Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Book Review

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a gem of a novel. From the first paragraph I was drawn in by the charm and wit of the main character, Juliet, and found myself eager to turn the page. Set in the mid forties, the story unfolds to the reader by a series of letters written back and forth between the characters to bring to life an unforgettable tale of human suffering, struggle, and strength during World War II.

You may wonder if this book could flow easily with all of the back and forth letter writing-well, it does. The Authors (Shaffer and Barrow) do a superb job of intertwining the letters that build the story and make it impossible to put down. Juliet Ashton is the central character, and through her quest of self discovery, she meets a group of people who formed a literary society out of necessity to survive during the German Occupation of their little Island.

They eat pie made of potatoes, using beets for sweetness, and the peelings for the crust - yum...NOT! Although Fiction, the events ring true to the time period, and the sacrifices made by so many will leave you rooting for them. Juliet wants to write a novel while visiting her new friends, thus setting the stage for her journey as she enters the small community of Guernsey, and its many enchanting inhabitants.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a book that will give you much to think about and feel long after the story ends.

Pros:
-A moving story that will draw you in
-A love story on many different levels; romantic love, friendship love, parental love - it's all there and beautifully interwoven
-Eccentric, unique yet relatable characters you will grow to love
-Just enough humor to make the story endearing even with the overcast of suffering and loss looming
-A quick read

Cons:

-In the beginning, it's hard to remember all of the characters, but that soon dissipates because the authors do such a good job with personality development.
-I wanted more in the end. You will too!

Lana is author over at Wired Mamas where you will find all sorts of info for the modern mama.