The story is set in the mid-1940's as the UK recovers from WWII. Juliet Ashton is the central character - she is in her 30's - - lives in London - - and is a successful newspaper columnist who is looking for her next story idea. By chance, she receives a letter from a resident on Guernsey in the Channel Islands who pulls her into a series of letter exchanges between other residents of Guernsey. She finds herself building close relationships with Guernsey residents and becomes immersed in the history of the Island and the residents during the Nazi occupation during WWII - including the evacuation of children to England -- the starvation of the residents and the Nazi slaves and the horrors of the concentration camps. Juliet decides to make a trip to Guernsey to build the foundation for her story.

My assessment of the novel:

1) It is a quick read

2) It is entertaining on a subject that can be best described as dark

3) The central characters in the story are colorful - with a deep sense of right and wrong - describing acts of courage, fortitude, endurance and most of all - survival.

4) This is a "feel good" book that is interspersed with horrific stories of the occupation and the evil of the Nazi regime

5) The authors have an effective visual writing style - you'll want to visit Guernsey to see the cliffs, the ocean, the gardens, the landscape - and meet the "solid" residents.

I limit five star reviews to books I rearrange my life around. Such was the case with "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society." I kept pushing back my schedule to read further into it; I almost skipped out on Thanksgiving dinner until logic got me back on track. This is one of those books you want to savor and not rush through because it is a rare treat, but you just can't help yourself either.

I can't put my finger on what I liked about this one so much. It isn't the most original idea; in fact it bears a certain resemblance to those quirky British comedies about outsiders from the city being won over by the charms of country life. The lead character, Juliet, didn't seem entirely British to me; she could just as well have been an American character. And it's all a little too perfect, as these books always are. And, yet, I thoroughly enjoyed it, including some very creative twists towards the end.

This is going on the list of favorite books of the year.

Having lived through some of the conditions described in this tale of WWII,I can vouch for the authenticity of the scenes. It was indeed the perfect format to reveal the daily struggles of an occcupied land and it's people. The strengths they found and the comraderie was typical, and still is, in adversity.

I had read the previous reviews on this book and could not wait to sit and read a heart warming book . It was just ok to me . A good book is one that i feel you cant wait to read everyday , i did not feel that way about this one . I read it because i started it and i thought that based on the reviews it would get better. I did find the general idea interesting, about what was going on with the germans etc .. i just thought the letters got to me a bit to much and a little boring

This is a very charming, immensely likable book. The way it's written (in letter form) almost put me off, but so many people were telling me that I must read it and I'm glad I did. You quickly get used to the letter format and it's definitely an effective (albeit highly artificial) technique to communicate multiple points of view. I started to feel like I really knew these characters and I cared about them - with the exception of Dawsey, who to me remained oblique. I really liked Juliet's sense of humor and like her, I fell quite in love with the absent Elizabeth and fretted about her wellbeing.

This is a book that celebrates the love of reading and the way that books can sustain you when life is less than wonderful. None of the Guernsey group are extensive readers, but when they do read it's Yeats or the Brontes or the Roman Philosopher Seneca. I loved the way that one gruff farmer (previously a non-reader), uses a quote from Antony and Cleopatra to describe the landing of the Germans in Guernsey: "the bright day is done and we are for the dark."

Besides reading, this is a novel about the history of Guernsey and life during the German Occupation. Other reviewers have commented on historical inaccuracies. I'm not in a position to know how accurate the book is or isn't, but I found the stories both fascinating and moving - especially the description of children being sent away to England for the duration of the war. "Families had one day to decide and five years to abide by it". (I did however question whether there would have been a French woman called Remy. That seems highly unlikely.)

The book almost loses it way towards the end. The author introduces a new and totally unnecessary sub-plot, which feels quite out of place. I would have preferred her to make more of the romantic triangle that is hinted at but never fully developed. Nevertheless, it's a delightful book - don't let the letters put you off!

I bought this book because of the reviews, and don't get me wrong, it's a pleasant way to pass a few hours. The superlatives for this book, however, seem misplaced.

