A celebration of literature, love, and the power of the human spirit, this warm, funny, tender, and thoroughly entertaining novel is the story of an English author living in the shadow of World War II and the writing project that will dramatically change her life. An international bestseller now in paperback.
A moving tale of post-war friendship, love and books, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society is a captivating and completely irresistible novel of enormous depth and heart.
It's 1946, and as Juliet Ashton sits at her desk in her Chelsea flat, she is stumped. A writer of witty newspaper columns during the war, she can't think of what to write next. Out of the blue, she receives a letter from one Dawsey Adams of Guernsey - by chance he's acquired a book Juliet once owned - and, emboldened by their mutual love of books, they begin a correspondence.
Dawsey is a member of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, and it's not long before the rest of the members write to Juliet - including the gawky Isola, who makes home-made potions, Eben, the fisherman who loves Shakespeare, and Will Thisbee, rag-and-bone man and chef of the famous potato peel pie. As letters fly back and forth, Juliet comes to know the extraordinary personalities of the Society and their lives under the German occupation of the island. Entranced by their stories, Juliet decides to visit the island to meet them properly - and unwittingly turns her life upside down.
Gloriously honest, enchanting and funny, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society is sure to win your heart.
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A customer came in the shop one day and asked if I had read this book. I said that no, I had not read it. She then when on to say that next time she pops in she wants me to have read it and to tell her what I thought about it. I’m glad that she did. I had glanced at it upon passing the shelves thinking...”What a strange name for a book!” but had never given it more than just that thought.
That night I took a copy home and started reading it.
The book is written as a collection of letters, swapping correspondence between a fictional author based in London and the residents of the island of Guernsey. The story is set post World War II and describes how the war effected the lives of these people of whom were all changed deeply in one way or another.
Because this book is very insightful and creates many talking points, it makes a great read for your book club to explore. - Belinda (QBD)
Guest, 03/05/2017
Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
This is a glorious book that I guarantee will leave you with a smile on your face. Set in the aftermath of World War II, this novel celebrates love, life and literature. Follow the wonderful correspondence between London columnist Juliet and the wonderful characters who comprise Guernsey's only book club. You will fall in love with every character on these pages. A must for any book-lover. As reviewed by 01MM
Guest, 21/07/2014
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
This book, by a 70 year former Librarian, Mary Ann Shaffer, is for all book lovers and for all those who believe in the triumph of the human spirit in times of greatest adversity. It is a book to treasure - a charming and enchanting novel that looks at books and the power of reading. And interestingly enough, in spite of its setting on the Channel Island of Guernsey just after the German occupation of World War 11, this is an uplifting, joyous and beguiling novel about books and reading and how they can nourish the human spirit, even during the darkest of times. A chance inscription in a book that belonged to English author, Juliet Ashton, leads to a correspondence with first, Dawsey Adams, from Guernsey, who comes across the book and writes to Juliet. This is followed by a flurry of letters from members of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society. Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends and is captivated by their stories about their island, their taste in books and the impact the recent German occupation had on their lives. Little does Juliet know that when she sets sail to Guernsey to meet the members of the Society, that her life will be irrevocably changed. You will laugh and be moved to tears as this warm, funny, tender and thoroughly entertaining novel unfolds and you, like Juliet, will fall head over heels in love with all the wonderful characters. This story is told in the epistolary style, consisting of letters between the characters in the book. This book has a passing acquaintance with the classic 84 Charring Cross Road. It is indeed a love letter to all book lovers. In the words of Mary Ann Shaffer "I hope that my book will illuminate my belief that love of art - be it poetry, storytelling, painting, sculpture or music enables people to transcend any barrier man has yet devised." This is a book to make the heart sing and the spirit soar. Anne Draper, Sydney.
Anne, 13/04/2009
