Huldra Forsvant (Theodor Kittelsen)

Huldra Forsvant (Theodor Kittelsen)
Huldra Forsvant (Theodor Kittelsen)

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Book Review Wednesday by AY

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:

Anonymous said...

I LOVED this book! So sweet and fun.

Deb said...

Loved it too. Wish it wasn't the only one the author ever wrote!

KIM said...

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 :(

AY said...

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

Dawn Merz said...

I loved this book... so whimsical and relaxing. But I had forgotten about it... thanks for the reminder!

Anonymous said...

If you liked this - you have to read Daddy Long-Legs and Dear Enemy.

Karen said...

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.