The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society

The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Anne Barrows.

Paperback: 290 pages
Publisher: Dial Press Trade Paperback (May 5, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0385341008

 

 From Publishers Weekly

The letters comprising this small charming novel begin in 1946, when single, 30-something author Juliet Ashton (nom de plume Izzy Bickerstaff) writes to her publisher to say she is tired of covering the sunny side of war and its aftermath. When Guernsey farmer Dawsey Adams finds Juliet's name in a used book and invites articulate—and not-so-articulate—neighbors to write Juliet with their stories, the book's epistolary circle widens, putting Juliet back in the path of war stories. The occasionally contrived letters jump from incident to incident—including the formation of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society while Guernsey was under German occupation—and person to person in a manner that feels disjointed. But Juliet's quips are so clever, the Guernsey inhabitants so enchanting and the small acts of heroism so vivid and moving that one forgives the authors (Shaffer died earlier this year) for not being able to settle on a single person or plot. Juliet finds in the letters not just inspiration for her next work, but also for her life—as will readers.

What a great little book !!  I couldn't put it down and I didn't want it to end!!!  .. and now, of course, I would love to visit Guernsey !!!!

This whole book is letters written between an author, Juliet, and people from Guernsey about the times they went thru when Germany occupied their island.  Now, having said that.. I wasn't sure this was a book I'd want to read, but so many people were reading it , I sent for it. As all my books it sustained a waiting period in my TBR pile.  But .. wow! When I got to it I couldn't get enough of it!

It was historical but also you got to know a group of people you wouldn't have even known about had this book not been written.

I am not good a book reviews (which is why I always include the Amazon review), and I don't want to give away *anything!* because it is such a wonderful book and so small ..it will leave you wanting more.

Just because most people who read my blog are "book-nuts" I will give you a small quote from page 11 of the book:

"That's what I love about reading: one tiny thing will interest you in a book, and that tiny thing will lead you onto another book and another bit there will lead you onto a third book.  It's geometrically progressive- and with no end in sight, and for no other reason than sheer enjoyment".

This is a book that I can safely say: if you haven't read it, do so!

For me, this is a keeper, for I know I will read it again one day.