The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
 

What a joy!
I just finished The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows and found myself reading slower and slower so the book wouldn't end. This is my "Book of the Year," and it's not even December yet.

The story takes place in 1946, right after World War II, and consists of a series of letters between a writer (Juliet) from London and the citizens of Guernsey, a Channel Island between the UK and France.

Guernsey was occupied by the Nazis during the war, and all communication between the Islanders and the rest of the world was forbidden. After the war Juliet receives a letter from an Islander who "came across her name on a secondhand volume by Charles Lamb. Perhaps she could tell him where he might find more books by this author." As the story evolves, other Islanders write to Juliet with their experiences of Nazi occupation, pig farming, literature . . . and the recipe for potato peel pie.

One quote from the book is: "I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers." That was certainly the case for me with this book!

Judy
Tony's Third Period English Class

I agree! Wasn't it pure delight? So many books, so little time ('cause I keep falling asleep, but not with this one.)

Is this a chick book?

Hmm. Tony, there are no car chases, no indecent passages, nothing blows up, and nobody is murdered.



CAUTION, SPOILER ALERT:

There is some thievery and a foot chase...

I mis-wrote.
I forgot, but the book DOES have some murdering and bombing.

Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
 

Judy ~

You are so right!! This was a great book! Not only was it a delight to read and so entertaining, but I learned about Guernsey, an island I knew nothing about before reading this book. It's one of my favorites from this year, too.:coolsmiley:

Sunflower & Linda, I'm glad you both enjoyed it! Normally, I don't care much for the "letters" style of writing, but I thought it was perfect for this book. And like you, I didn't know anything about Guernsey or the German occupation during the war.

Ah yes, that's what is known as an epistolary novel.......uh oh maybe I should not say things like that. Somebody around here might get all epistolaried off and write a letter...er... post...accusing me of being an English major.)

Anyway, Judy, the book sounds like a good one. Thanks.

Boomer :read:

Judy and Boomer show up in the same thread, and Boomer writes about the book being like a pharmacy or some such, and I now think I know that this forum is harboring two English majors.

You know, if Barefoot were one would she be an English majour?

You're welcome, Boomer! Let us all know what you think of it -- if you have a chance to read it. And thank you for the definition of the "letters" style of writing. Epistolary. I like that word. I'll try to work it into a sentence this week. :wave: How's your weather? (oops, off topic. I'm in for it now) :police:

And Tony, now you're trying to draw Barefoot into this. We all know (depite your denials) that your use of the subjunctive in your post definitely qualifies you as an honorary English Majo(u)r. :p

Judy,

My weather? Well, I have been taking those virtual tours of TV houses again. It is not only too cold here. It is too cold, too soon.

And that was a nice catch on Tony's use of the subjunctive mood.

Boomer

Ah yes. Episilatory. Like St. Paul and 'em.

I read him. He is good.

I like good. I like uu, she is funny. I will read the book. I like a good shoot um up.

You sure it don't have no dirty parts?

Gracie, no dirty parts. Despite that, it's still a very nice book. :thumbup:

Boomer, it was so cold here tonight that I had to wear my wool coat, scarf, and mittens to the concert at the Church on the Square! It was way down in the 50's. With the wind chill it might have been in the 40's. :cold: Brrrr.

To sleep, perchance to dream, of the 40s, as an English major is wont to say. Not me. An English major.

Judy, those temperatures of yours sound downright balmy. Everything is relative I guess. Tony probably thinks Cincinnati sounds balmy. Or does he think Boomer sounds balmy? (Don't ask.)

And, speaking of Tony, when I saw that picture that he took of his wife on the tractor dealing with all that snow, I said to myself, "I bet while Mr. Tony was standing there taking that picture, he was thinking of Robert Frost's poem Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening."

Boomer

So you say, Tony. So you say.
But you caught the apostrophes. Only a certain kind of person would notice. tee hee

O.K. Boom.

What poem is this?

" The woods are lovely dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep
and miles to go before I sleep."

Gracie, that's it. The one I know that Mr. Tony just had to be thinking about when he took that picture in that other thread. Your lines are from Frost's Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know,
His house is in the village though,
He will not see me stopping here,
To watch his woods fill up with snow....

Yep, Gracie, that's the woods you are talking about.

Boomer

Helene Hanff
 

I just found this forum. I hope it isn't too late to post a relavant comment. I was reading your posts and your description of the book reminded me of 84 Charing Cross Road by the late Helene Hanff. I believe there was also a movie based on Hanff's epistolary work. bk

This book enlightened me about the struggles of the Guernsey inhabitants during WWII and how lucky we Americans are that we have not had our soil occupied during wartime. I would recommend that if you get a chance to read it. It takes a different format than other books (letter format), but once you get into the story, it doesn't matter. It has a good ending too!

thumbs up!
 

I recently read this book and was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I too learned about Guernsey, an area I knew very little about; and felt I was right there as the story unfolded.