The book reminds me somehow of the Girls' Annuals of the 1950s, which I read 20 or 30 years later; perhaps it's the can-do spirit of the people of the United Kingdom that allowed them to win the war, which percolates through both. Perhaps not many people remember them.

This book is cleverly written in an epistolary form. Some may think that such detailed letters were commonplace 60 years ago, but they weren't. It comes as a surprise when Juliet sends a telegram to one of her correspondents because she cannot wait for the next letter to find out the story.


Too many people are stereotypes, particularly the impetuous heroine with a ticking biological clock, the strong but silent hero, the good German, and the intolerant churchgoer. How many people did not know how the book was going to end? It is a facile country versus city and salt of the earth Guernseyman versus slick American tale.

The relationships are not well explored. Other books have done a much better job of describing how one can so easily fall in love with a child not one's own. It comes as a surprise here, and makes me think Juliet would have fallen in love with any child. Her overinvolvement in this society, too, comes as a surprise. She is a woman bored with London and in search of a cause.

I don't regret the AU$20 I spent on this, but it is not the most delightful or the most charming book I have ever read. The style and subject of this book are a sign of the age of the author. It is so sad that she did not live to see her book top the charts, and it is a reminder to us that the elderly have stories, and we should hear them before it is too late.

The rave reviews seem to indicate that most people have forgotten contemporary stories of the war and occupations. I wouldn't rush to buy it again,but it is a good holiday read.

This book made me laugh and cry. The amusing stories about the characters made it bearable to also read about the horrors of the war. The characters seemed so real, and Elizabeth was such an inspiring person. In the beginning I was not sure about reading a full book in this format - a series of letters. But it turned out to be a quick read for me.

One of the best books I've read in quite some time. I found myself so drawn into the story, so in love with the people, the setting, the time period. Even with all the heartache (keep a tissue box handy) you'll find you love so many of the characters, cheering them on, while hating others because of their own spiteful and selfish natures.

Obviously well-researched and beautifully written, this book of letters transports the reader to Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands belonging to Britian, during the time of the German invasion. The island characters are immediately likable although it is initially hard to keep them straight. The islanders escape some of the hardship when on the spur of the moment, Elizabeth initiates a reading group. Because the invaders and locals share the isolation and face the same difficulties, it is understandable that the lines blur. The story becomes more interesting as this happens. While the historical anecdotes and references were believable, the characters became overly sacchrine and unreal and by the end I was happy to put this book down.

I really enjoyed this book as it gave me an insight of what it may have been like in Guernsey during WWII. I read and listened to the book, and the readers were excellent!

This book is great to take on a trip, as you can read it in pieces and still follow all the characters.

This book would make a great gift for any holiday and if a movie ever comes out - it will be a great "chick" flick.

This was a great book - I liked the letter format and learned about Guernsey and the occupation of that island during World War II that I was not ever aware of. I recommend it and would like to read more stories like this one.

I have just finished reading this delightful book and am still smiling. Although the story has a sadness to it because of the subject matter. It takes place for the most-part during World War II and the German occupation of Guernsey Island in the Channel Islands and the experiences of the people that lived there. It is a captivating novel with wonderful characters and a wonderful story line! A joy for all to read! I couldn't wait to tell my reader friends about this charming book!

I am surprised at how well-received this book is. I don't think it's five star worthy, but it's not a complete waste of time. I think this book would be universally appealing, however, because it's a classy, charming read, but it's nothing mind-blowing. It's written as a collection of correspondence between the characters and I think that's appealing to the reader as it seems to let the reader "in" on their lives. While I certainly think this book could be recommended to ANY reader (young or old), I found the writing a little stuffy. It's a basic format, but it's written pleasantly and harmlessly well. It's slightly romantic and a little sassy, not too heavy but not shallow either. I found that while the characters are charming, they aren't nouveau. They're a basic stereotype on what kind of people you would expect to find living in a small remote area. Overall, I found the story cute, but unsurprising and unimaginative.

