The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Locations
Call Number: Fiction / Shaffer, Mary, Adult Book / Fiction / General / Shaffer, Mary Ann
On Shelf At: Downtown Library

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Downtown 2nd Floor 4-week checkout	Fiction / Shaffer, Mary	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Downtown 2nd Floor 4-week checkout	Fiction / Shaffer, Mary	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Downtown 2nd Floor 4-week checkout	Fiction / Shaffer, Mary	4-week checkout	Due 05-12-2024
Malletts Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Fiction / General / Shaffer, Mary Ann	4-week checkout	Due 05-09-2024
Pittsfield Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Fiction / General / Shaffer, Mary Ann	4-week checkout	Due 05-08-2024

REVIEWS & SUMMARIES

Library Journal Review
Booklist Review
Publishers Weekly Review
Summary / Annotation
Fiction Profile
Excerpt
Author Notes

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Surprisingly Good submitted by monkk on June 27, 2011, 6:03pm I didn't expect to enjoy this book, but I did! I read it right after The Help and they were very complimentary for some reason.

Two thumbs up submitted by rkraut on July 15, 2011, 2:20pm This book is surprisingly hopeful even though it is about WWII, and it made me want to go visit Guernsey.

Loved this book! submitted by smgop on June 19, 2012, 7:59am This book delighted me from beginning to end, because it comprised history, small village life, vibrant characters, and modestly good romance.

Lovely Story! submitted by cadoh on May 21, 2016, 10:42am Juliet fell in love with the people of Guernsey, and so did I. I agree with RKraut - it made me want to visit Guernsey!

The story is well-crafted, with moments that brought tears to my eyes and others that made me laugh out loud! It was one that I was wishing would go on well past the point where it ended.

Wonderful submitted by kelleyc on June 24, 2016, 7:07pm Captivating from beginning to end

submitted by Demyla on June 27, 2017, 8:31pm Great book

Great book submitted by eirwin on June 19, 2018, 7:50pm I really enjoyed this book!

Great book for book lovers submitted by irksit on June 27, 2018, 10:40am I didn’t want to like this book as much as I did and apparently it’s one of my favorite books of all time now.

Not my (reading/writing) style submitted by Susan4Pax -prev. sueij- on August 25, 2018, 5:42pm The story line is really good, and the characters are interesting, but the tale is told through letters and correspondence, which just isn't my favorite way to hear a story.

Lovely epistolary novel. submitted by terpsichore17 on August 29, 2018, 9:15am Follows Juliet Ashton, an author seeking a topic she cares for enough to make a book of it, in the wake of WWII. As she promotes her book of wartime columns and casts about for a new subject, she receives a letter from the island of Guernsey. This first correspondence brings about several others, and brings the German Occupation of Guernsey during the war to her attention.

Juliet herself is delightful – enthusiastic, good-humored, straightforward; she reminds me of someone(s?), though I can’t pinpoint whom. The islanders of Guernsey come to life in their respective letters, where they relate bits about each other, the war, and the books and friendship that saw them through the Occupation.

The book is essentially light-hearted, even as it shares monstrous things done in wartime. The discrete events shared are small enough to be human, to hit you with the power of individual actions and sacrifice in the face of such monstrosity. It also conveys the nature and extent of the rationing done on all sides.

It’s very easy, I think, to write *about* writing, or reading, and take it as read that they’re important. This book brings in enough meat to substantiate that premise instead of talking around it.

Loved the movie submitted by bookher on July 11, 2020, 10:50am Think I made the mistake of seeing the movie first because after the movie, which I loved, I couldn't get into this book. Usually it's the reverse. Great story though!

4.75/5 stars; well worth a read submitted by callmeavni on July 19, 2021, 8:41am
-an adorable read, which made me want to hug my book (or computer, since I listened on audio) when I finished
-lovely characters with interesting backstories
-I especially enjoyed the relationship of Kit with all the other members of the society
-The details of the post WWII setting as well as the Channel Islands was interesting, and I actually learned a lot

This was one of the rare cases where I watched the movie before reading the book, and actually think that the movie was actually better than the book. I listened to the book on audio and it was delightful to hear the different voices of the characters. This version of the story added lots of nuance, compared to the film, and explored some darker themes. The epistolary format was unique, but at times I felt like it just dragged on the story. There were a lot more characters to keep track of, which could be considered both a positive and a negative.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The characters jump off of the pages, and the storyline kept me at the edge of my seat, despite the cozier nature of the story. I was laughing at times, smiled at times, and felt like crying at times. The book and the movie told slightly different stories, both of which are valuable, so I recommend both reading the book and watching the movie. I just felt like the movie did a slightly better job at tying up all the loose ends, and presented a "prettier" story than the book did.