#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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Excellent read! Will read it again!
I read this book years ago when it first was released. I remember enjoying very much.
I enjoyed this book’s setting and characters that were willing to risk their lives to remain a strong community.
I found it very entertaining.
Just a great book.
Fascinating concept, great characters, and informative book about a part of WW2 I didn’t know much about.
Loved the characters in this book. I wasn’t ready for it to end. It was good to learn of the conditions during the German occupation of the Guernsey Islands but the juxtaposition with the current happenings kept it from being too depressing.
One of my all time favorite books; I could read it again and again.
This quirky book, written entirely in letters, and awash in colorful, spirited characters, was one of the best books I read in 2012. Briefly, it is the story of making a (n often new) life in the ration- and rubble-filled years in immediate post-WWII England. It is so vividly written that not only did I feel I was in Guernsey along with Juliet, I also felt the grind of the Occupation – and what it was to be free of it after so many years. Also, the authors (more on that in a minute) get bonus points for character names: Dawsey, Izzy Bickerstaff, Booker, Simon Simpless. Simply reading the names on the page was half the fun.
These little islands are caught in a bit of the channel between England and France, and are probably the richer in culture for it. The islanders are true to King and country – the Union Jack, lavish teas, the Royal Family, and all that is right and good and British – yet, it’s the Normandy coast they can see in the distance. Naturally, my reaction to such a place is to want to visit it, not that I hadn’t already planned on trekking to the Channel Islands one day or another.
Now about the authors. I was surprised and saddened to read in the afterword that Mary Ann Shaffer died before Guernsey reached final publication and that it was her writer-niece, Annie Barrows, who completed the rewrites and edits, and saw it through publication and its rise in popularity. Perhaps somewhat selfishly, I think I was most disappointed because, as this was her first book, there is nothing else to read by Mary Ann Shaffer.
Enjoyed the time frame of the story and its characters. I am interested in the time period with a different location to learn about.
One of my favorite books ever!
Great. Entertaining. Easy read with interesting characters.
Interesting folks!
One of my all time favorite books. I wish that she had written more books.
A fun book that I thoroughly enjoyed.
A great story about World War II. The characters are entertaining and sometimes downright funny. I loved every moment of this one.
Loved this WWII tale of life in Guernsey under German occupation. Excellent read for pure pleasure!
The characters are so true-to-life I wanted to meet them. Good historical information about Guernsey during WWII.
Delightful story – in epistolary form – about the pluck and expansion of minds and social circles when Brits on a channel island form a book club in solidarity and resistance to German occupiers in WW2.
I loved this WWII story because it was well written and showed that the good guys didn’t ALWAYS make great decisions and that ALL the German soldiers weren’t vile Nazi’s.