The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows 5

"If nothing else, I hope these characters and their story shed some light on the sufferings and strength of the people of the Channel Islands during the German Occupation. I hope, too, that my book will illuminate my belief that love of art---be it poetry, sculpture, or music---enables people to transcend any barrier man has yet devised."

    -Mary Ann Shaffer, from Acknowledgments
 

The Page Turners Book Club read this book in 2010 and loved it. Fifteen years and over 150 books later, it is still the highest rated book---4.9 out of 5! When I read it then, I liked it enough to want to read it again at some point. I saw the film version recently and enjoyed it so much, I knew it was time to reread the novel!  I still give it a 5.

The novel is epistolary, a story told through letters, telegraphs, or other written communications. The main character is Juliet Ashton, an aspiring writer. She corresponds frequently with her publisher, Sidney Stark and his sister, Sophie, her close friend.

In 1946, just after WWII in London, Juliet receives a letter from Dawsey Adams, a pig farmer on the island of Guernsey. He has found her name in a book of works by Charles Lamb and asks her how he can find more of his writing. She answers his letter and begins a correspondence in which he reveals he is part of a book club, the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, and describes other members of the group. Soon some of the others begin writing to Juliet, as well.

Juliet finds the stories of these letter writers compelling enough that she travels to Guernsey and falls in love with the place and the people, particularly a little orphan girl, Kit.

Through letters, the characters are developed beautifully, and the reader learns much about the horrors of the German occupation. It is easy to develop a fondness for most of the characters and, of course, silently cheer Juliet on in her quest.

I recommend this book highly. Maybe you could tell.