They say the art of letter writing has been lost and replaced by quick disjointed email messages and, "IMHO," not much sincerity. No where is this more obvious than in this historical fiction series of letters written after WWII. It is a piece of the war not studied by many and a huge gap in our understanding of that era and the strength of those involved.

It is a format, however, that requires much looking back at previous entries since personalities become confused -- at least they did for me. After trying several times to read it, it became obvious that it's best to devote one sitting to absorb and understand the personalities of each of the characters. It is a sweet and fascinating insight into relationships.

As an avid Kindle user, I often analyze books based on their applicability to the Kindle. This book is better left on paper. I still haven't mastered the ability to flip back a few pages on the Kindle so refreshing the identity of a character would be difficult.

All-in-all, this is a great read in an interesting format that delves into the varying personalities, relationships, and survival of those affected by the war.

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.

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.

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.

This book will warm youR heart and have you laughing out loud.

This is one of those books that makes you sad - sad that it has ended, because it is such a delight.

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.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a charming trip into post WWII England and the Channel Islands. Much as you would hang by your mailbox waiting for a letter from a friend, you are caught up in the correspondence mode of writing, as the story is told through letters. Similar to the BBC film Island at War, PPPie is about the German occupation of the Channel Islands. The characters are heartwarming, and memorable. I have given several books to friends who are also in reading discussion groups...which border on "ladies who read and eat". It went down like tuna noodle casserole and a cup of tea.

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.

What a wonderful treat! To read a book about such a serious subject (post World War II London and Guernsey) and finish the book with a big smile on my face. The authors pulled off quite a feat - educating readers about the Nazi Occupation in the Channel Islands with all of its horrors, yet creating such a delightful group of characters who make the reader want to jump on the next plane to Guernsey, knowing he or she would be greeted with a big hug and welcomed into their literary society and their lives. It is just so refreshing to read a feel good book when it is becoming harder and harder to find one amidst all of the dark and depressing bestsellers recommended by so many reviewers. (not that many of them aren't worthwhile- I'd just like more of a balance!) Don't miss this one- a quick read, but oh SO satisfying.

Read this book in my book club as an alternate read. I was an enjoyable look at a small microcosm affected by WWII. The personalities shone through . A good holiday read.

I enjoyed this book for its warmth, humor and readability. I would highly recommend it.

Not bad, but nothing really memorable either. Very predictable plot points -- most seen coming from a mile away. Interesting more for the factual information learned about the history of the occupation of Guernsey in WWII.

The title of this book caught my attention and the content caught my imagination. It is a well written story that is easily read in short bursts or in one or two long sittings.

It's been a while since I have read a book that made me smile, laugh, and not want to put down. The characters are so vivid I found myself thinking of comments in reply to the dialogue. The format of letters written back and forth made me long for pre-internet days. I highly recommend this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It took me a little while to get used to the format. The entire story is told in the form of letters written by a dozen people post WWII.

The year is 1946. The setting is the British Isles. Europe is beginning to recover from World War II. Juliet Ashton, a young London writer, is looking for a subject for her next book. She falls into a chance correspondence with Dawsey Adams, a farmer on Guernsey, a British island occupied by the Germans during the war. Through Dawsey, she learns of a wartime literary society on Guernsey, formed hastily by a dozen or so island neighbors as an alibi for breaking curfew. Through her ensuing correspondence with various members of the society, Juliet learns how they grew fond of literature and fond of each other, and how they came to care for a four-year-old girl whose parents were missing. Juliet is drawn to the island and its literary society, initially as a possible subject for her writing, but ultimately because of her affection for the plain, sometimes eccentric, good folk who make up the literary society.

The story is told almost entirely through letters, first between Juliet and her island correspondents, then, after she goes to live on the island for the summer, between Juliet and her publisher and her best friend back in England. It is an enjoyable and engrossing read. My only (minor) criticism is that a couple of characters seemed so deliberately caricatured that they yanked me right out of the story and into the presence of the author's apparent biases. Nevertheless, this story will appeal to lovers of historical fiction, lovers of literature, and lovers of the art of writing, including the disappearing art of letter writing.

