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

Genre: Fiction
Publication Date: 2008
Pages: 274
Challenges: Support Your Local Library Challenge #13

You’ve already heard about it from bunches of other bloggers, but add me to the chorus. I thoroughly enjoyed this charming little book. I first heard about it from Les and Wendy and their reviews prompted me to add it to my TBR list. The waiting list at the library was already huge by the time I added myself, but the wait was worth it.

Written as a series of letters, notes and telegrams, it’s the story of the inhabitants of the island of Guernsey during the German Occupation of WWII. Juliet Ashton is a journalist in London in 1946. While promoting her book she’s also seeking out a subject for a new book. She finds herself drawn into a correspondence with a Guernsey man who found her name on a second hand book of hers by Charles Lamb. She begins to hear the story of the islanders who formed The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society during the war. Soon she’s learning about the humble but remarkable people who spent the war years under the thumb of the Nazi occupation forces.

When Juliet visits the island she’s as charmed by the place and the people I was. The book is full of wonderful moments and I could have marked many quotations as my favorite.

Believe what you’re hearing about this one. It’s well written with charm and humor and will tug at your heartstrings along the way.