Many fine books came out in 2009, some can even be called great. This book is defnitely one of them. It is a truly beautifully written novel, and the characters are so genuine that once the book is finished, you feel you know them well. This, I believe, is the highest achievement an author can accomplish.

I was sorry to finish the book and wished I hadn't read it, so I could read it over--for the first time. I'd wish for a sequel, but that's too much to ask.

This is truly one of the best books in the 21st Century so far. It's one that I'll be tempted to reread (something I very, very rarely do), and will definitely keep it on my bookshelf.

A very enjoyable book that I've shared with others. One friend even purchased a copy from Amazon after reading it because it was a keeper. My husband liked it and we usually don't read the same type of books.

This is such a great read! A fascinating story. full of wit and wisdom, told in the form of letters back and forth from a wonderful collection of people in the post-WWII era. If you don't remember or didn't live through this time, it is a great history lesson as well as a stellar use of time. If you do remember the time, it is a worthwhile reminder of events and people that should not be forgotten.

Enjoyed this book and learned about issues during the war that affected everyone, but not really written about.

This is truly an amazing book! Everytime I was reading it I couldn't wait for the next time I'd sit down and get to read another letter (the story is told in letters). Extremely creative and I'm assuming rather historically accurate. I hope to read this again with a book club, there is so much to discuss!

It's amazing how a book solely composed of letters could get so deeply into characterization and plot. There is a great story within the pages of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. The authors did a tremendous job putting you in the hearts and minds of these ever so amusing characters. For the most part the story here is light-hearted and full of hope and happiness, but that is not to say that there is no sadness, tragedy, and physical and emotional pain mixed in. The beauty and happiness of the people living on Guernsey Island is borne through brutal hardships brought upon by the Germans during the WWII occupation.

The book's flaw: It took about a hundred pages before I started to enjoy the story. The first ninety or so pages took me a while to get through, partly because I was getting used to the epistolary writing method and partly because it took some time to even care what the characters were writing about. By the halfway point (book two) I was fully engrossed and although the ending was predictable, it was satisfying and appropriate. For the well-intentioned characters, living on the island (after the occupation) was like being on a permanent vacation with all their loved ones.

Although I give this book high praise, it paled in comparison to The Book Thief.

If you love historical fiction, you'll love this book! I wasn't even aware of the extent of the British Isle occupation during WWII. This book gave a glimpse of the daily life and hardships during the war, but was also a tribute to the human spirit.

This is the most beautifully written book about a tragic time in our worlds history. Set after WW2 this book delves into the occupation of the Isle of Guernsey by the Germans. A tear-jerker that will keep you smiling as you read.

This book is incredible on so many levels. A fascinating read for just about anyone. It is an historical novel and well as treatise on books in general with great character development and surprising twists.

Once you get past the layout of the book, it's really good. Great characters and story. Fun to read:)

Thoughts: First thought....it was beautiful, fun, romantic, sad, hopeful, and captivating. This is my second epistolary novel and I love them. The authors weaved a beautiful story all from letters. Letters convey such a different emotion...it feels so personal, like these people actually exist and we're sneaking in on their personal lives by reading their letters. It was like coming across some old letters of my grandmother's in the upstairs attic (don't have an attic, but you get the point!).

We learn all about Guernsey island during the German occupation of World War II. I'm sure I learned at some point that some part of England was occupied, but if I did it never stuck...I had no idea that these islands had been taken by Germany. It was a new experience for me to learn how some of our allies fared during the War. What makes it even more poignant is we learn about these experiences from people that we come to love and care about in the novel. So when they laugh, we laugh; when they cry, we cry.

If you haven't read this one, do! Pick it up! You won't be sorry!

I expected a fun, light read. I got a heart-warming, thought-provoking wonder. I haven't cried tears of joy in a while, but this book did it! Innovative story telling with wonderful characters. Read this!

When I first opened this book recommended to me by a friend I cringed at the sight of letters...the whole book was written by letters written back and forth with the main character. But I was delighted in the end. It was well done. A little bit of history and romance...perfect!

HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO READ THIS BOOK BUT THE BOOK IS IN TERRIFIC SHAPE AND THE SHIPPING AND TIME INVOLVED WAS GREAT. VERY HAPPY.

The book is very good. It's a relaxing read when you just want to escape.

I'm happy to have read this story. The residents' tales of wartime in the village, told in letters, were compelling. I was enjoying the more light-hearted present-day (right after the end of the war, that is) story as well, until I felt jarred by the ending. Even though I realize Ms. Barrows had to finish the story alone, I wish she had given more time to the ending so I could have believed in it.

By the way, this is the first book I've read on my Kindle!

