The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

"I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some secret sort of homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers."

from The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society


My thoughts:

Have you ever had a book that when you finished reading it, you couldn't wait to recommend it to everyone you know? As soon as I finished this beautiful little treasure, I knew this would be something that I could confidently and whole-heartedly recommend to all my friends and family members that are book lovers, regardless of their genre preference. It is a book that celebrates literature, the value of friendships that sustain us during hardships, the strength of the human spirit, and the power of human kindness.

The novel is written as a series of letters among friends and acquaintances of WWII journalist Juliet Ashton. What begins as a coincidence (a Guernsey resident has a book of the writings of Charles Lamb that once belonged to Juliet, and her name and address are on the inside cover), turns into a life-changing experience as she begins corresponding with the quirky inhabitants of the Guernsey Island. She learns of their plight during the German occupation, and discovers that their Literary Society literally saved their lives and evolved into a way to come together to survive the hardships of war and German occupation. Knowing that she must visit the Channel Island herself to meet the residents and write a book of their experiences, she travels from London to Guernsey, and is forever changed.

Written in a style that is both witty and poignant, you will find that this is a book that will stay in your heart and mind for a long time.

5 stars = Loved it! Highly recommended!

Title: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Authors: Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
2008
Genre: Fiction
290 pages