I also just finished this book - read it on the advice of uujudy (and because I loved the title) - and loved it. Any other recommendations?

another recommendation....
 

speaking of the epistolary style, one of my favorite books also in this style is
A Woman of Independent Means....it is based on the life of the author's grandmother and tells her whole life story so skillfully through letters starting with a note she wrote in childhood to her future husband...i loved it...the author's name was Catherine Something Something but i cannot remember..read it a long time ago...hope you can find it and enjoy!!!

Don't you just love this forum!? There's always so much good information.
Thanks to bkcunningham and chachacha I have 2 new books to add to my list!
Ohiogirl & Oatmealgirls, glad you liked it!
This place gets better every day,
Judy

PS: Chachacha, I looked up A woman of Independent Means at Amazon, and their author's name is Elizabeth Forsyth Hailey. Does that sound right to you? (Elizabeth, Catherine... queen's names. I can see how it could be confusing LOL)

bk, I want to thank you for recommending this book! Our Villages library phoned me to let me know they found a copy and would hold it for me. I picked up the book this morning, and wound up playing hooky today so I could read the book. In the British spirit of the story I made myself a cup of tea in my souvenir Stonehenge mug and spent a wonderful rainy afternoon enjoying 84, Charing Cross Road.

At first it was SO similar to Guernsey... that I thought plagiarism! Intellectual thievery! After I recovered from deja vu, I realized that although they are similar, these are two quite different stories. This book is non-fiction and these are actual letters written to/from Miss Helene Hanff, who begins as a script reader, and progresses over the years to writing scripts for television. There's also a recipe for Yorkshire pudding that I might try someday when I'm feeling courageous. The other bonus is that this book is a 2-in1 volume with The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street, which I will start reading in 3 minutes.

Many thanks for your recommendation, :thumbup:
Judy
PS: I know there must be a way to both quote you and start a new thread with the title of this book, but I'm clueless to some the ways of totv.

libraries in and around The Villages
 

We will be moving to our villa this fall. We bought 3-1/2 yrs ago and have been renting it out, visiting mostly spring and fall. We are located about a mile south of LSL. When we bought (early summer, 2006) the new Sumter County branch on 466 (I think) had just opened - wasn't very well stocked with books yet. I have also passed the library off Belvedere, near the gate, but haven't stopped in yet. I think these are different?

I'm a huge library user. Plan to get my library card soon after we move. I have also seen somewhere that there is another branch of the Sumter County library planned for 466A somewhere around Buena Vista Blvd, I think on the south side of 466A.

My question is - which is your favorite library and why?

not to change the subject
 

don't want to bump ohiogirl's question about the library, which i cannot answer as i have not been to a library here yet, but another favorite series of mine is jan karon's At Home in Mitford and all its wonderful sequels...i started reading them while living in a very small town and they were my salvation...anyone else have any opinions about them? they follow the life of a sixtyish bachelor episcopalian priest and all the sundry characters in his little town. not exciting but such great character studies...

The Mitford Series
 

Oh, ChaCha, the Mitford Series is my very favorite series of all time! I have all the books and would never part with a single one. I started reading them probably about 6 yrs. ago, or so. My first goal for retirement was to re-read them all again, which I have done. I grew so attached to all of the characters! What a pleasant, pleasant experience reading those books. It broke my heart when the series ended. I do hope she will re-consider and write a couple more! So glad you enjoyed them, too! :eclipsee_gold_cup:

On UUjudy"s recommendation I am reading this book. Love it! Love it. Don't want it to end. We are leaving on a cruise and you can be sure it is going with me.

I downloaded it to my Barnes and Noble Nook for a little more than $5.

Thank you UUJudy for a wonderful recommendation!:thumbup:

The library on the corner of Belvedere and Parr Drive will be very convenient for you. It is small, but I use it a lot and haven't been disappointed.

Avista, you're welcome! I'm glad you're enjoying the book! :read: Does the Nook version have the map that was inside the front and back covers of the regular book?

And as Bare and others have said, the Villages library is a real asset to this place. You can order any book that's in the Sumter County library system, and they'll call you when it's in, so you can pick it up. I've tried to be diligent about NOT buying books since we moved here. I have shelves of books, books, and more books at our house in Utah, and there are really only a few that are 'forever' books. But there's a Barnes & Noble at LSL and a used bookstore at Colony and now I need a bookcase... :read::read::read:

Thanks to all for these suggestions
 

Thanks Barefoot, I will try the Parr location library on my next visit - coming down for 2 weeks this Saturday.

I just requested the other books everyone suggested in this thread from our wonderful Columbus Metropolitan Libary system, and was reminded of one of my favorites that I thought I would pass along:

"Night Sky", by Clare Francis - a WWII fiction book set in Brittany - I love WWII fiction, but worry (only occasionally and I don't lose sleep about it) that my grasp of history is a little distorted by the fiction I love to read. I tell myself most of it is based on historical facts, though, that I would never remember except for my love of fiction.

Actually, writing about "Night Sky" makes me want to check it out again!