I was charmed and moved by this excellant story, told in story form with concise letters. The relationships build as each letter sheds a bit more light on the amazing experience of surviving the Nazis. I have given away several copies to my friends. Amazing book.

This is one of those easy to read, relaxing books that carries the reader forward with humour. Since I purchased my copy it has been through several readers hands, all of whome were as delighted as I was. It's now back in the " favourites" section of my modest library and I shall read it again I'm sure. The author has a definite flair for letter writing and the book clearly shows this. On top of this the characters are well drawn.

My librarian friend recommended this book to me. To my surprise, this book was the least favorite of any book she has recommended to me over the years. The book is a compilation of letters to & from inhabitants of Guernsey Island. By the middle of the book, the pace picked up and I felt more interest in the lives of letter writers. This is good wholesome story told in letter form -but it is not an exceptional book. Positives are the book is short, easy to read and tells a happy story.

I loved this story so much that I bought a copy for my 20-something daughter. The two strong heroines of this tale offer so much in the way of role models for all of us. Loved the letter format of the book as well.

A wonderful story with love, humor and some fascinating but little known history. Loved it.

I had to buy this book for my book club. I was a little put off by the title, until I began to read. It is a lovely story about a woman and the friends she makes on a little island in the English Channel during WW2. It is entertaining, but also full of historical facts. I found it a little slow in the beginning, but stick with it, you won't be dissapointed.

I fell in love with The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society and truly enjoyed reading this story. It is written in a letter format during the 1940s, which makes it all the more interesting. With a little history, love, family and friendship it has all the components to make a charming novel.

Initially, I thought this book might be a little too "light" for my tastes. I was very pleasantly reminded not to judge a book by its cover once I read it. Written entirely in epistolary form, the work is clever and witty. The characters are genuine and fully realized. Strong plot lines and stories manage to evolve from the characters' letters. The authors also manage to present a new chapter in the stories of horrors experienced by Europeans during the second world war. This book owes much to the famous female British authors of the 19th century and updates the themes and ethics of those writers adroitly and gracefully. Definitely read it.

This charming book, which affords a window on London and Guernsey in 1946, has everything going for it, beginning with a knock-out title. Protagonist Juliet Ashton, an author with writer's block and other problems, begins receiving delightfully intriguing letters from members of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. She travels to Guernsey to meet these islanders and encounters an assortment of eccentric yet down-to-earth characters who cope with the sufferings of war and with their own personal relationships in ways that are practical, dramatic, hair-raising, and unstintedly hilarious - except for one tragic episode which reminds us not all horrors of WWII ended in anything except devastation. This truly 5-star book has a prominent place on a bedside table in my guest room and does not fail to elicit praise from its readers.

I liked this book, but I didn't love it like the rest of the world seems to. In fact, I can't quite figure out why it's so wildly popular. I was interested in learning about the occupation of the Channel Islands, the characters were pleasant enough, but I was still tired of the book halfway through---before I even reached the predictable ending.

Though it starts and finishes light and fluffy, Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows' The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society has surprising depth at its core.

Suggested to me by my mom, this one sat for awhile on the TBR pile. I remember when she first started it she wasn't that thrilled, and I guess that initial impression stayed with me, leading me to put it off & put it off.

The novel is a series of letters, mostly to or from Juliet Ashton, a British writer just post WWII. She becomes pen pals with a number of residents of the channel island Guernsey, who formed a literary club during its German occupation. Through the correspondence, Miss Ashton becomes enamored with her new found friends and particularly intrigued by the person of Elizabeth, who inspired the creation of the club but has been lost since the end of the war. Due to her new affection, she visits the island, and during her visit decides to make Elizabeth the center of next literary venture.

While this description may sound trivial, as indeed the book itself begins, what emerges from the letters are the survivor stories - tales of what it takes physically and emotionally to survive an enemies' occupation. Sending their children away to live in England, food rationing and the literal occupation of homes are some of the subjects of letters to Miss Ashton that make her want to learn more about these remarkable people.

Inside these topics, humanity is revealed. The lengths a neighbor will go to to ease the suffering of another, acts of kindness that even the enemy can sometimes offer, when a child's belief in magic truly bolsters courage and the thrill gained just to know an enemy, unbeknownst to him, has been outwitted. These are the things of hope that reveal themselves in difficult circumstances.

While this read isn't of huge literary merit, it is quick, light and interesting. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a worthy read, if for no other reason, like Sarah's Key, it educated me to a new piece of history and a previously unknown location. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

This book is the most enjoyable I have read in a long time. It is written in a format of letters, but letters written in such a way that you are reading on to find the reply. It is set in the time period after WWII, and teaches one a lot about the Guernsey Islands and how much they suffered during the war, a subject heretofore unknown to me. Yet the author manages to tell this story in a lightedhearted way, with characters that are both loveable and ungorgettable.