The year is 1946. The setting is the British Isles. Europe is beginning to recover from World War II. Juliet Ashton, a young London writer, is looking for a subject for her next book. She falls into a chance correspondence with Dawsey Adams, a farmer on Guernsey, a British island occupied by the Germans during the war. Through Dawsey, she learns of a wartime literary society on Guernsey, formed hastily by a dozen or so island neighbors as an alibi for breaking curfew. And through her ensuing correspondence with various members of the society, she learns how they grew fond of literature and of each other, and how they came to care for a four-year-old girl whose parents are missing. Juliet is drawn to the island and its literary society, initially as a possible subject for her writing, but ultimately because of her affection for the plain, sometimes eccentric, good folk she meets there.

The story is told almost entirely through letters, first between Juliet and her Guernsey correspondents, then, after she goes to live on the island for the summer, between Juliet and her publisher and her best friend back in England. It is an enjoyable and engrossing read. My only (minor) criticism is that a couple of characters seemed so deliberately caricatured that they yanked me right out of the story and into the presence of the author's apparent biases. Nevertheless, this story will appeal to lovers of historical fiction, lovers of literature, and lovers of the art of writing, including the disappearing art of letter writing.

"Breathtaking" and "literally" are words overused and frequently misapplied, but I found that THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY literally took my breath away: I was so engrossed that I forgot to breathe.

This is a fairly small book, yet it deals with more issues than some encyclopedias.

Though I had heard, of course, of the Channel Islands and Jersey and Guernsey, I never knew much about them, nor had I been curious to learn more. That has changed for me. And I had had no idea that Guernsey had been occupied by the Nazis during World War II, or that its inhabitants had been treated as harshly as those in any small town in France, Belgium and Holland that had fallen in the path of the Germany army.

The story is told in the form of a series of letters. I can recall this format being used successfully only twice in the past: In A WOMAN OF INDEPENDENT MEANS as well as in 84, CHARING CROSS ROAD. (In fact, there are a number of similarities between the latter and THE GUERNSEY... SOCIETY. Each book deals, in part, with World War II London and all this implies in terms of rationing and the Blitz, and also with the overlapping worlds of book-publishing and book selling.) The book also contains overtones of that much-loved BBC comedy, THE VICAR OF DIBLEY.

The plot begins innocently enough, describing town life on a small British island. Yet with as many layers as a large onion, the obvious surface keeps being peeled back to reveal ever more complicated and disturbing information.

To list all of the many themes addressed, then, would read like a list. Suffice it to say that love and romance are included, but also the worst human depravity in history, the way in which the Nazis treated their victims. Even in this bestiality, however, the authors -- like poor Anne Frank -- were able to see some good and some beauty inherent in the human race.

This is a quick book to read, which is a good thing, because I don't imagine that its readers will want to put it down before having finished it.

These gals know how to paint a picture with their words. My next travel destination after reading this will be London and Guernsey Island. The authors authentically capture the time and place...right after the war in the 40's.
A unique writing style and approach as the story, relationships and characters develop through a series of letters.Relatively short letters seem to take the reader quickly through this lovely book. Very entertaining and well done. Highly recommended. The green ribbon sewn in as a book mark is a darling aside.

I loved this book. I thought it was well written, witty, and charming. I loved the historical setting. The authors made the characters and setting come alive.

I wish there were more books out there like this one. I felt like I learned so much and would highly recommend it.

The story reminds us how resilient the human spirit can be. This is a great book.

This book is witty and engaging and I realize how lucky I am that these evil times have never come close to my home. The letter to letter dialog is a clever way to telling the narrative and makes me miss the fun I used to get at the mailbox. Who writes letters anymore when you can email? Definitely worth a read.

