The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a small book that may have a funny name, but is filled with nothing but heart.
Written by Mary Ann Shaffer (who, unfortunately passed away prior to publication release) and her niece Annie Barrows, this slim novel (288 pages) takes place in Guernsey (one of the Channel Islands of Britain) shortly after the conclusion of World War II. Written entirely as an epistolary novel, the primary focus of the story is Londoner Juliet Ashton, an author who strikes up a letter correspondence with a man named Dawsey Adams from Guernsey who was inquiring about some literature.
Slowly, Juliet receives letters from other members of the Guernsey community after Dawsey had shared her correspondence with them, and a story is woven through all their individual voices about what life was like during the war in Guernsey (which was occupied by the Germans), as well as about one of their own who has disappeared.
This is a traditional subject (the trials and tribulations of wartime), but written in such an engaging matter and without being trite or overly sentimental – I came to adore every voice from Guernsey, and couldn’t wait to turn the page to see who’s letter would “arrive” next. This novel combines elements of a sweet romance, a sad tragedy, a love of literature, the sustaining and resilient power of people in difficult times, and even a few laugh out loud moments.
The origin of the title is derived from a night in Guernsey when the Germans were questioning a group of ordinary citizens who were out past curfew – on the spot, they invented the “Society” to explain why they were out and about, and slowly, their love of literature, and of talking about different stories, bloomed even in the face of the war.
Juliet is a wonderful protagonist – sympathetic, well written, warm and friendly, and at times, just hilarious. I so enjoyed seeing Guernsey through her eyes, and felt right at home on the island, just as Juliet did, and came to love all the citizens, as Juliet did.
Trying to summarize this book simply does not do it justice – when you try and tell people the title, or even try to tell them the plot, they look dubious, and yet, every person I’ve recommended this title to has raved about the power and loveliness of the novel, and then they turn around and recommend it to a few more people. That is the power of a great “I wanna discuss it with someone else!” kind of book.
This is a book appropriate for everyone from teens to seniors, and has a message for everyone who reads it. Read it for yourself, and then see if you recommend it to a friend.
My guess is, you will.
The little book with the funny name, but so full of heart.
One can find the book on the web at: GuernseyLiterary.com.
The website features a list of other epistolary novels, information about Guernsey, more about the authors, and even a recipe for potato peel pie.
This title is currently available in hardback; the paperback version arrives on May 9.
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