The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society- A Review

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows is one of the most moving, heartwarming books I have read in a long time. Written as a series of letters, this novel takes place in post World War II England.

We meet Juliet Ashton, a successful novelist who is looking for the subject of her next book. She finds this subject in the most unlikely of places- in a letter from a total stranger, a man that comes from Guernsey- an island off the English shore. Juliet begins a correspondence with the residents of this island who formed a book club called the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. The society's purpose was two fold- it was formed as a way to protect the members from arrest by the occupying Nazis and a forum where the members could discuss and explore the beauty of literature.

The book is incredibly engaging. The characters feel alive. Their anecdotes about their life during the war are at once moving and disturbing. Juliet's own journey into their lives is compelling and romantic. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a novel about hope and love- a celebration of art and the important role it plays in transcending tragedy. If you haven't already, you must read this book.

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