Between January 8 and September 17, 1946 (the period of Juliet Ashton's letters in this delightful book) I came home from months of World War II combat suffering what I recognized years later as a mild form of PTSD. After some down time, GI Bill enrollment at the University of Denver, a far-away, improbable choice, set my life on a course that changed it forever. It was due to a chance encounter in a drugstore. Here, Juliet Ashton, a London writer seeking a new project, finds it on the island of Guernsey, through a letter from a resident who implausibly came across her name on the flyleaf of a book. These seemingly small, random events so often rule our lives.

Fiction merged with reality when I picked up this book from my wife's reading table and started perusing its timeline and relevance to my own experience. After a few pages I was captured. It was due in part to the beautiful writing exemplified in the letters. But more than that it was Juliet Ashton. I was again in postwar England and madly, if virtually, in love. Only the best fiction can do that. Juliet is smart, giddy, serious, bubbly, bookish, witty, outgoing, introspective, teasing, seeking, longing, flirtatious, and precisely focused. It is doubtful if such a near-perfect woman actually exists. But that matters little when good fiction makes us laugh and cry and tune our senses to the joys of life and what truly matters.

When Juliet goes to Guernsey to write a book about the German occupation and meets the characters of the literary and potato peel society, itself formed by a quirky random event, we go with her. Through the letters she writes and receives we meet the worldly publisher with whom she is half in love but cannot marry because of an irrevocable impediment. We get to know her best friend and confidant from childhood, meet the imprudent American who both fascinates and repels her, and the many characters on Guernsey who give the story its gist and charm. And we are embedded in her soul as she schemes and plots her own life while going through the process of constructing a novel and finding its proper center. That turns out to be a tragic love story between a German officer and a spirited English girl much like Juliet. In this sense it is a book about writing and its enticing agonies and ecstasies.

Sadly, though, the book has a flaw. Near the end it departs from its letters format and hastens the plot through something called detection notes of one of the literary club members. That abruptly changes the mood. From then on the story seems cut off prematurely (or perhaps I just never wanted it to end) when it might have proceeded more slowly through the grace of the letters form. This is a minor quibble but it illustrates an important point: It is too bad that the age of letter writing has given way to the immediate urgencies of email and text messaging. Time, distance, and reflective thought are essential ingredients of good writing, particularly that which reaches into the lavish depths of the mind, heart, and soul. Letters, of the old-fashioned kind, provided that. The great charm of this book is that for a few hours we can revel in it again.

This book will be required reading for my 3 sons who were all born in Guernsey some 30 plus years ago. It should also be required for most citizens of the U.K. who still have no idea that Guernsey was occupied by Germany during World War 2.
It is a very enjoyable book.

If you have ever read a book that is so good that you are sad when it is over, then you will know what I mean about this book. It is a wonderful tale set in a time and place to get 'lost' in. Enjoy!

I'll just add my praises. Normally, I don't like the style of stories told by way of letters, but this one is interesting, engaging, thoughtful, and purely delightful.

This was a delightful, entertaining and interesting book that I am so glad I read. I enjoyed learning about the history of Guernsey and the people connected to the island, the friendships that were more like family and the lives they led. Because the stories were told through letters, it was a quick read that moved swiftly. One of my favorite things about the book was the many references to classic literature, the authors and the characters in their books. It really was a joy to read and although I don't re-read many books, I would consider changing my view for this one. I just have to mention one more thing about the actual book that I really appreciated. It has a sewn-in dark green ribbon to keep your place as you read. Not many books have those anymore and I know it's just a small thing, but I thought it was a really nice touch.

For my complete review please visit: [...]

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society will appeal to anyone who loves to read about courage, integrity, kindness, love, literature, and happiness. Written as a series of letters among the characters, the book will also charm those who enjoy getting to know people through what they reveal in writing.

