Librarian's Pick of the Month: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society

In conjunction with my previous posts about making lists of new books to read, I wanted to recommend an excellent book that I recently read. (Who knows, maybe this reader's advisory type blog entry could be a feature each month on CIC). This book, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Schaffer and Annie Barrows. A friend had recommended this book, and looking for some entertaining commuting fiction, I got a copy for myself. What a delightful book!



This story is woven together through a collection of letters, many of them written by the main character, Juliet Ashton. Set in 1946, it follows the correspondence of Juliet, a single, 30-something year old author, looking for a new writing project. When Dawsey Adams, a Guernsey farmer, (Guernsey is a one of the Channel Islands) finds Juliet's name and address in a used book, he sends her a letter to tell her how much he is enjoying her old book. Fascinated by the stranger's letter, Juliet writes Dawsey back, and as their correspondence continues, Juliet learns about the charming island of Guernsey and the stories it's residents during the German occupation. Juliet is especially curious to learn about the "Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society", a literary group of Guernsey residents started by accident, which becomes a great source of community and culture for the Guernsey people during World War II. Deciding that this unique society would make an excellent story for a new novel, Juliet begins to correspond with other Guernsey folk about their experiences during the war. The themes of hope, heroism, and hardship that the Guernsey people share with Juliet are inspirational and heartwarming.

While this book does not have a central plot, the authors have created such vivid, entertaining characters that the reader feels as if he really gets to know them; their idiosyncratic personalities make them all the more lovable, and Juliet's wit in particular kept me turning the pages. It really is a delightful book filled with captivating vignettes, and charming characters who are sure to make you smile. I would say, it's a must-read!