The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows – Review and Giveaway
I have only heard great things about The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows and have been wanting to read it for some time. In all honesty, I must admit that it didn’t grab me right away. It took me more than three weeks to get past the first 75 pages. I’d pick it up, read a bit, put it down again. When I picked it up I couldn’t remember anything that was going on or who in the world these people are. And there were a lot of people! The book is told in letters and by the books end there would be about twenty different voices.
Once I got past the rocky start, I really enjoyed this book. The letters are in majority to and from Juliet Ashton who after World War II has ended is living in London. Juliet is a columnist and receives a letter from Dawsey, a member of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, based in Guernsey, who is simply making an inquiry about another author and would she be so kind to send the name and address of a bookshop in London so he may order more of his books by post. His letter has caught her attention because Guernsey was occupied for five years during World War II and his description of the society brought into being because of a roast pig kept hidden from the German soldiers. She wants to know more.
Juliet and Dawsey begin a correspondence that soon includes several other members of the book society. Juliet begins to research everything that she can find out about Guernsey, its people, and the occupation in which she hopes will be material for a new book. Through the letters, she creates a close kinship with the people of Guernsey and feels a strong desire to visit. She does and never leaves!
I can’t help but point out Serena at Savvy Verse and Wit, who reviewed the book yesterday, because I so enjoyed her description:
This novel is one of those books that will hone in on the perfect reader. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is chock full of bookish quotes and must have been written with the love of books in mind. Beyond the WWII details, the rationing, the tip-toeing around German officers, and the loss of good friends shipped off to concentration camps, this is a novel about a writer who blooms in the countryside among new friends and new scenery.
The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Society is just that. It’s a fun read because of the quirky and fleshed out characters (one of the books many strengths) but yet it was touching and sad when learning of concentration camp stories and details of the German occupation. Details about the war was what I appreciated the most about this book. I love learning facts and tidbits about the war and the many stories had me completely fascinated. The other central part of this story is about Juliet and how she comes to transplant herself among new people. They are all healing from the war and it is through their shared membership of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society that they are able to begin to move on with their lives.
Excellent video of Annie Barrows discussing The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society:
I recommended this book to my mom several months ago before I even read it because I knew she would like it. After finishing the book, I was happy that I had already told her to read it. And really, telling your mom to read a book? Sometimes I read a book and think, no way am I telling my mom to read that! Not so, with this book. I liked it and so did my mom. And really, what more of a recommendation do you need than that?
The publisher has made available five copies to give away to each of the TLC Book Tour stops. So here’s your chance to pick up a free copy for yourself. To enter, simply leave a comment on this blog post answering this question: are a member of a book club and if so does it have a name? If so, what is it? Anything to rival the name The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society?
Links of interest: Visit other reviews/interviews at other TLC Book Tour stops, other blogger reviews, readers guide for book clubs, Potato Peel Pie recipe and more, Annie Barrows website.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Dial Press. July 29, 2008
Hardcover, 288 pages. ISBN: 0385340990
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s and Amazon.
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Category: Adult, Book Reviews, Fiction
Tags: A-D Author, E-H Title, historical fiction, Q-T Author, TLC Book Tour, war, World War II
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Nope, not a member of a book club in real life, but I try to join book chats on Twitter and other places online when I can.
on August 6th, 2009 at 9:26 amThis has been on my TBR list FOREVER!
I’m not a member of a book club. Our blog was started so that we could discuss what books we read (since we could never seem to commit to a physical meeting).
Enter me, please!
on August 6th, 2009 at 9:41 amI’ve been following you for a long time now.. I’m a member of several book clubs on Ravelry, but none (right now) in 3-D life! It sounds like our online groups are very like the correspondence in Guernsey – we all write online messages to each other!
on August 6th, 2009 at 9:53 amPlease enter me in the giveaway – thank you.
I just recommended this to my mom too. She listened to this and didnt like the beginning either, then ended up loving it.
on August 6th, 2009 at 9:53 amYes I’m in a book club. No cool name just The Heritage Ward book club.
Definitely enter me, I love this book.
No need to enter me, and I listened to this on audio earlier in the year. No doubt it will be on my top ten list for the year. What made it even more special was the audio version. Every character was represented by a different character, and it was absolutely delightful. It is up there with “The School of Essential Ingredients” as just a really sweet story.
on August 6th, 2009 at 10:02 amI am a member of a book club. We don’t have a fancy name, or any name officially. I like to call it, “The Group of Writers and Readers that Occasionally Meets Once A Month In The Coffee Shop At Barnes And Noble Except Not Really During The Summer,” but that’s kinda long and it might take awhile to catch on.
on August 6th, 2009 at 10:05 amGreat review, Natasha! I had the opposite reaction to your reading. I listened to this on audio and I think that having the different voices was helpful. I enjoyed it from the get-go. Toward the end, however, when the story became more of a romance and less about literature, friendship, and solving the mystery, that I became a little bored and had a hard time paying attention. Still, I really recommend this novel. There is interesting information about the Channel Islands during WWII.
on August 6th, 2009 at 10:24 amI loved this book too, but I would have probably given it up if my mom hadn’t raved about how much she loved it.
