#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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One of the most delightful books I have read in a long time. Utterly delicious characters, warm and intelligent writing; a treasure of a story from start to finish.
Loved this book! A great WWII story.
I loved this book, it made me feel as if I could see exactly what the words were describing. This book was emotional and truth is hard sometimes but I felt it was a teaching tool, if you wanted to learn how not to repeat the past. Reading this book was simply a wonderful experience. I have recommended it to friends which is a first for me because I feel books are of our private choosing.
This is a fantastic book! I give it as a gift regularly.
A unique telling, through a series of letters of the German occupation of The Guernsey islands during World War II, and how islanders survived it.
Loved it. Inspirational!
Surprisingly engaging…
I love reading war-related historical fiction. This book kept me coming back to it for more info about life during WWII. My parents lived during those years, and they have always fascinated me.
Wow! The title gave me reason to expect original writing, and I was not disappointed. I had never considered what life might have been like on these islands during WW2. English ingenuity and courage are highlighted; unforgettable.
Loved it! So sad that the author died.
I didn’t know what to expect with “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society”. I enjoy reading about life during and after WWi and WWII and how it affected people outside of the USA. This was especially interesting. Don’t be put of by the title. Read it and find out why it was named this.
Overall, the story of how the community on the channel island Guernsey copes with five years of German occupation during World War 2 was often uplifting and charming and sometimes quite moving. But it was too fluffy in its sentimentality in many places, and its focus kept changing, with the effect of losing its integration. The true theme was how a London journalist Juliet becomes intrigued with residents of the island from correspondence with them in 1946, and upon visiting there falls in love with their sense of community and simple way of life.
The characters feel pretty real, and the concept of their invention of a reading group to enrich their outlook and have a cover for social meals with hoarded food was fun to ride with. We get a few sketches of book choices that had important impacts on their lives: a pig farmer moved by poetry and essays by Charles Lamb, a lonely spinster who learns about romance from Jane Austen and later takes up phrenology from another book, and a man who has read almost nothing getting turned on by words of wisdom from “The Letters of Seneca”. But there is too little on this theme and next to nothing on how the book club approached their discussions.
Life under the occupation came to be target of a book Juliet is to write. After the initial bombing, there was little brutality for the residents, only the bleakness of being cut off in communications, severe rationing, and the absence of most of the children, who were sent away before the take over. The residents do become aware of the harsh conditions for the POWs put to work on building fortifications for the island, but details are sketchy. A love affair between a main character, Elizabeth, and one of the German soldiers is also sketchy. There are too many diversions, such as the phrenology interest of one character, as mentioned, and a section about the possible visit Oscar Wilde made to the island in the distant past.
Overall, this was a largely pleasant and sentimental read for me, but I wanted more cohesion and depth on fewer themes.
I loved this book and have recommended it to many of my friends. It deals with WWII in an area you were not aware of, the island of Guernsey. I was not aware that it was invaded by the Germans. How the locals band together is a wonderful, uplifting story of human endurance during a terrible time.
Loved this book and how it was written!!
A wonderful array of characters who portrayed the historical issues during the wars
I loved this book! Aside from the fact of its different (very different) style — letters, etc.) it educated me about what happened to the Guernsey Islands during WWII. And the characters were so very well drawn — one didn’t have to flip back and see which, of the many — she was talking about. The narrative was terrific; the dialogue (e.g., the letters) ran the story. It was just terrific: how many books can be simultaneously entertaining, emotive, and educational at the same time?
One of my favorite books!
This story captivated me
a book that you hate to see end—-wonderful characters
I love this book! I’ve read it 3 times and plan to read it again in the future!