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The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society: A Novel [Hardcover]

Mary Ann Shaffer (Author), Annie Barrows (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1,607 customer reviews)

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Book Description

July 29, 2008
“ I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.” January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb….

As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.

Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.

Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways.

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Editorial Reviews

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. (Aug.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Bookmarks Magazine

“Traditional without seeming stale, and romantic without being naïve” (San Francisco Chronicle), this epistolary novel, based on Mary Ann Shaffer’s painstaking, lifelong research, is a homage to booklovers and a nostalgic portrayal of an era. As her quirky, loveable characters cite the works of Shakespeare, Austen, and the Brontës, Shaffer subtly weaves those writers’ themes into her own narrative. However, it is the tragic stories of life under Nazi occupation that animate the novel and give it its urgency; furthermore, the novel explores the darker side of human nature without becoming maudlin. The Rocky Mountain News criticized the novel’s lighthearted tone and characterizations, but most critics agreed that, with its humor and optimism, Guernsey “affirms the power of books to nourish people during hard times” (Washington Post).
Copyright 2008 Bookmarks Publishing LLC

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 288 pages
  • Publisher: The Dial Press (July 29, 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1741751683
  • ISBN-13: 978-0385340991
  • ASIN: 0385340990
  • Product Dimensions: 5.7 x 1 x 8.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1,607 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,347 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1,379 of 1,412 people found the following review helpful
A True Delight! July 25, 2008
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
What a wonderful book! Having just finished this one, I am still smiling and thinking of the characters. Had I the time and money, I'd be booking a trip for Guernsey right this minute. As it is, I feel as though I've already visited and been made to feel at home.

Set in both London and Guernsey Island, this novel follows author Juliet as she becomes friends with the inhabitants of the island shortly after the end of World War 2. Told in epistolary style, Juliet learns of the occupied island and its deprivations, as well as the resounding spirit of the people who live there. As she writes, she becomes more and more intrigued with the stories of the people who survived the hard times, and she decides to create a book based on their experiences. In order to gather more information, Juliet moves temporarily to the island and soon finds herself immsersed in the culture and relationships.

This is absolutely one of the most delightful books I've read all year. The characters are real, the relationships are unique, and Juliet is hysterically funny, as well as warm hearted and genuine. I did have a bit of trouble keeping all the characters straight in the beginning, but once I caught on, I was enthralled. The pages just fly by and while you will learn a little of what happened to Guernsey during World War 2, you will learn much more about love and friendship. Highly recommended!
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372 of 379 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
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.
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243 of 251 people found the following review helpful
Wonderful July 25, 2008
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
During World War II, the Germans occupied Guernsey in the Channel Islands, so close to France that, apparently, you could see cars on the highway on a clear day. The Germans built heavy fortifications against the islanders, built a concentration camp on Guernsey, and Guernsey's children were evacuated to England.

Juliet Ashton is an author looking for her next great idea, when she receives a letter from Dawsey Adams, who lives on Guernsey, about Charles Lamb, to whose works we was introduced through the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society. The Society came to be in an unusual fashion: one evening after curfew, on their way home, some of its members were stopped by German soldiers, and Elizabeth McKenna had to make something up on the spot. Over time, the members got together whenever they could to talk about what they'd read. That's how Isola, for example, became addicted to Wuthering Heights.

Juliet lives in a London that was decimated by war; her apartment by the Thames has been lost, as well as all of her books (as you can imagine, horrifying). But her career as a writer is going well, and she has a potential love interest: the handsome and rich Mark. But Juliet's life changes as she receives more and more letters from the Guernsey Islanders, and she decides that she just might have to pay them a visit

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is an utterly charming novel, written in an epistolary fashion, between not only Julia and her new friends, but her best friend from childhood and her brother (who also happens to be Juliet's publisher). It's a sweet, funny novel, and it reminds me a lot of 84, Charing Cross Road--mixed with a little bit of Excellent Women (Penguin Classics). The characters are all wonderful--you can't help but wishing you'd known them yourself--even Adelaide Addison. Each member of the cast of this book has his or her own unique voice. Some of the stories told in this book are tragic; some are funny; but I guarantee that all of them will be touching.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Wonderful book
I can't underscore enough how charming this book is. The characters, events and landscape are woven together so casually and effectively, that the reader is left with a feeling of... Read more
Published 19 hours ago by Erin
Do not borrow, but own this book
I borrowed this book from a friend, and I regret that.

I need to own it.

There are so many quotes and passages that I wanted to annotate and underline and... Read more
Published 23 hours ago by 50sgirl
A Unique Story Telling
Loved this book. On the surface it seems like an unlikely premise for a book: author visits Guernsey Island after World War II because she's intrigued by the name of the literary... Read more
Published 1 day ago by Robert S. Mellis
Like a pot of stew, with several delicious flavors mixed in one place!
I thorougly enjoyed this book, from the first page to the last. Ms. Barrows and Ms. Schaffer put in the perfect amount of fluff, romance and historical backround to perfectly... Read more
Published 2 days ago by Pricilla Lucero
Touched my heart.
On the surface, this book is cheerful, light-hearted, and delightful. Underneath, it gently and subtly explores important themes about loyalty, friendship, and love. Read more
Published 4 days ago by L. R. Dana-kirby
A Multi-Layered, Fun Read
Reading "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" made me feel like I had come across a forgotten box of letters in the attic. Read more
Published 5 days ago by Kat Swain
different style to read, but very good story
It was a different style of writing to get used to, but well worth your while to keep reading. I enjoyed it!
Published 6 days ago by TwinMom
Loved it but too much Hype
I really enjoyed this book. I think the trouble was that I read it too late. Everyone I know read this book several years ago and raved about it and I am just reading it now. Read more
Published 8 days ago by peanutmama
unique
Don't want to give anything away, so I will just say this did not feel like I was reading a book. I felt like I was spying on people's lives and couldn't get enough of them. Read more
Published 8 days ago by Mary Benvenuto
Audiobook - So good I'm listening to it again
I'll be brief. This is one of the best audiobooks I've ever heard. I loaded a copy into my iTunes library earlier this year, and enjoyed it so much that I bought a second copy... Read more
Published 8 days ago by Tenar
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Inside This Book (learn more)
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Mary Ann Shaffer Annie Barrows, Billee Bee, Love Juliet, Stephens Stark, Will Thisbee, Juliet From Juliet, Sir Ambrose, Sir William, Red Cross, Channel Islands, Charles Lamb, Miss Marple, Granny Pheen, Izzy Bickerstaff, Oscar Wilde, Miss Ashton, Adelaide Addison, Dawsey Adams, Reynolds Junior, Isola Pribby, Juliet Ashton, Cee Cee, Juliet From Mark, Gilly Gilbert, Eddie Meares
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