Are you looking for a Christmas present in the form of a book? Here is one that almost anyone could enjoy – The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. It’s 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 friend. It turns out to be a wonderfully eccentric world. 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 changes her forever. Written with warmth and humour 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. It’s a heart warmer for a cold season. Give it a try yourself or for a gift.
256 pages in Bloomsbury
ISBN 978-1408810262
Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows