Review “I can’t remember the last time I discovered a novel as smart and delightful as this one, a world so vivid that I kept forgetting this was a work of fiction populated with characters so utterly wonderful that I kept forgetting they weren’t my actual friends and neighbors. Treat yourself to this book please—I can’t recommend it highly enough.”—Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love“Traditional without seeming stale, and romantic without being naive . . . It’s tempting to throw around terms like ‘gem’ when reading a book like this. But Guernsey is not precious. . . . This is a book for firesides or long train rides. It’s as charming and timeless as the novels for which its characters profess their love.”—San Francisco Chronicle Book Review“[The] characters step from the past radiant with eccentricity and kindly humour. [The] writing, with its delicately offbeat, self-deprecating stylishness, is exquisitely turned.”—The Guardian (U.K.)“I’ve never wanted to join a club so desperately as I did while reading Guernsey. . . . [The novel] is a labor of love and it shows on almost every page.”—The Christian Science Monitor“I could not put the book down. I have recommended it to all my friends.”—Newsday“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)“A sweet, sentimental paean to books and those who love them. . . . It affirms the power of books to nourish people enduring hard times.”—The Washington Post Book World“[A] marvelous debut . . . This is a warm, funny, tender, and thoroughly entertaining celebration of the power of the written word.”—Library Journal“A poignant, funny novel that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit. . . . A treat.”—The Boston Globe“A sure winner.”—Kirkus Reviews“Delightful . . . One of those joyful books that celebrates how reading brings people together.”—New Orleans Times-Picayune“Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows have written a wondrous, delightful, poignant book— part Jane Austen, part history lesson. The letters aren't addressed to you, but they are meant for you. It's a book everyone should read. An absolute treasure.”—Sarah Addison Allen, author of Garden Spells About the Author Mary Ann Shaffer who passed away in February 2008, worked as an editor, librarian, and in bookshops. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society was her first novel. See all Product description
M**L
is it possible to love all the characters of a book
"Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie society" aren't you intrigued by the title itself? I was. World War II has just ended and 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…. And so begins the correspondence between Juliet and the lovely inhabitants ofGuernsey, first about the society and then about the german Occupation of the channel islands, is it possible to love all the characters of a book? .This book is beautiful and heartwarming, the wartime narrative was a little confronting in places but necessary.
C**E
Laugh and cry in equal parts
If you're not used to reading books that are written in purely first person, letter format, (like me) then this book can be slightly tedious to begin with. You may require a little less than the first quarter of the book before it actually begins to grab you. But once you start to remember who is who and get a feel of what is what, this is a beautiful, beautiful book. The characters are so lovable. I won't give anything away, the synopsis should be enough to get you started. It's actually a quick read, so enjoy while it lasts!
S**L
Endearing
The first few pages, i thought I'm going to regret buying this book, who are these people and what are they speaking of....but I was so so wrong. As one of characters of the book puts it, the authors had me by the throat once Juliet Ashton had taken shape in my mind with the teapot incident. Beautifully written and every unique personality brought to life only through their letters to one another. The grief brought on by war and the elation at it's end is described beautifully. Every incident described but the residents or Guernsey gives the reader an insight into the seemingly smaller aspects of war. The most surprising part for me was the humor. My favorite character has to be Isola! This book is bound to keep the reader hooked right upto the last letter.
A**S
An absolutely beautiful book
Book Review : Guernsy Literary and Potato Peel Pie SocietyI have to thank @frenchflaps_and_deckleedges for recommending this book to me.The fact that it was a book about books and that it dealt with the post world war period was what initially piqued my interest. As you know, I am a sucker for historical fic in that period. But what I didn’t realise was that, it was also an epistolary novel. I usually don’t like that style.I needn’t have worried. I don’t know if it was the discussions on books or if it was the writing itself, but I was most definitely hooked right from the beginning of the novel.I could completely relate to the characters in this book because we all share the passion for reading. The concept of books and reading uniting a group of people at the time of great darkness and despair and managing to give them friendships, happiness and hope for a better tomorrow was lovely beyond words.This book is one of those rare finds which can make us laugh out loud one minute and can also make us cry the very next page. It was humorous, witty, thought provoking and heart breaking in equal measures. It was made all the more endearing by the lovely, unique and quirky characters. Each and every one of them remains unforgettable long after you finish reading the last page. This book also gifted me with Juliet Ashton and Elizabeth McKenna, two inspiring fictional heroines, who I will look upto for the rest of my life.I can’t describe how happy and satisfied and warm this book left me with. I am officially in one of my worst bookhangovers and slumps post this book because nothing else I have read hence can compare with the high this one left me in 😅So I decided to watch the movie 🤦🏻♀️. Worst decision of my life because it completely ruined all my warm fuzzies. Now I am going back to reread the book to get back all that floaty happy feeling once more
A**A
A tiny treasure in the bookshelf.
I wish I had the eloquence of Miss Juliet Ashton to describe how I feel after finishing this book. Since I don't, I have decided to give Isola Pribby a try. The story unfolds through a number of correspondence, mostly about German occupation on the Channel islands during WW2. It's effortlessly funny, informative and empathetic at the same time. Seldom does a book makes a reader laugh, cry and smile all in a span of a few pages.
B**A
Worth the read....
This book is a must read for every book lover because it deals with a group of people who although they belong to different fields of work have one primary thing in common and that is their love for books. It is the story of the Guernsey Potato Peel Pie Society and how it's members survived the horrors of German occupation during the Second World War and how on coming into contact with this unique group of people almost by chance when one of them wrote to her Susan a successful author during the war becomes so enthralled by the uniqueness of this society that she decides to travel from England to Guernsey. What happens then turns her life on its head. As the story progresses the reader will feel an invisible but strong pull towards Guernsey a kind of pull Susan felt when she decided to visit the place and meet the members of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Guernsey's natural beauty has been wonderfully portrayed in the book and it is difficult imagine the horrors of the war against such a backdrop. The lucid language of the book makes it a relaxing read after a harrowing days work.
V**O
Too Good.
#theguernseyliteraryandpotatopeelpiesocietyThere sure is a homing instinct in books that brings them to its perfect readers. It is true & therefore be delighted dear Authors #maryannshaffer #anniebarrows.The seller wants a review; Well, how am I to write a review of a book that transported me straight to Guernsey & gave me a bird's-eye view of their lives under the then cruel Nazi-Germans?! Do I put it as 'A wartime story' or 'A story that proves kindered spirits do exist.' or simply say 'Dear Reader, you are in for a treat.'?!But one thing I am sure of is, one has to be Hitler-Hearted not to like this book. On that note, this one goes straight on to my list of 'Favorite books of all time.' #classicbooks
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