed the book, the way it was written in letter form, learning about the hardship of those people on Guernsey, and how the love story unravelled. The war took it's toll on such brave people, how they cleverly deceived the Germans. And how one German was so kind and caring but was sent away to die on a battlefield in a distant land and his lover died in a camp because they fell in love. I must say it tore at my heart. It was when the letters stopped. The author Mary Ann Shaffer had died and her friend Annie Barrows finished the story. Something was lost for me in the last chapter. But it was still a good read.
I belong to 2 bookgroups and we both read this book- one group was most interested in the development of the characters influenced by their surroundings and conditions and the warmth that came over in the writing. We liked the format and were pleased the strands came together at the end. The second group were more interested in the role of the Channel Isles in the war and the way the people coped and were not so interested in the development of the story - in fact were quite critical of the way the strands came together.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this book! I have listened to the audio/CD version. The English voices really make the story come alive. It shows how Community & Literature can do wonders during great stress!
