| The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society | 
 enlarge | Authors: Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows
Publisher: The Dial Press
Category: Book
List Price: $22.00
Buy New: $12.73
You Save: $9.27 (42%)
New (36) Used (16) Collectible (3) from $12.73
Avg. Customer Rating:  320 reviews
Sales Rank: 47
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 288
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 8.1 x 5.8 x 1
ISBN: 0385340990
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN: 9780385340991
ASIN: 0385340990
Publication Date: July 29, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
“ 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.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 315 more reviews...
 Enjoyable Read December 2, 2008
I'm wondering if the authors are in cahoots with the Channel Islands tourism board, as you will definitely be dreaming of planning a trip to Guernsey after reading this delightful novel. Particularly enjoyable for those who have an interest in all things related to WWII. As the book is written as a series of letters, I was initially worried that I would lose track of who wrote what letter to who; but there is no need to memorize the various correspondence - for some reason the tale seamlessly spins even though it does not stick to the traditional book format. This book is comedy, romance, and history all wrapped into one. The authors do an excellent job of bringing the characters and the island of Guernsey to life. I hope this aunt and niece team have another novel in the works. I would definitely purchase their next release!
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society December 2, 2008
My book club read this book last month. All twelve members rated it a
9 or 10...mostly 10's! It was funny, sad, and heartwarming. The letter
format was a little confusing at first - it was an unusual way of letting
the reader gather information and I made a list of the letter writers.
After I did this, the book read more easily for me. I felt I really knew
the characters at the end of the story and hated to see the book end!
Charming December 2, 2008
Loved the book. It started out a little slow, but soon I was enthralled with the characters of Guernsey Island. While it isn't a true story, you almost feel it is because of the history of the island and the Nazi occupation. The people are charming and the story is captivating. I've purchased several more books to give for Christmas gifts.
 It's a mood thing.... December 2, 2008
After reading this book, I read thru some of the less flattering reviews out of curiosity. I think it boils down to what mood you are in. I find that my mood affects my enjoyment of certain types of books - maybe that true for some who didn't care for this. I enjoyed it, and found myself telling my husband about parts of it that I found interesting - the historical aspects of the area, etc. It's an enjoyable read. The format of the letters makes a nice change - though it wasn't very realistic that all of the letters' authors would have such similar styles of writing. It's difficult to emulate different writing styles - so that was a risk, I thought. But I did enjoy the story, and I guess I was just in the mood for a warm story about a special place, and people who found their families among their neighbors enduring impossible hardships. I also enjoyed the main character's willingness to reinvent herself. I'm not necessarily always in the mood for this kind of book - but this one worked for me.
Absolutely delightful! December 1, 2008
This is a great read, with richly drawn characters who you like and feel you know by the end of the book. I rarely laugh out loud while reading but I laughed several times while reading this and cried as well.
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