The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Summary (from the publisher): “I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.” January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb….

As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.

Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.

Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways.

Review: This was a very sweet and simple epistolary novel about a community recovering from the ravages of World War II. Writer Juliet Ashton receives a letter from a stranger, who has found her name inside a book, which sparks a grand correspondence between Juliet and the members of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Eventually, Juliet is drawn to Guernsey to meet her new friends and finds more than one reason to stay.

I did really enjoy Juliet as a character. She is spunky and not deterred by societal pressure or judgmental peers. She finds the world fascinating and knows her own mind, as seen by her thoughts on one of her favorite authors: "Then, I further discovered, Lamb offered money to help Hunt's family outside the prison - though he himself was as poor as a man could be. Lamb also taught Hunt's youngest daughter to say the Lord's Prayer backwards. You naturally want to learn everything you can about a man like that" (11).

I also appreciated learning about the island of Guernsey's occupation by the Germans during World War II. Their children were sent away, they were stripped of basic freedoms, were forced to follow strict curfews, and faced near starvation. Many members of the community were sent to concentration camps for minor infractions, and died there. These include Elizabeth, a prominent character in the book, despite her absence from the island, and a founding member of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Although Elizabeth never appears during the novel, she is a central figure in the book and a key connection between many of the characters.

On the other hand, while I found it enjoyable, this almost read like young adult fiction to me. The characters seem like stock characters: the spirited, independent young woman, the kindly grandfather, the lonely orphan, the wealthy and demanding suitor, the judgmental busybody that no one likes. Parts of the book seem very childlike and innocent, such as the section entitled "Detection Notes of Miss Isola Pribby. Private: Not to be Read, Even After Death!" (263).

In addition, at times I felt like the structure of the novel, prevented me from getting a full picture of all the characters. There are numerous members of the society, and all of them write to Juliet, making it difficult for me to distinguish between them. I think part of this is because you don't see the characters in action, but rather only have their letters to go by and have to learn to distinguish their voice. However, I really did enjoy reading a novel of letters, and thought it worked well for the time period in which the book was set and for the premise of the novel that focuses on strangers meeting and becoming friends.

Stars: 3