Hooray! You have added the first book to your bookshelf. Check it out now!
[−]
  • Search Digit-count Valid ISBN Invalid ISBN Valid Barcode Invalid Barcode
Blog this item

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

By Annie Barrows, Mary Ann Shaffer

(140)

| Hardcover | 9780385340991

Like The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society?
Join aNobii to see if your friends read it, and discover similar books!

Sign up for free

Book Description

The letters comprising this small charming novel begin in 1946, when single, 30-something author Juliet Ashton writes to her publisher to say she is tired of covering the sunny side of war and its aftermath. When Guernsey farmer Dawsey Adams finds Juliet's name in a used book and invites articulate—Continue

The letters comprising this small charming novel begin in 1946, when single, 30-something author Juliet Ashton writes to her publisher to say she is tired of covering the sunny side of war and its aftermath. When Guernsey farmer Dawsey Adams finds Juliet's name in a used book and invites articulate—and not-so-articulate—neighbors to write Juliet with their stories, the book's epistolary circle widens, putting Juliet back in the path of war stories. The occasionally contrived letters jump from incident to incident—including the formation of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society while Guernsey was under German occupation—and person to person in a manner that feels disjointed. But Juliet's quips are so clever, the Guernsey inhabitants so enchanting and the small acts of heroism so vivid and moving that one forgives the authors (Shaffer died earlier this year) for not being able to settle on a single person or plot. Juliet finds in the letters not just inspiration for her next work, but also for her life—as will readers.

Critics

  • Book Review: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

    In a recent article, Elizabeth Wein, the author of Code Name Verity (right now, my favourite read of 2012) listed The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society as one of her literary influences. Coincidentally, I had a copy of the book sitting on ... (read full critics)

    thebooksmugglers published on Tue, 21 Feb 2012

  • 'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society' by Mary Ann Shaffer

    It's got a lovely cover, a great sounding name and everyone seems to be raving about it. So what's not to like? Unfortunately, as far as I am concerned, quite a lot. The book is composed entirely of letters between a successful newspaper columnist, J ... (read full critics)

    readingmatters published on Tue, 28 Sep 2010

21 Reviews

Login or Sign Up to write a review

  • 2 people find this helpful

    Unusual style - the book consists only of letters and telegramms, received and sent by the fictional woman-writer who collects material for her next book. Topic is the German occupation of the Channel Islands during WWII and while this is a very serious matter, the authors manage to make it an easy ... (continue)

    Unusual style - the book consists only of letters and telegramms, received and sent by the fictional woman-writer who collects material for her next book. Topic is the German occupation of the Channel Islands during WWII and while this is a very serious matter, the authors manage to make it an easy and compelling read. All characters are well cut out and even though they are quite different and normally probably wouldn't mix, the occupation brings them together in this book club. It's a charming book, describing lovely people who survived the worst.

    Is this helpful?

    Lunarossa said on Aug 24, 2009 | Add your feedback

  • 2 people find this helpful

    This book is absolutely amazing. I love it mainly for three reasons:

    (i) the way it is presented, i.e. in a string of correspondences in 1946 between Juliet Ashton, a writer in London, and her friends and a group of new acquaintances in Guernsey, which had just been liberated from the Nazi o ... (continue)

    This book is absolutely amazing. I love it mainly for three reasons:

    (i) the way it is presented, i.e. in a string of correspondences in 1946 between Juliet Ashton, a writer in London, and her friends and a group of new acquaintances in Guernsey, which had just been liberated from the Nazi occupation. It reminds me of "84 Charingcross Road", but this one is even more interesting and fascinating.

    (ii) the wonderful characters of the book, especially members of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Their lives, revealed through the letters, are a celebration of human courage, compassion and dignity in times of extreme oppression and dire straits.

    (iii) the story behind how the author, Mary Ann Shaffer, came up with the idea of the book, saw it to fruition and passed away shortly after the book was published. The fact that Shaffer, an American, could write in such a British style and know so much about the very English Channel Islands is astonishing.

    Highly recommended.

    Is this helpful?

    Tracy W said on Aug 20, 2009 about the Others edition | Add your feedback

  • 1 person find this helpful

    An absolutely charming story!!! Loved the letter format and how the writer could make a serious theme light and enjoyable.

    Is this helpful?

    Nini said on May 24, 2011 | Add your feedback

  • Serious story, witty style

    A serious story about the German occupation of Guernsey, told with in a lovely witty style.

    Is this helpful?

    lankylad said on Nov 26, 2011 about the Others edition | Add your feedback

  • Actually spell-binding. I could not put it down. The fact that it's written as a series of letters makes it easy to read and very personal, only giving you glimpses of what Mary Ann Shaffer wants you to see. A refreshing take on life during and after World War II and truly romantic. I'd definitely r ... (continue)

    Actually spell-binding. I could not put it down. The fact that it's written as a series of letters makes it easy to read and very personal, only giving you glimpses of what Mary Ann Shaffer wants you to see. A refreshing take on life during and after World War II and truly romantic. I'd definitely read it again!

    Is this helpful?

    Valentine said on May 24, 2011 about the Others edition | Add your feedback

Book Details

Improve data of this book

Groups with this in collection

Margin notes of this book

Prices Change currency & sellers

ISBN Edition List Sale Seller
9780385340991 Hardcover $24.00 $17.28 bn.com
-- $9.99 ebooks.com
$24.00 $15.99 The Book Depository
Other editions →
Added to Shelf Added to Wish List

Inline Translation Mode

Left click to navigate, right click to translate.

inline translation guide

or close

Inline translation is not ready for this page yet.

Inline translation mode.

Share this page with your friends.

The viewport has not loaded.