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Il Club del libro e della torta di bucce di patata di Guernsey by Annie Barrows, Mary Ann Shaffer
sandiet's review against another edition
5.0
This quirky titled book is a history lesson told to us this time, in a series of letters. Taking place in 1946 the story centers on writer Juliet Ashton. London is recovering from the effects of World War II and she’s lost her apartment and all of her books. Her writing career has been going well, but now she needs a new subject for her next book. Juliet receives a letter from a founding member of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society and starts to wonder if she’s found material for her next book. Subsequent letters she receives from various members of the society, tells the stories of their island, their love of books, how the society came to be and of the German occupation of Guernsey. The letters intrigue Juliet so much she decides to take a trip to Guernsey and by doing so embarks on a remarkable journey of friendship and discovery and eventually love.
The main character is Juliet, but the reader gets to know everyone through these letters just as Juliet does. The book is both humorous and heart-wrenching and reveals a segment of history that I’m sure not many of us know. I had never heard of Guernsey until I read this book and a co-worker mentioned that it is part of several islands in the English Channel.
The book was the debut novel for Mary Ann Shaffer but she died before it was published in 2008. It is quite a shame because I believe we would have been treated to some lovely books with a refreshing tone and perspective. Her niece Annie Barrows, also a writer did the rewrites requested by the editor after she passed away.
The main character is Juliet, but the reader gets to know everyone through these letters just as Juliet does. The book is both humorous and heart-wrenching and reveals a segment of history that I’m sure not many of us know. I had never heard of Guernsey until I read this book and a co-worker mentioned that it is part of several islands in the English Channel.
The book was the debut novel for Mary Ann Shaffer but she died before it was published in 2008. It is quite a shame because I believe we would have been treated to some lovely books with a refreshing tone and perspective. Her niece Annie Barrows, also a writer did the rewrites requested by the editor after she passed away.
byp's review against another edition
5.0
All the gushing about this book is justified. Consider me a gusher. Love, love, love this book.
sanna74's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This books ticks so many boxes! Very loveable characters, funny and witty and with an important message. On top it gives an insight in one of the darkest chapters in history - the cruelties committed by Nazi Germany.
eggjen's review against another edition
5.0
This definitely goes down in the books as one of my favorites of all time. I am honestly surprised at how much I loved this book. I think everyone should read it. RIGHT NOW.
bethan_dunlop4's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
tashaseegmiller's review against another edition
5.0
Of all the books I've bumped down my reading list for one reason or another, I sincerely regret I waited so long to read this one. Delightful, delightful, delightful.
utahmomreads's review against another edition
5.0
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a uniquely written novel. It is written as a series of letters to and from Juliet Ashton, the witty writer of a published collection of anecdotes of her experiences in London during World War II. The war is recently over and Juliet is trying to rebuild her life and looking for a new subject to write about. She receives a letter from Dawsey, a pig farmer on the island of Guernsey. He has obtained a book that once belonged to her and is curious about obtaining more books by the same author. The island state of Guernsey was occupied by the Germans for the length of the war. The people of Guernsey have been cut off from news, nearly starved to death and in a spontaneous moment formed the literary society as a ruse to allow themselves to gather regularly without trouble from the Germans. What began as a ruse becomes a real love of literature for many of the members. In her correspondence with the members of the society, Juliet makes new friends and discovers a deeply moving story about mankind's desire to not only survive but to thrive even in perilous times.
I was amazed that through letters the story could be told so thoroughly emotionally and that the characters could be so deeply developed. In the late 1940's, letter writing was really the only way to communicate with people at great distances (phones being not nearly so reliable and convenient--especially right after war). Juliet's wit, thoughtfulness and her insecurities come out in her letters to her friends. This style was really rather ingenious and I ended up liking it a great deal. It was much more personal. It was as if I had just discovered a packet of letters carefully saved and wrapped in a ribbon in my grandmother's trunk.
The story reads so smoothly. There is not a single flaw in the writing or the story. I now want to move to Guernsey and live in a little cottage by the ocean and let my kids run bare foot across the fields and milk cows and feed little piglets. Anyone want to buy my house?
I was amazed that through letters the story could be told so thoroughly emotionally and that the characters could be so deeply developed. In the late 1940's, letter writing was really the only way to communicate with people at great distances (phones being not nearly so reliable and convenient--especially right after war). Juliet's wit, thoughtfulness and her insecurities come out in her letters to her friends. This style was really rather ingenious and I ended up liking it a great deal. It was much more personal. It was as if I had just discovered a packet of letters carefully saved and wrapped in a ribbon in my grandmother's trunk.
The story reads so smoothly. There is not a single flaw in the writing or the story. I now want to move to Guernsey and live in a little cottage by the ocean and let my kids run bare foot across the fields and milk cows and feed little piglets. Anyone want to buy my house?
pyraterose's review against another edition
5.0
Not at all what I expected, this novel pulled me in held me hostage. Written in letter format, it tells the intriguing story how the German Occupation impacted the island of Guernsey during WWII.
magnoliafay's review against another edition
5.0
Se lo cercate in italiano, il suo titolo sarà “La società letteraria di Guernsey”. Tuttavia ritengo un incredibile peccato che dal nome della società (perlomeno nel titolo, non so come appaia effettivamente all’interno del libro) sia sparita la componente gastronomica.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society è un romanzo epistolare, esemplare raro nella letteratura moderna e contemporanea, un libro abbastanza breve che si legge tutto d’un fiato.
Il volume alterna in modo magistrale lunghe lettere narrative e brevi bigliettini, con una grande ricchezza di stili e toni, dall’ironico al drammatico. Tutto il contenuto è funzionale al racconto, perfino le occasionali epistole singole senza risposta o seguito danno pennellate di colore al quadro. Il libro, nonostante la flessibilità geografica della forma epistolare, descrive e contrappone due ambientazioni antitetiche: Londra e Guernsey.
Trovate la recensione completa al link seguente: inchiostrodigitalesite.wordpress.com/2018/02/19/the-guernsey-literary-and-potato-peel-pie-society-mary-ann-shaffer-e-annie-barrows/
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society è un romanzo epistolare, esemplare raro nella letteratura moderna e contemporanea, un libro abbastanza breve che si legge tutto d’un fiato.
Il volume alterna in modo magistrale lunghe lettere narrative e brevi bigliettini, con una grande ricchezza di stili e toni, dall’ironico al drammatico. Tutto il contenuto è funzionale al racconto, perfino le occasionali epistole singole senza risposta o seguito danno pennellate di colore al quadro. Il libro, nonostante la flessibilità geografica della forma epistolare, descrive e contrappone due ambientazioni antitetiche: Londra e Guernsey.
Trovate la recensione completa al link seguente: inchiostrodigitalesite.wordpress.com/2018/02/19/the-guernsey-literary-and-potato-peel-pie-society-mary-ann-shaffer-e-annie-barrows/
metalikebeta's review against another edition
3.75
Engaging historical fiction set post WWII. Appreciated the multifaceted perspectives and unique narrative presentation.