It would be easy to spoil this gem so I'll reveal as little as possible. In the first letter dated 8th January 1946, author Juliet Ashton writes to her publisher, Sidney Stark, about the results of her book tour for Izzy Bickerstaff goes to War and her new book, English Foibles. It turns out she's tired of being a light-hearted journalist. From there, we trail Juliet as she eventually finds her subject through an unexpected letter from a Guernsey farmer, Dawsey Adams, who owns an old book of hers, Selected Essays of Elia by Charles Lamb, which had her name and former address written inside the front cover. Like Alice when she went down the rabbit hole, that letter opens up a whole new world . . . and set of experiences . . . relating to the English Channel island of Guernsey which was occupied by German forces during World War II.

Unlike literary letters (say of Virginia Woolf), these letters are more often chatty and informative than witty. But each letter opens the door into the hearts and minds of the characters in deeper ways than can occur in the normal narrative of a novel. You will feel like you are solving a mystery at times. You'll even get to know characters quite well that don't write any letters.

I found myself torn between wanting to race to the end . . . and wanting to savor the pleasure of each letter. The latter instinct prevailed.

The letters are short, and you could read most of them in two minutes or less. Even if you are frequently interrupted, you will get right back into the story.

There's a clear possibility of a sequel here. I look forward to it!

One of the ladies in my book club gave me this book to read.
I'm so glad that she did. I haven't read a book quite like this one
before. The story was put together with letters written by many
different characters in the story. Once I got into the rythm of this
book I found it most amusing, very informative, funny and in some
places quite fascinating.


I'm not a history buff and found the letters from this time period
interesting and horrific at the same time. Because the letters were
so personal, you could actually get the feel of what they went through
back then in the concentration camps, as well as what everyone was
doing outside the camps. I wanted to share a few funny comments from
the book "Reading good books spoils you for enjoying the bad ones."
and "Men are more interesting in books than in real life." This is
just a peek into this amusing, informative story.


I thought it was quite clever the reason the literary guild first
started meeting. They had curfews and very little entertainment. I
don't think any of them expected this group to amount to much. But it
became their haven of rest and the hope they needed to make it through
a pretty bleek existance.


The main character of the book is Juliet Ashton, is a writer who wrote
a weekly column for the "Spectator" during the war. Stephen and Stark
Publishing published all her articles and called them "Izzy
Bickerstaff Goes To War". It became an unexpected hit! Now Juliet was
in search of her next book. It's interesting how the "The Guernsey
Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" began and what they talked about
at their meetings. The group consisted of men and women that attended
their meetings and everyone talked about the different books they each
had read that past month. You will be intrigued about the diversity
of people that came to the meetings and the stories that they have to
tell. I was really tickled by Juliet Ashton and her seach for the
topic of her next book and her editor/publisher Sidney. Sidney and
Sophie are good friends that gently push Juilet to search her heart
and go after her next story no matter where it took her. So Juliet
follows her heart, and dug up as much research she could on this
literary society. Again this book has things in it I just loved:
books, book clubs and the people that are involved with them. I
thought the authors, Mary Ann and Annie, did an amazing job of showing
me some of the history during this time period - things that I wouldn't normally choose to read on my own. You will laugh, you will cry and you will be inspired by the unique ways this community comforted and encouraged one another during such difficult, almost impossible, times.

I want to leave you with one of the sayings from this book that really
struck me - "That's what I love about reading: one thing will interest
you in a book, and that tiny thing will led you onto another book, and
another bit there will lead you onto a third book. It's geometrically
progressive - all with no end in sight, and for no other reason than
sheer enjoyment." Reader beware!! That is true with this book as
well! There are so many things I want to know more about because I
read this book, and you will too. It's a keeper!!

Nora St. Laurent - Book Club servant Leader
www.psalm516.blogspot.com

I LOVED this book! :) It was such a sweet little book and with my family from the area it was so great to return there via prose.

