reading recommendation: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

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

My mom recommended this book to me a few years ago and it's become one of those books I (without fail!) recommend to friends and co-workers whenever they're looking for a light, endearing read. To be quite honest, I gush about it. It's easy to when it only takes a day or two to plow through, it showcases how life was post-WWII, and the characters keep you laughing for quite some time. I hardly ever read the same book twice, but this one's an exception. :)

----------

Goodreads summary: “ 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.

4 comments

  1. I bought this book a while back after you recommended it to me. Yesterday I finally pulled it off the shelf and knew I would love it from page 1. I just finished it this morning. Such a beautiful book, thank you for posting about it so I could finally read it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, that makes me so happy!! You should probably give me some recommendations... I'm starting to get bored with my reading list. :)

      Delete
    2. I'm actually about half-way through a book you would probably love (it is history). A Midwife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, based on her diary 1785-1812 by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich. And don't let the title deceive you-there it is more about examining living in New England during that time.

      Delete
    3. Definitely just placed a hold on A Midwife's Tale at my library. Thanks for the recommendation! I'm excited to check it out.

      Delete