#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • NOW A NETFLIX FILM • A remarkable tale of the island of Guernsey during the German Occupation, and of a society as extraordinary as its name. “Treat yourself to this book, please—I can’t recommend it highly enough.”—Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love “I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that … 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.
Praise for The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society
“A jewel . . . Poignant and keenly observed, Guernsey is a small masterpiece about love, war, and the immeasurable sustenance to be found in good books and good friends.”—People
“A book-lover’s delight, an implicit and sometimes explicit paean to all things literary.”—Chicago Sun-Times
“A sparkling epistolary novel radiating wit, lightly worn erudition and written with great assurance and aplomb.”—The Sunday Times (London)
“Cooked perfectly à point: subtle and elegant in flavour, yet emotionally satisfying to the finish.”—The Times (London)
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A true delight! beautifully written, very informative, great characters, unforgettable historical vignettes, an all-around joy that I truly did not want to end.
Impressive that the book is a group of letters that tell the story and it works remarkably well. It is a delightful story and I was entertained throughout.
Loved this book. Searching for another
Precious and tedious
boring, poor character development, dull plot
There’ll always be an England even if the Channel Islands are not exactly it. Loved the spirit and style of the book.
I’m planning a trip to the Guernsey Islands…for my 70th birthday. That’s how much I loved this book.
I loved this book with its mix of tragedy and comedy. The many characters were all wonderful. The audio book was fantastic.
An extremely easy read. Interesting history back story.
Clever way to write without being too disjointed. Yes, it takes a bit to remember who’s who. It is a great story adding some history in the mix without being too laborious.
I bought this book on the island of Guernsey and read it quickly so that I could picture everything the novelist wrote about. A good book and a good island!
My book group read it and everyone thought highly of it.
This will always be one of my favorite books. Imagine living on an island with Nazis and trying to improvise. True events, great characters and inspirational
Whatever, or how much, you know about WWII, it isn’t enough! This book takes in the live and trials of a small island, that seems the world forgot, and was occupied by the Nazis for most of the war. How these people endured and drew closer to survive. As for the long obscure name of the book? You’ll have to read it to find out.
While it was slow to get into and the ending predictable, I found myself drawn to the characters. I had no idea of the struggles of the people of Guernsey during the war, that they were occupied by Germans, and liked the inclusion of Remy and her story. The format was a bit difficult at first, sometimes there were too many characters but …
A very enjoyable read.
Life was hard in the Channel Islands when the Germans occupied it. It is amazing how people survived for the war years.
This was an enjoyable tead. Worth a look!
I loved it so much I want a sequel.
Excellent! Still one of my book club’s all-time favorites