The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is an epistolary novel set in 1946. The action occurs mainly in London and on the Channel island of Guernsey. I’m not usually fond of the epistolary format but this one works.
Juliet Ashton is a 30-something journalist famed for her humorous articles during the Blitz. Now that the war is over, Juliet wants to put her alter ego, Izzy Bickerstaff, to rest, and concentrate on serious journalism. Her publisher is her close friend Sidney Stark, the older brother of her schoolfriend, Sophie. Now that Sophie is in Scotland, and married with a small child, Juliet corresponds with her via letter.
Juliet is having no luck hitting upon a suitable subject for her next book. One day, she receives an unusual letter. Pig farmer Dawsey Adams lives on Guernsey. He bought a secondhand copy of ‘The Selected Essays of Elia’ by Charles Lamb. Dawsey notices that the book once belonged to Juliet and contains her address. He writes to her asking her to recommend a good bookstore in London which is likely to stock Charles Lamb’s other works. Following the German occupation, he says, there are no bookstores left on Guernsey and therefore no way to procure new books.
Juliet is charmed by Dawsey’s letter. She replies to him with a bookstore recommendation and encloses a copy of Lamb’s Selected Letters. She was intrigued by Dawsey’s reference to the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and asks him to elaborate. Thus begins a regular correspondence between Juliet and Dawsey, during the course of which Juliet realizes that the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society would provide perfect fodder for her next book. On Dawsey’s recommendation, the various other members of the society write to Juliet, answering her questions about life on Guernsey during the war.
Eventually, Juliet decides the only way to paint a true picture of Guernsey is to go there and see it for herself. Her overbearing boyfriend is furious at her departure, but her publisher, Sidney, encourages her to stay on Guernsey for a while and write her book. Juliet’s adventures on the island, and evolving friendship with its inhabitants, bring the story to its natural conclusion.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is charming. Although the letters are at times contrived, my overall impression was positive. Juliet is wonderfully witty and this redeems the twee storyline and the too-good-to-be-true characters. Although laced with past tragedy, the book has a definite feel-good tone. For romance fans, there’s also a love story, although I felt this was somewhat underdeveloped.
All in all, I can recommend The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I think it would make a perfect book club pick. Grade: B
{ 5 comments }
Appropriately enough, I JUST finished this book–for a book club.
I agree with your review 100%. There were times when I was thinking to myself, “Would anyone really write this in a letter?” and the romance was very much a side note, but overall it was a charming, quick read.
So, I have to ask you–were you insanely annoyed by the perfection that was Elizabeth, or was that just me?
@heidenkind No, Elizabeth and her halo were definitely too-good-to-be-true. I debated mentioning her directly in the review, but didn’t as I thought it might be a spoiler. Actually, I don’t think it is.
It probably was mostly too good to be true, but I loved it anyway. It was a charming and sweet book and none of the characters bothered me.
Wow you read this book quickly. Elizabeth didn’t bother me too much. The romance twist at the end did though.
@Andrea I didn’t see the romance as a twist as it was fairly obvious from early on. However, I wished it had been either fleshed out, or left out. Once Juliet is on Guernsey, we no longer see the point of view of the person she ends up with. I felt that weakened the development of their romance.