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A review by katykelly
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows, Mary Ann Shaffer
5.0
Moving 'hidden history' story told in letters, a wonderful set of characters you want to go visit.
Bandwagon read. I've had a copy on the shelf for years, and only with the recent advertising for the film did I decide I'd better give it a go. As often happens, I wonder what held me back. And yes, I definitely want to see this on film.
This takes you to a time and a place, and to a lovely group of people who come to life through the medium of the posted letters they send back and forth. I loved this device, it was very well-used to get a whole range of perspectives, with additional voices coming in when the main characters needed to be talked about from an outside perspective.
Just after the end of World War II, a writer in London, on the lookout for a new book idea, receives a letter from a Guernsey farmer who has bought a copy of a book with her name written in it, asking about it, and they strike up a conversation about his 'Literary Society', his home, his wartime experiences. Over the course of months, she also corresponds with other Guernsey residents, and starts to consider their story as one deserving of recording as a novel.
It feels just perfectly paced, characterised and plotted - it flows as you'd want it to, from London to Guernsey, with talk of wartime, with romantic interests, and the letters bring each character to life - you really can see the island and the people there. And of course, you do fall for them - Ramsay, Kit, Elizabeth, Juliet - you feel you know them.
It is a sad story at times, but also rather lovely, with lots of wry humour and wistful nostalgia. Wonderful wonderful book, and a bittersweet story of the authors included at the end.
Bandwagon read. I've had a copy on the shelf for years, and only with the recent advertising for the film did I decide I'd better give it a go. As often happens, I wonder what held me back. And yes, I definitely want to see this on film.
This takes you to a time and a place, and to a lovely group of people who come to life through the medium of the posted letters they send back and forth. I loved this device, it was very well-used to get a whole range of perspectives, with additional voices coming in when the main characters needed to be talked about from an outside perspective.
Just after the end of World War II, a writer in London, on the lookout for a new book idea, receives a letter from a Guernsey farmer who has bought a copy of a book with her name written in it, asking about it, and they strike up a conversation about his 'Literary Society', his home, his wartime experiences. Over the course of months, she also corresponds with other Guernsey residents, and starts to consider their story as one deserving of recording as a novel.
It feels just perfectly paced, characterised and plotted - it flows as you'd want it to, from London to Guernsey, with talk of wartime, with romantic interests, and the letters bring each character to life - you really can see the island and the people there. And of course, you do fall for them - Ramsay, Kit, Elizabeth, Juliet - you feel you know them.
It is a sad story at times, but also rather lovely, with lots of wry humour and wistful nostalgia. Wonderful wonderful book, and a bittersweet story of the authors included at the end.