“ I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.” January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, 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….
As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.
Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.
Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways.
Author: Mary Ann Shaffer
Author: Annie Barrows
Publisher: The Dial Press
Customer Reviews
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This Book Will Warm Your Heart
I'm not much of a fan of reading a book because everyone else is, but if I would have skipped this one, I would have missed out on a true gem.
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<br />Juliet Ashton is awash in indecision; she has just finished a very impressive newspaper series and is looking for a new book adventure. Since WWII has just ended and everyone is still uncertain she just doesn't know what to do. That is until she is introduced to the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and learns about their trials and fortitude while living under the ruling thumb of the Germans on Guernsey.
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<br />Told in a back and forth letter and telegram style, this book brings you the joys and tears of some truly memorable characters; people that have always lived together but truly learned to love together when an incredibly brave woman and a delightful little girl keep their spirits up during a devastating time and its aftermath.
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<br />This book will warm youR heart and have you laughing out loud.
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I hated for it to end
This is one of those books that makes you sad - sad that it has ended, because it is such a delight.
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<br />I found it a bit slow to get into, but the very device which is a bit slow at first (the book consists only of letters between the various characters) eventually draws you fully in to the lives of these intriguing and charming (in the best sense of the word) people. You (the reader) come to know and to cherish them. And you hate to part from them.
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If you like epistolary novels you'll love this one
I loved this book. What more can I add to the hundreds of 5-star reviews already here? Co-author Annie Barrows eloquently summarizes the book in her video interview. A charming, warming book, with a hint of humor, even if it describes some of the atrocities of World War II and the German occupation of Guernsey.
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