The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
By Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Review by AY
I thought I might review a book about a book reviewing club;-
The Channel Islands (located in the English Channel between France and Britain) are occupied by German soldiers from 1940 to 1945. Island's inhabitants are secretly feasting on a pig at night when they are sprung by German officials and charged with breaking a curfew. These resourceful locals come up with a spur of the moment tale that they are actually a literary society - and the impromptu Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is born.
The novel is written in series of letters and it follows a correspondence by a woman called Juliet Ashton with people on the island of Guernsey. We are introduced to them one by one, and among them is a pig-farmer called Dawsey Adams who wants to obtain books because they are so rare on Guernsey.
This is a historical novel that starts with a tone that is reminiscent of Jane Austen's writing. Characters are wonderfully quirky, funny, and deeply human. It is set against a backdrop of war and we are not spared of its horrors. But again we are reminded that a good book can be treasured even in the most trying of times.
Oh, and it is a love story after all.
Thanks for the review AY!
Anyone who feels inclined to review a book, please email me (bmclaughlinATsstarDOTcomDOTau) All submissions are very welcome, and much appreciated.
7 comments:
I LOVED this book! So sweet and fun.
Loved it too. Wish it wasn't the only one the author ever wrote!
I'm the odd one out here -- read it because everyone raved about it, but never got what all the fuss was about. I tend to like highly plot-driven ... I was just bored with it :(
You are not alone Kim. I lent my copy a friend (a well-read 64 year old) and she said it was so boring that she couldn't even finish it! I also think I enjoyed the book because I did not expect much from it initially. It turned out to be a bit of a gem for me :)
AY
I loved this book... so whimsical and relaxing. But I had forgotten about it... thanks for the reminder!
If you liked this - you have to read Daddy Long-Legs and Dear Enemy.
I read it for Book Club a while ago. Lots of the others in our group loved it. I enjoyed it but not in a "loved it" kind of way. Got to the end and thought...meh, not bad I guess.
I think I prefer a bit more plot too.
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