Considering all the hype and excellent reviews this book has been getting, I expected it to floor me. While I can't say I was disappointed in the book, it certainly didn't send me into a delirious tizzy. The structure of the book - letters between several people - was a delightful surprise, and an excellent tool in developing the various (and varied) characters. The setting of just-post-WWII England & Guernsey was a fantastic choice, and I truly enjoyed learning about Guernsey's occupation during the war, sad as it was. But in the end, this post-war, historic novel ended up being a simple romance in the vein of Pride & Prejudice. The formatting for Kindle was very good, with just a few spelling errors, etc. Overall, I would recommend this book, but don't expect it to change your life.

It was an easy read....interesting style of story telling via written "letters"...can put it down, and pick it up at a later time...easy enough to stay "on course"....gave an interesting cross section of the people of Guernsey island via the author and by her research, gave quite a picture of what was going on during war time (WWII) and the civilian population of the island under the Nazi occupation....

I haven't been so drawn to a book in a long time. I never thought a book with an all letter format would interest me but I couldn't put it down. The only bad part about it, was that it ended.

I loved this book! It was a great little story about a small island off the coast of England
and its wacky,sometimes very eccentric inhabitants during the German occupation of their town
during WW2...Great!

This book had everything--An exceptional storyline, fascinating and 3 dimentional characters & the unique perspectives of multiple voices; each of whom experienced this time in their lives from a different vantage point. As an armchair student of history, I was only vaguely aware of this event during the Second World War. I was born in April of 1946, but have heard many stories about the war years. I have a friend who didn't emmigrate to the US until after the war. She spent WWII in her native Scotland and did'nt move across the pond until the fifties. I gave her a copy for Xmas this year & am anxiously waiting for her to read it and give me her thoughts on its content--both historically and personally! I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the endurance of the human spirit and perseverence in the face of even the most cruel and unfair of ordeals.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this imaginative story of the German occupation of Guernsey Island. The tale is told in a way I have never read before. I had a keen sense of each of the characters, and I cared about them all. Their stories still linger even after finishing the book.

I LOVED this book, rented it from the library and liked it so much I had to have it to share with my friends. Just a good book laced with that good old English humor!

One of my greatest pleasures has always been reading. What a pleasure it was to read a book about regular people who loved to share in the joy of reading. I read so many books and have opinions of them all. But never have I been inspired to write a review of any sort, until now. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is an incredible read. Never have I read a book so chalk pack with amazing characters. I laughed out loud so many times while reading this book. Also, I am by no means a "cryer" but on more than one occassion I could not hold back the tears.
The character of Elizabeth reminds us that our greatest cache is the love we bring to others. I am inspired to meet my neighbors. If only neighbors were inclined to meet each other in this day and age. Perhaps we should aspire to get back to the days when everyone at least knew the first name of everyone on their street, even if it is just in passing.
Even though this book is in the form of letters and journal entries it does not detract from the wonderfully tragic yet inspiring story. I wish for everyone to read this book and know what it is to love thy neighbor. I was reminded of the story of Forrest Gump and how one person has the power to affect many. I heard this book is in the development stages of being made into a movie. So if they make this a movie I hope they do it with respect and love toward the history and the people of Guernsey.

You'll just fall in love with the characters in this book. And I especially like the way the letters have been read out on the cd version - you truly feel like you're actually listening to Juliet and Sydney and all the rest of them. There are a ton of letters, and it's been nice to play a few of them over again to catch anything I missed the first time. Highly recommended.

From the heart to the art of writing letters. This
little book of letters captured my heart with letters
written by people who had lost everything and found
solice and perhaps healing and strength from books.

In as much as people "became" the books in F-451 the
perspective and philosophy of "their" book or author
shines through the privation of the island literary
society members.

This book is also reminisent of Sarah Orne Jewett in
the manner of character portrayal in, The Country of
Tall Pointed Furs, written about her beloved state of
Maine at the turn of the century.

Hardworking, quirky, caring, a small group of islanders
band together and find respite from their grueling lives
to discover light, love, hope and humor.

