Meet New Books
Book Cover

The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society

Save:
Find on Amazon

'The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society' is a heartwarming and poignant story set in the post-World War II period on the Channel Islands, specifically Guernsey Island. The plot is revealed through a series of letters exchanged between characters, shedding light on the German occupation of the island during WWII. The writing style is described as charming, light-hearted, and engaging, with a focus on relationships between characters and the historical backdrop of the war.

Characters:

The characters are well-drawn and relatable, each contributing to the vibrant tapestry of life on Guernsey during the occupation.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style effectively utilizes letters to convey personality and emotion, making characters relatable while combining humor with the serious themes of the book.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot follows writer Juliet Ashton as she connects through letters with the inhabitants of Guernsey, uncovering their wartime experiences and forming deep friendships that ultimately lead her to visit the island.

Setting:

The setting shifts between post-war London and the quaint charm of Guernsey, providing both historical context and a picturesque backdrop.

Pacing:

The pacing of the novel is mostly quick and engaging, keeping readers interested while effectively developing the story and characters.
Susan just gave me the sales figures for Izzy?I can scarcely believe them. I honestly thought everyone would be so weary of the war that no one would want a remembrance of it?and certainly not in a bo...

Notes:

The book is set in 1946, shortly after World War II, focusing on life in a war-torn London and the Channel Island of Guernsey.
It is written entirely in the form of letters, showcasing different characters' perspectives and voices.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society was formed as a ruse to avoid punishment by German soldiers for being out after curfew.
Juliet Ashton, the main character, is a writer seeking inspiration for her next book, which she finds through her correspondence with Guernsey residents.
The book explores themes of friendship, love, war trauma, and the healing power of literature.
The character of Elizabeth, who is central to the narrative but never actually appears in the book, adds depth and emotional weight to the story.
The title reflects the whimsical and quirky nature of the book, although none of the characters are overly simplistic or clichéd.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings for this book would include themes related to war, loss, imprisonment, and some instances of animal cruelty.

Has Romance?

The novel features a significant romantic thread, weaving Juliet's relationships in engaging and meaningful ways throughout the story.

From The Publisher:

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

NOW A NETFLIX FILM

A remarkable tale of the island of Guernsey during the German Occupation, and of a society as extraordinary as its name.

"Treat yourself to this book, please-I can't recommend it highly enough."-Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love

"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.

Praise for The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society

"A jewel . . . Poignant and keenly observed, Guernsey is a small masterpiece about love, war, and the immeasurable sustenance to be found in good books and good friends."-People

"A book-lover's delight, an implicit and sometimes explicit paean to all things literary."-Chicago Sun-Times

"A sparkling epistolary novel radiating wit, lightly worn erudition and written with great assurance and aplomb."-The Sunday Times (London)

"Cooked perfectly à point: subtle and elegant in flavour, yet emotionally satisfying to the finish."-The Times (London)

Ratings (107)

Incredible (19)
Loved It (48)
Liked It (26)
It Was OK (12)
Did Not Like (1)
Hated It (1)

Reader Stats (216):

Read It (109)
Currently Reading (1)
Want To Read (71)
Did Not Finish (3)
Not Interested (32)

7 comment(s)

Loved It
5 days

Since I haven't lived under a rock I've seen this book everywhere and raved by so many people. But I have and maybe still do stay far away from any war novels, especially ww2. But I saw this laying around, waiting for someone to pick it up and I decided to give it a try. It gets 4 stars from me. I enjoyed all the characters and it had some charming elements to it even though its set around or the end of a very bad time. I'm glad I finally picked it up.

 
Incredible
1 month

This book makes me want to write letters to people and receive them in return. It makes me want to start an honest-to-goodness literary society where people are allowed to choose and read whatever they like; where we have actual discussions about literature and ideas. It makes me want to learn more about the occupation of the Channel Islands during WWII and read something by the much-venerated Charles Lamb and Seneca. It makes me feel like I know the people in the story and like I want to read a little more slowly just to draw out the time that I get to spend with them. It makes me long for days when people read things that were actually worth reading, or if they didn't then they were open to the idea of trying to read them as a way of improving their minds and Spirits, rather than simply reading trash. I can see that I will be revisiting this novel again and again in the future!

 
Incredible
1 month

This was quite a delight. It's an epistolary novel with strong echoes of [b:84, Charing Cross Road|368916|84, Charing Cross Road|Helene Hanff|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1287338794s/368916.jpg|938626] and [b:Dear Enemy|67243|Dear Enemy (Daddy-Long-Legs, #2)|Jean Webster|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1343320830s/67243.jpg|1306914]. I had a little trouble tracking the many different characters at first, but the important ones came clear soon enough. It's set in the aftermath of World War II and slowly uncovers some of the horrors various people went through during the German occupation of Guernsey, a story I had not known anything about. The warmth I came to feel for the characters made these incidents more poignant than what I've read of straight history. It's all leavened with love of literature and beauty and romance and...well, I'm sorry it took me so long to get around to reading it.

 
Incredible
4 months

Unique when read when first published

 
Incredible
5 months

Funny, witty. Loved the narrator - wish we could be friends! Interesting historical period.

 
Incredible
5 months

I was thrown off by the letter-written format of this book. I think it helps that I listened to the audiobook because it added another layer with all the different narrators for each character. I’ve been getting tired of WWII historical fiction books because they all seem to be so similar. This book, however, was endearing, and comical. I definitely recommend this one!

 
Loved It
1 year

A book that doesn't shy from the horrors of WWII, but still manages to be a cozy read with characters you get to know as friends and places you wish you could call home. Maybe it's those later things that make it all the more emotional, as you move with these people through a little-known side of WWII--a British island taken over by the Nazis. It also carries the reader through two time periods--before the war and after the war. Juliet, who goes to the island to research for a book, ends up learning, bit by bit, the story of Elizabeth, who disappeared during the war. The truth of the past is revealed through a series of letters, and Juliet wonders if she's in love, or if the cultural difference are too much. One of my very favorites.

 

About the Author:

Mary Ann Shaffer who passed away in February 2008, worked as an editor, librarian, and in bookshops. The Guernsey Literary…

 
Meet New Books is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products and services on amazon.com and its subsidiaries.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.