I belong to an online book club called Very Bookish.
on August 6th, 2009 at 10:39 amGlad you enjoyed it; I thought it was great. I really enjoyed the bookish aspects of the book, in addition to the WWII stuff. Oh! And I can’t forget about the epistolary nature of the book. I’m on a hunt for more epistolary fiction.
And no, I’m not a member of a book club, certainly haven’t heard of one with a name to rival the one in the book!
on August 6th, 2009 at 10:41 amI really enjoyed this book too. I actually preferred the beginning to the end, but I still really liked it.
I belong to an online book club with my mom called the Long Distance Book club. Not nearly as cool as The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, but it works.
on August 6th, 2009 at 10:42 amHey Natasha! This is in my TBR and I really want to read it.
I am not part of a book club, but to be honest I consider the internet and book blogging community my own version of a book club. Although at some point I’d love to join a IRL book club!
on August 6th, 2009 at 10:44 amSince I’ve read this one I’ll pass on the contest. Just had to say I’m glad you stuck it out and liked it!
on August 6th, 2009 at 10:45 amI have been wavering on this book, but now I think I may give it a go.
As for being a member of a book club, not at the moment, but I’m looking forward to possibly finding one in the new area we are moving to. Thanks!
on August 6th, 2009 at 11:03 amOh, I am so glad you enjoyed this one too. I had a hard time in the beginning because I was confused by the layout of the letters and trying to figure out who was who. That resolved itself soon and then I completely fell in love with it.
Great Review!
on August 6th, 2009 at 11:05 amThree weeks to get through the first 75 pages- wow, you have patience. I don’t think I would have continued- but I’d probably miss out- it sounds like a great book once you get into it. Don’t count me for the giveaway, I’ve got so many books on my table right now! (not in any book clubs, either…)
on August 6th, 2009 at 11:08 amI’m so glad for the warning about the beginning. I hate recommending books I love with a slightly slow start and having people crap out too early. Before they’ve hit the gold.
So thanks for the heads up. I’ll give it a shot. I don’t currently belong to a book group. I’ve been in and out of several, the best being the Baker’s Night Book Club. My mother-in-law belongs to one that has been going for years and years and I’ve always rather like it’s name: The Responsible Woman’s Book Group.
Thanks for the giveaway!
on August 6th, 2009 at 11:16 amI have heard great things about this book, but haven’t read it yet.
on August 6th, 2009 at 11:18 amI’m in a book club, but we don’t have a name, maybe it’s time to make our ‘club’ official.
Thank you for the chance to read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.
I’ve heard so much about this book. I would love to win a copy. Please enter my name in your draw. As of right now I do not belong to any book clubs, but I may do that in the future.
on August 6th, 2009 at 11:34 amwandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com
Not member of one yet…but I have been waiting for school to start back up (less distractions) and I’ve been entertaining the idea of starting up my own! =)
on August 6th, 2009 at 11:39 amI am in a book group that I only joined a few months ago. If we have a name no one has told me. I think were just The Book Club. I was ordering this book on Amazon today, but I think I will wait and see how the contest goes. I have heard nothing but good reviews of it.
alipet813 AT yahoo DOT com
on August 6th, 2009 at 11:42 amHi there,
I am a member of a great book club. We call ourselves Nachos and Narratives.
Looking forward to checking out this book, thanks for the info!
on August 6th, 2009 at 11:50 amI am a member of an informal book club so that may not count. We just get together when everyone can and compare notes.
Please enter me!
nbmars AT yahoo DOT com
on August 6th, 2009 at 11:56 amHI Natasha!
No, I am not a member of a book club, but it is certainly not from a lack of trying. I am still hoping that someday I can find a group of like-minded individuals in my community who would like to get together and discuss literature face-to-face. Until that time, I will have to rely on the book blogosphere to fill that social need.
I would love to be entered in this fantastic giveaway.
