Perhaps there is some secret sort of homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers. How delightful if that were true” – The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Borrows
Initial Thoughts: I had found The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by chance while I was browsing through Walmart. It was the title – the super long and strange title – that drew me in. As I found out later while reading, I wasn’t the only one who was curious about what a potato peel pie was made of. I’ll give you a hint… potatoes.
Summary
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.
“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. ” – Goodreads
The Review
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie society was an absolute delight to read. My only regret, why didn’t I come across this book sooner!
It’s January 1946, and the war is finally over. Now, London is slowly beginning to rebuild itself. In the mix of everything is writer Juliet Ashton, whose book Izzy Bickerstaff Goes to War, is the best work she has ever written (to her great dismay). While trying to find a new subject to write on, Juliet receives a letter from the island of Guernsey. The letter is from a man named Dawsey Adams who bought Juliet’s previously owned copy of the poetry of Charles Lamb. In his letter, he reveals that he and his friends created a literary society by accident during the German occupation called The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Enraptured by this letter, Juliet begins a correspondence with Dawsey and the members of the society. As Juliet learns more and more about the German occupation of Guernsey, Juliet rediscovers her passion for books and for telling stories. Continue reading →