I chose this book for the super high ratings and my interest in realistic fiction, historical fiction and WWII. I read it on Kindle 2 and part of the challenge in reading was that I had some difficultly with keeping up with the letters format on the small screen in that a letter might begin "To Susan from Sophie" and then start on the next screen and I'd forget mid way through and have to page back to remember who was writing to who (whom?). I should mention that I tend to read on the sofa at night while my husband is watching TV so I'm in and out in paying attention half the time to the book and the TV/him. This doen't work well for a 'letters' kind of book like this! Many characters...too many in my view are introduced and then never really followed up on or really explored in depth. I also had a hard time really getting to know the main characters and really feel or care for them like I did in other books. Therefore, I found the whole premise that the main character would take to Guernsey and for the people there to them to wholly trust her, entrust a child to her and for her to leave everything and everyone she knows behind somewhat unbelievable. I also did not understand the main character's whole motivation towards getting to know and then parenting the child...it just didn't make sense to me. The book did encourage me to independently research more about Guersney although I was compelled to do this several chapters into the book because I was very lost as to where it was and wanted to know more right away about what had happened there. Overall, a pleasant read, but not a 4/5 star in my view.

Could not get into this book. My mom says once you get about 1/2 way through it's really good. But I could not pick it back up as the first three chapters were really boring...

Interesting characters and situation and style (written in the form of characters' correspondence to each other), but not great. Gives an insight into the lives of people affected by WWII.

The title and format (story told entirely through letters) gave pause at first, but this turned out to be my favorite book of all I have read for the past year! I had not known anything about the German occupation of the Channel Islands during World War II. Reading about the occupation of Guernsey and life there during that time was very interesting, as well as greatly enjoying the story with all of its wonderful characters.

At first I had a difficult time getting into this book. It is written in a format that is different than I am used to reading. It takes about 20 pages to really start to get into it and some of my friends said that it took them even longer. It is a good book and as you read you begin to get into the story and its characters. It's a book that is fiction but based on fact; a story of the German occupation of the Channel Islands in the English Channel and specifically the island of Guernsey. Before I read this book I didn't even know that there were islands in the English Channel. The story tells of the people on Guernsey and how they learned to cope in this extremely trying time, with all their communications cut off, their imports of seeds and food stuffs that they couldn't grow, and with the German's taking their meat to send to their troops in Europe. For 5 years, they lived without any knowledge of the outside world. It is a book well worth reading and when you are done you will look around you and realize how blessed you are to have the things that you have, even if those things are small and not measured by society as being of great worth.

What a wonderful book! It made me start writing letters again. And I so want to go there and meet those characters! A total joy to sink into this book. I don't normally like to re-read books, but I will go back and visit these characters again and again.

This book is a great read and was like opening up a surprise package on your birthday - even better inside than the outside promised. The letter format told as much of a story as the actual words. So many things that we don't know about World War II . . . .

This epistolary novel is one of the most enjoyable I have read in years. In the course of one subway ride, I laughed out loud and also teared up. The subtle evocation of post-WWII England and the sense of the world emerging to a new era of possibilities is artfully done through the hopefulness, spirit, and character of the protagonist Juliet and all of the wonderful friends she meets on Guernsey. A truly wonderful book.

Being a World War II buff, i like to read anything i can get my hands on regarding this period in American History. After reading Guernsey, i got a glimpse of everyday life during the war.. especially those who actually lived in the camps and were exposed to the brutality of Nazi Germany. On a softer note, the Island of Guernsey, even though it was occupied, seemed a lovely place to live. Each story entwined with another, which made for a great read!! Kudos to the author!!!

Over my 39 years, I have read tens of thousands of books, and I must confess, I only bought this one because it was part of a "Buy Two, get One Free" deal. I did not want to read it, thinking it to be one of those stories about old Southern Ladies (I like those books, but was not in the mood for one). Boy was I in for a surprise!
This book made me laugh out loud, weep tears of joy, and tears of grief for characters that came to life in a relatively short period of time (the book is not very long).
The story is about a 32 year old writer who is living in London after the war. She wrote a series of humorous columns during the war, about the war, which was turned into a book, and at the beginning she is writing to her friend and editor Sidney Stark about how she does not want to go on the book tour and how she is searching for a topic for a new book. I should note that the entire book is a series of letters back and forth from Juliet Ashton (the writer) and her friends.
One day a letter comes from the island of Guernsey, from a man named Dawsey. He had come into posession of one of Juliet's books by Charlie Lamb, and he describs a bit about how he came to have it, and so introduces Juliet to the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, and the reality of living under German occupation in the Channel Islands during World War II.
I am so glad this book was on sale!!!! It is a wonderful read. It has something for everyone, including a little history. I would put this in my all time top ten books I have ever read and this is saying a lot.

This is not my usual type of book. It was a present from my mother and father-in-laws. Five paged in I was addicted to the book. It has a fabulous story with an interesting ending. I love that there was a romance story line mixed in with out it being a sappy romance novel!

Always a sucker for a sale, I purchased TGLPPPS because it was cheap and recommended. I was thrown off by the letters and confused at first (who was Juliet and Sidney, etc), but I'm so glad I continued reading. I loved it. And I loved the ending.