Mstermind1 at gmail dot com
on August 6th, 2009 at 11:57 amno i’m not a member of a book club, but i’d love to be included in the giveaway!! thanks!
couchpapaya2{at}gmail{dot}com
on August 6th, 2009 at 12:15 pmI’m now a member of several books clubs, only one of which is face to face. None of the names is nearly as interesting. My f2f club has been working for a couple of months to find something we all like so we’re still stuck with simply Omaha Book Club.
on August 6th, 2009 at 1:26 pmI have been wanting to read this book for some time now. I don’t belong to a book club currently but have been talking with a few people in my area about starting one up. Sounds like so much fun! THanks for the chance to win this book.
on August 6th, 2009 at 1:33 pmWould it be really sad if I said I don’t belong to a book club? Prepare to be saddened…I don’t have one. Anyone want to offer me theirs?
on August 6th, 2009 at 1:45 pmNo need to enter me because I’ve already read this one–and when I reviewed it, I also talked about book clubs (I don’t belong to one) http://necromancyneverpays.blogspot.com/2009/06/guernsey-literary-and-potato-peel-pie.html
on August 6th, 2009 at 1:51 pmNatasha, I had a difficult time connecting with this book at first as well. In fact, it seems to be the overall consensus – eventually loved the book, but getting involved was di-fi-cult!!
I’m glad that I persevered. It was worth it in the end. I just don’t know how fond I am of correspondences being the sole interaction.
Still, I somehow find myself recommending this book often because it’s still a hit for me!
Cheers!
on August 6th, 2009 at 2:20 pmI NEED to win this, as it continues to be expensive even at my favorite usedbookemporium, and I need to lend it to MY mom.
I have no book club. I am a Sad Sack.
on August 6th, 2009 at 6:53 pmGreat review! I’ve this book sitting in my pile for ages. I need to move this up after hearing so many raves about it.
on August 6th, 2009 at 7:12 pmNo book club for me either. I was part of a local moms book club, very briefly, but couldn’t make the meetings so that was the end of that. Perhaps I might try again …
We were down the shore last week and my aunt was reading this. She had a hard time getting into it, too, and I told her I’d heard so many good things about it that she had to stick with it.
I would so love to win this. Thanks for the chance to be entered!
on August 6th, 2009 at 7:43 pmYep, I sort of kind of run it.
Usually we just say “book group” or “book club” but technically we are “Sphinxes Without Secrets”, which I got from Oscar Wilde.
on August 6th, 2009 at 8:06 pmI am part of a book club! We are all folk from work, and the name was made up one day: Tina’s Page Turners. Actually, I think I need to remind everyone about that one, I think we’ve kind of forgotten about it.
on August 6th, 2009 at 8:53 pmI am not a member of a book club, but I love hearing these book club names!
I had the same problem with the beginning as you did Natasha. I had such a hard time getting into it. Once I did, I loved it, but I had to give it back to the library before I finished. I was so sad!
I’d love a chance to win my own copy and finish reading it.
on August 6th, 2009 at 9:02 pmI borrowed this book from the library in audio format, and I totally loved it. One thing that was great about the audio was that there were different voices for each of the different characters, which REALLY helped to keep everyone straight. Otherwise, I don’t know that I could have done it. I’m glad you enjoyed the book, though, because I found it to be totally sweet and compelling and so well-written. I’d love to be entered for the giveaway, as I don’t own a copy of this book yet. I am not in a book club, unfortunately.
I don’t know enough people who read!
on August 6th, 2009 at 9:20 pmI’m an avid reader. I don’t belong to a book club per se, but I do belong to a water fitness class. We’re 26 women who share books and talk about them. Once a month we dine out, return the books that were passed among us to their rightful owners and chat some more.
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
on August 6th, 2009 at 11:39 pmI do not belong to a book club… just love to read… and hope I can enter this giveaway.. heard so many excellent reviews about this book!
on August 7th, 2009 at 12:58 amI’m not a member of a book club, but this book has been on my TBR since the time I started blogging.
on August 7th, 2009 at 1:27 amYes, I am a member of a bookclub called I Read Therefore I Am. It’s online.
I have also heard really good things about this book recently. Usually I don’t like books told in letter format (Dracula and Dangerous Liasons just didn’t do it for me), but I do want to give this book a try. It sounds like it could be interesting.
on August 7th, 2009 at 3:01 amI’ve never joined a book club because I don’t like to be told what to read. That’s why I started a book blog…I can read what I want and have a forum to discuss those books. It’s perfect!
Thanks for the opportunity!
on August 7th, 2009 at 4:40 amSometimes when a book is loved by everyone else it doesn’t grab me right away either, if at all. But, I loved this one. Great review.
on August 7th, 2009 at 11:39 amNot in a book club…yet. But I’m talking online with a friend of mine about starting one, in part because of reading this!
on August 7th, 2009 at 11:55 amI’m part of a book club/library group called TRAIN and it stands for Teen Readers Active In New bern (which is the town i live in.) and it’s fantabulous.
haleymathiot (at) yahoo (dot) com
on August 7th, 2009 at 1:09 pmOh please enter me. I have wanted to read this one! Good Review!!
