Prompt: A book published posthumously

The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Pie Society has been on my TBR for ages. I’ve even resisted watching the film until I’ve read the book. Writer Mary Ann Shaffer had been accepted for publication when her health began to decline. She asked her niece Annie Burrows to help her finish and edit the book but sadly died before it was finally published.This prompt was the perfect excuse to dust it off from the shelf and finally read it.

What’s it about?

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is an epistolary novel. Set in 1946, writer Juliet Ashton is searching for an idea for her next book. She receives a letter from Guernsey resident, Dawsey Adams who has a second hand book that once belonged to her. Juliet and Dawsey begin to correspond and share a love for reading. Dawsey’s stories of the Nazi occupation of Guernsey and the characters that meet at the Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society capture Juliet’s imagination and soon letters are flying back and forth between London and Guernsey.

What I think:

I cant believe I waited so long to read this book! I was brilliant!

I loved the way the story of life on Guernsey unfolds gradually through the anecdotes that the islanders share with Juliet. Some of the stories are funny, some are heart-breaking, but all show the camaraderie and resilience shown by people during the war.

Juliet’s growing affection for the people she gets to know through their letters is natural and they welcome her to guernsey with open arms.

The characters are all clearly defined individuals – such serious, some romantic, some quirky. The way that care for young child Kit, while they wait for news of her mother who was taken to an internment camp shows the warmth and love between them.

That Juliet finally choose life on Guerney over life in London is no surprise. The book is a love letter to the island and it’s people.

I’m so glad I finally did pick up this book as I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m not sure how well it would adapt to a film as the epistolary style and the voices of the different characters was part of the charm for me. I’ve got some time off for the holidays coming up so I might find some time to finally watch it too.

You can pick up a copy of the very charming Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society at:

Waterstones: click here

Amazon.co.uk: click here