The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

A couple of months ago, my mother-in-law sent me a book with a very strange title in the mail, and attached a small note saying to read it and pass it on. I noticed that on the back of the cover page, she and my sister-in-law Claire had signed it with rave reviews. It seemed like a fun idea to pass a book from woman-to-woman and keep a record of all who loved it, so as soon as I finished the other 3 books I had already started, I picked it up.

I'm happy to report that I couldn't put it back down, and only consented to do so when I really had to... but soon rushed back to hear more about the endearing people and places within its pages and, generally, to figure out how it would end!

Here's a synopsis, for those who are curious about this unusually-titled book:

“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.

Juliet is a fabulous protagonist - funny, creative, impulsive, honest and willful to a fault, and full of gumption! She reminds me a bit of some of my favorite female literary characters - Elizabeth Bennett of Pride and Prejudice, and Jo March of Little Women. I suppose I also see a bit of myself in her, as a young woman with big dreams who can't quite seem to figure out how to channel her creative energy into something productive. I think anyone who is a lover of literature will thoroughly enjoy this book, as it's highly diverse cast of characters will make you laugh, cry, and start to think about how your favorite stories have impacted your life.

I won't say more than that - just read it and tell me if you liked it. I'd love to gush with you through our own literary correspondence!!