Friday, March 18, 2011

Book Review: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (referred to hereafter as TGLAPPS) by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows was my book club's selection this month. I initially read this book a couple of years ago but reread it for 2 reasons:1. I LOVED it the first time I read it, and 2. I did not reread our February selection Little Bee and completely forgot EVERYTHING about it and could not participate in the discussion.

A brief note about TGLAPPS (that seems almost obscene for some reason): It is a book all in letters-which threw a lot  people off at first-and so did the title for that matter- but it works!! Honestly! Set just after World War II, a London author heads out to the Channel Islands to research her new novel about people's experiences during wartime. The island of Guernsey was actually occupied by the Germans for 5 years (for real!) and a group of people there formed a "bookclub" to cover up a late night feast when they were caught going home after curfew.  I'm not really doing this book justice right now I can tell but believe me when I say it's worth the read. It's not very long, it's a fairly quick read, and although it deals with some heavy issues, it's also quite lighthearted and fun. It's one of my favourite books to be honest with!!

1 comment:

  1. I, too loved this book, and the letters at first threw me off but when you get into it it is a very good read. I also didn't realize that the Germans occupied this island, and it was interesting to hear how the people coped at that time. Lots of other personal stories of individuals on the island! A good read for sure!

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