Fiction #5 in 2009 – The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows5

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

From Publishers Weekly on amazon:
The letters comprising this small charming novel begin in 1946, when single, 30-something author Juliet Ashton (nom de plume Izzy Bickerstaff) writes to her publisher to say she is tired of covering the sunny side of war and its aftermath. When Guernsey farmer Dawsey Adams finds Juliet’s name in a used book and invites articulate—and not-so-articulate—neighbors to write Juliet with their stories, the book’s epistolary circle widens, putting Juliet back in the path of war stories. The occasionally contrived letters jump from incident to incident—including the formation of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society while Guernsey was under German occupation—and person to person in a manner that feels disjointed. But Juliet’s quips are so clever, the Guernsey inhabitants so enchanting and the small acts of heroism so vivid and moving that one forgives the authors (Shaffer died earlier this year) for not being able to settle on a single person or plot. Juliet finds in the letters not just inspiration for her next work, but also for her life—as will readers.

My thoughts:

• This is not a book I’d usually pick up as I prefer contemporary to historical fictions. But I read so many good reviews, so thought I’d give it a try. I don’t advoid Best Sellerse or Ophrahs books on purpose, just that sometimes I am just not interested in that types of books. Plus, I was intrigued by the book title.

• Well, I learned a new word after reading reviews of this novel: epistolary – a novel written as a series of documents and in this case, letters. I like books written in dairy or letters format (ha, I guess we’re all nosy to some degree! BUT I won’t ever read others’ letters or diaries without permission. Ugh, I probably don’t want to know.)

• It is a delightful, light read. Not on my best books list, but I don’t regret reading. There are a little too many characters I think. I do want to find out more about Guernsey afterward thought since it sounds like such a charming place!

• The ending is a little predictable, but the characters are likeable. It’s a fast read, perfect for summer vacation (though I read this back in the bitter cold.)