The only thing I didn't like about it was that it ended too quickly and too abruptly. Other than that, PERFECTION! :)

I am actually still reading this book - only half way through. But I hate to put it down! I love the characters, and have enjoyed the letters that they share with each other. I have not been a history buff, but reading the letters and learning about what life was like during the war has given me a new interest in the subject. It's well-written and very clever! enjoy!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society This book was a delight. The characters were wonderful and I hated for the book to end. There was just the right balance of historical details and story. I also really enjoyed the format of letters written by different characters. It allowed a glimpse into the different perspectives. Anybody who enjoys historical fiction should enjoy this novel.

I forced myself to finish this "feel good" novel,waiting and waiting for the charm that so many have found in it to work its magic. It was just too clever and self congratulatory. There were no nuances to the characters. Juliet was clever, plucky and compassionate, her suitor was a rich handsome American with no soul. The Guernsey Islanders were brave and quaint - all except the judgmental Adelaide Addison (Miss) who signs her letters "Yours in Christian Consternation and Concern". It was so obvious and so contrived. Am I the only one who found it irritating? Perhaps I should have guessed from the title. On the plus side there were some lovely descriptions of Guernsey which made me want to visit.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society This book was a delight. The characters were wonderful and I hated for the book to end. There was just the right balance of historical details and story. I also really enjoyed the format of letters written by different characters. It allowed a glimpse into the different perspectives. Anybody who enjoys historical fiction should enjoy this novel.

Recommended by a friend who reads as much as I do, I opened the pages of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society not sure if I would like it. I mean a book full of letters? What a delightful surprise I received.

Shaffer's tongue-in-cheek humor and engaging style had me enthralled from the first page. I felt as though I was reading over Julia's shoulder, falling in love with the residents of Guernsey, characters each and every one. How utterly disappointing they only live on the pages of this book.

Sadly, Mary Ann Shaffer's health declined rapidly and her niece, Annie Barrows, author of the children's series Ivy and Bean, completed the novel seamlessly for her aunt. Although Shaffer only wrote one novel, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is top notch and should be around delighting readers for years to come.

I knew I would love this book when I came to this quote:
"That's what I love about reading: one tiny thing will interest you in a book , and that tiny thing will lead you onto another book, and another bit there will lead you onto a third book. It's geometrically progressive-all with no end in sight, and for no other reason than sheer enjoyment."

Through a series of letters an engrossing story of a community during WWII unfolds and as I think about it, one tiny thing leads to another in the eventual interweaving of the people of Guernsey and those who come from afar to share in the bravery and cohesion of that community.

One of the first decisions a novelist must make is how to tell the story, i.e., the point of view. Most opt for first person or third person omniscient. A few use stream of consciousness or some variation of it, and a very few have employed a form that literateurs call epistolary or a series of letters and documents. The latter form was once used more frequently and is now quite rare.

"Guernsey Literary" is in the form of letters, telegrams and notes, mostly concerning the German occupation of the isles of Guernsey, a British protectorate in the English Channel. The topic is certainly interesting and one I had never seen previously. But the form, the point of view or lack of point of view gets in the way of the story. It comes down to this: while a wide variety of letter writers participate, the letters sound as if they were written by the same person. There is the same wit, the same turn of phrase, the same syntax, the same education level.

It is always a mistake, I think, for the writing or the writer to get in the way of the story. Unfortunately that is what happens here. I was never able to shed the consciousness of the form as the story unfolded.

Characters do emerge. There is a certain atmosphere. There are numerous sub-plots (the disappearance of free spirited Elizabeth, for example). But there is no dialogue, as such. The narrative form prevents it. And the hiatus between letters prevents immediate give and take.

I just started this book today and cannot put it down. I love it. It makes me laugh and cry. It is perfectly written. I wish everyone I know was reading it.

I am going to try to find more books by these authors.

This is a sweet book; a so called "cozy" which underneath its charming surface tells a little known (at least by me) story of the Nazi occupation of Guernsey. An endearing cast of characters rebelling against the Nazi's via reading, literature and love for your neighbor. A strong message wrapped in a sweet candy wrapper. If you like cozys, you'll love this book.

This is a combination of a "chick-flick' book and historical fiction. it was very interesting and the list of books is fodder for a new order to Amazon.