When the first murmurings began about The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society began (Literate Housewife, Hey Lady!, Diary of an Eccentric), I didn’t catch on soon enough. Then this summer, reviews began popping up all over (Savvy Verse & Wit, Maw Books, Becky’s Book Reviews, and the War Through the Generations Challenge) and I couldn’t ignore it! I had to read the book. I felt a little left out during Book Blogger Appreciation Week because I hadn’t read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, but fortunately I’d already jumped on The Hunger Games bandwagon!
Did The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society live up to the gushing reviews? Yes! I really enjoyed this book and can think of a handful of friends, family, and other readers to recommend it to. I loved Griffin & Sabine (which is also written in letters) and I love historical fiction (doubley- so if it takes place in England). I also have a strange fascination with the Second World War. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society wrapped all these interests up into a lovely package that is engaging, interesting, and heart-warming. My only criticism would be that the end of the story was a little predictable.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows follows the correspondences of Juliet, an author and journalist living in post-WWII London. When she receives a letter from Dawsey Adams on Guernsey, Juliet learns about Guernsey during the German Occupation and how the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society got started. She enters into a world that will have the reader begging to join.
Full disclosure: I requested this book in paperback from the publisher. This situation did not affect my review in any way, shape or form.
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October 14, 2009 at 3:07 am
Wasn’t this book just fabulous? I chuckled when you said you had a strange fascination with WWII…join the club! I spent half my year reading WWII novels for Serena and Anna’s reading challenge! It is sweet and charming, and even though predictable, the story is so entertaining you don’t even care. In fact, at the end, I was praying the predictable happened! I listened to this on audio, and all of the characters had different narrators. It was by far one of the best audios I’ve ever heard.
October 14, 2009 at 7:43 am
This was my top pick for last year. I loved this book. I’ve passed it on and on…my copy is well loved.
Strange fascination with WW2 huh? I live it. My husband is a WW2 history buff (Uh…go see my blog for his latest acquisition)…I tend to stay away from the time period for this reason, but have to admit there are lots of good stories…
Happy Wednesday!
October 14, 2009 at 12:39 pm
I’m looking forward to reading this book. I was going to read it with my book club, but the library didn’t have any at the time.
I understand your facsination with WW2. I am amazed at the strength and courage of those who lived through that time.
October 14, 2009 at 6:29 pm
This is one of my favorite reads from the WWII challenge. I really loved it and recommend it repeatedly. I gave my copy to my mom and I can’t wait to see what she thinks.
October 25, 2009 at 11:34 am
I just loved it. My mother’s fiance was killed in WWII and my father served in wartime Europe too (they met after the war — oddly, he knew her fiance).
I write about these things in my blog. Because these tragedies have affected my life too through the years. And my mother’s heart is broken, still.
October 30, 2009 at 7:55 am
I absolutely LOVED this one — just finished this morning! Like you, I was a little nervous it wouldn’t live up to the hype… but it definitely met my expectations. I fell in love with Guernsey, Juliet, Dawsey and the entire world Shaffer and Barrows introduced me to… and I’m fascinated by WWII, too! Those books always seem to be the ones that stick with me the longest. Have you read The Book Thief? If not — please do!