The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

It is 1946 and Juliet Ashton is an author who became famous writing a lighthearted column about the war in London. The war is over and Europe is struggling to recover from the long, grueling war. Juliet is trying to figure out what she wants to write about next. By chance, she receives a letter from Dawsey Adams asking if she can possibly help him locate more books by Charles Lamb. Dawsey lives on the island of Guernsey which was occupied by the Nazis for five long years. He and his friends helped maintain their sanity by reading and forming a book discussion group called the "Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society". Food was in short supply during the occupation and even things like potato peels had to be put to use. Now Guernsey is hungry to be part of the world again. Juliet begins a lively correspondence with the inhabitants of this lovely island and she falls in love with them all.

This book, written entirely as correspondence, was delightful. It wasn't always easy to read as we learn of Elizabeth's last days, the hunger during the war, the children leaving the island for five years during the occupation, life and death. Still, I loved every minute. The characters were absolutely delightful and like Juliet, I think a piece of my heart will always belong to Guernsey. There were some comments by reviewers that the changing of narrators from letter to letter was confusing but I didn't find this to be so. Each character had their own distinct voice. It is only sad to know that one of the authors, Mary Ann Shaffer, died earlier this spring and there won't be a sequel.

Rating - 5 stars