Not a book club member but am thinking of looking for one in my area!
Thanks
christinezeg[at]gmail[dot]com
on August 7th, 2009 at 2:32 pmI’m not a member of a book club
on August 7th, 2009 at 5:24 pmNo need to enter me, but I enjoyed this book as well! Nice review!
on August 8th, 2009 at 12:09 pmUnfortunately, not a book club member but this is one book I would like to read and I would like to be entered, thanks!
on August 8th, 2009 at 1:28 pmWow, Natasha! Thanks so much for quoting my review. I really enjoyed this book and it stuck with me long after reading it.
No need to enter me. But I am so glad that even with the initial trouble you kept reading and found the book enjoyable.
on August 9th, 2009 at 8:48 amI fell in love with the book the first time I’ve seen the cover.
I’m glad to be a member of 2 fabulous online book clubs:
Flips Flipping Pages and
YA Books that Adults Should Read
Blogged about this so others would also get a chance to try for this:
http://pachuvachuva.wordpress.com/2009/08/09/two-ways-one-potato-peel-pie-goal/
on August 9th, 2009 at 9:20 amNo, I’m not a member of a book club. But your great review made me want to read this book. Please enter me. Thanks!
ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net
on August 10th, 2009 at 11:06 amI’m not a member of a formal book club but I do have a group of friends at work who pass around books and DVDs and talk about them after a few people have seen them. We don’t really have a name.
on August 10th, 2009 at 2:21 pmThanks for the chance to win!
ruthann (dot) francis (at) gmail (dot) com
No need to enter me as I’ve just read it! I was kind of the opposite from you: I really liked the beginning, and then got bored by the second half. I felt it stopped being full of great book quotes and started being plot-driven, which wasn’t as interesting to me. Overall, a feel-good book that, like you say, can be recommended to anyone. But not my favorite…
on August 10th, 2009 at 6:52 pmNo need to enter me, as I’ve already read and loved this one. Sorry it took you a while to get into the story, but I’m glad you kept reading. I’ll get your review up on War Through the Generations soon.
on August 11th, 2009 at 10:15 amNo, I am sadly not a member of a book club, though I hope to be soon!
on August 11th, 2009 at 11:59 amLoved this book!! Met the author a few months ago but forgot my camera so never bothered to post about it. I recommended this book to my mom as well and she loved it.
on August 11th, 2009 at 3:24 pmI am in a book club. Very laid back and informal. And I think I am one of the only members who reads books other than the ones they read for book club.
I have heard so many good things about this book…please count me in. thanks.
And, no, sadly I am not a member of a bookclub.
karen k
on August 11th, 2009 at 7:51 pmkmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com
I’m not a member of a book club, but I did start reading this book and absentmindedly returned it to the library, only to find that there is a long waiting list for it….and I have some left to read!!! I am SO hoping to win it! Wish me luck!
on August 14th, 2009 at 11:16 pmI never join a book club, though I’d like to if I could find the right one. I’d love to enter the giveaway please since I’ve been hearing raving reviews about it!
on August 15th, 2009 at 6:09 pmI’ve heard so much about this book – mostly good things. I have heard that it’s slow in the beginning. Oh well, I still want it!!
I am in a book club, although it hasn’t been active over the summer. It’s not all that active during the rest of the year either, but we try. It has a name, but it’s not very original – The Bookworms.
Tanks for the chance to win!
on August 15th, 2009 at 6:31 pmHi Natasha,
This is such a wonderful book. I’d borrowed it from the library but would love my own copy. I’m sure that my mom would enjoy it as well.
I’m not part of a book club anymore. There used to be one at my old job, but since I’d moved on…
Thanks for the entry!
gaby317nyc AT gmail DOT com
on August 15th, 2009 at 7:48 pmHi, I am not currently the member of a book club. My friends and I have discussed beginning one at each of our homes!
on August 16th, 2009 at 3:07 pmMany thanks…..Cindi
I’m not currently a member of a book club.
on August 17th, 2009 at 2:02 pm[...] The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows giveaway I enjoyed finding out if you had a book club or not and if so, what the name of it was. [...]
on August 20th, 2009 at 12:23 amI dont belong to a book club but I love to read book blogs and my tastes are very wide!
Mystica
on September 8th, 2009 at 11:22 amHi
We’ve created a Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society Google Map for your readers. Every comment from that includes a geographic location or mention of place is either pinned or marked. Hope this is of use to you readers.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=100914396836643406446.0004770085524a485bbdb&z=12
If you have any feedback please submit a review and we will take on board your comments. All in its early stages at the moment
on October 29th, 2009 at 2:09 pm