The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Three Cheers for the best book of the summer.

Alright, it is only my second book of the summer, but it could very easily have been the best.



This books contains some of the most charismatic, real characters I have ever met, with a story line that was both touching and believable. It is written in a series of letters - a form I generally dislike, since I lose track of whom the letter is sent to and get bored by the strict formalities of the letter writing process. Somehow though, in this book it totally worked.



Juliet is the main character in the story, and is a journalist who is very close friends with Sidney her editor (do not get confused, Sidney is in fact, a man) and his sister Sophie. As Juliet journey's to Guernsey to find out more about the German occupation on the island during WWII, she is delighted to find that she loves her new friends there, especially the members of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. There is the synopsis for you. But even more than the charming story line to me, was the realness of these characters.


Elizabeth especially, became an intriguing character to me. Although she is never met within the novel, the entire novel revolves around this woman. She is a woman who risked her life to save a starving Todt boy. She punched Adelaide Addison in the face when she deserved it, and fell in love with a German -- so as not to deny her own feelings. She had picnics on tombstones and gave away her treasured pin.

I think I would have loved to be best friends with Elizabeth. And Juliet. And maybe have had a friend like Isola and a husband like Dawsey. But maybe that's just me.

Do yourself a favor. Read this book. It was charming.

"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."