OK. My fabulous friend Courtney recommended this book to me, coyly mentioning that it was her favorite book ever!. Which, if you know Courtney, is a big deal.
So I dove in headfirst and, let me tell you, was not disappointed. “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows tells the story of writer Juliet Ashton and her relationship with the quirky residents of Guernsey, a small island in the English Channel. Instead of a straight narrative, the book is a compilation of letters between Juliet and the Guernesy crew. The letters mostly discuss the occupation of Guernsey during WWII, which includes touching acts of camaraderie and heroism, as well as distressing tales of a war-torn island.
Sure, there’s no real “main character” (Juliet is blissfully wonderful, but not the end all, be all). And sure, the tales of Guernsey’s German occupation are tragic and disheartening. And, yeah, occasionally the discussion of books made me go “hey! stop telling me about books! i’m reading a book! tell me about your life!”
But never have I wanted to join a literary society so much.
And besides, aren’t you just dying to know where the name “Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” came from?
