Very enjoyable format; learned a lot of history with no "dryness". There were many delightful characters with a lot of stories.

very appealing book, The story is told entirely through letters and the characters reveal themselves in intimate detail. It gives a lot of historical detail about life during WWII. Interactions between the characters are interesing and realistically described. A good read!!

Everyone in the bookclub loved this book - a very uncommon event. Story is brought out through a series of letters that unravels the stories of the characters and brings to life the missing Elizabeth who is the heroine of the story. Charming storyof people who rise to the occasion in difficult time to support each other.

Excellent! Loved the method of written letters, a dying art, to illustrate characters in this depiction of life during and after WWII....the agonies endured but yet the humor amidst the hardships of life. Actually made me laugh and cry!

This book received our highest rating yet. Some of the factors contributing to that included the format, the rich characterization, the subject matter and the feeling the authors gave us that we wished we had known these people. It was a true delight!

Not only was the book entertaining and enjoyable, it was also unique in its format which added to the enjoyment. Secondly, the historical side of the book was very informative. Thirdly, I had to go look up Charles Lamb's works as a result of reading this one. And four, I enjoyed the love stories involved as well as the mystery about Oscar Wilde's writings. Good job all the way around.

A well written, fun read that pulled you into the lives and experiences of many colorful/interesting and well-developed characters. Although serious in subject (the life altering effects of the German occupation on the people of Guernsey), the authors interject humor, romance, historical fact and more. The story pulls you in. The letter format filled the book with "first-hand account" detail that made the story even more interesting.

This charming novel written entirely in letters relates the difficulties endured during WWII on the Channel Islands and in London. You meet interesting and vibrant people who express themselves delightfully. The importance of books to lift the human spirit during hard times is told with charm and elegance.

An easy Good Read once you get to know all of the characters.

A wonderful story set in a tragic period of time that I wasn't very familiar with.

A must have for book clubs. I never knew anything about Guernsey or its role in WWII. The book is so entertaining I didn't even realize I was getting a history lesson at the same time. I also enjoyed the style chosen to tell the story.

Easy read but not at first. Takes a bit to get used to the letter format and learn the characters but it ended up being a fun way to tell a story.

Fast read and loved the letter style. Learned many new things regarding Guernsey during WWII. Overall, I really did like the book.

Our club had a hard time getting into this book. A few put it down and did not finish. The premise of telling the story through letters was a great idea, however, the story was slow moving and so typical. It was too unbelievable to think a stranger meets neighbors of a town and visits them, takes one of their children as an adoptee and falls in love in the span of a few weeks.

A heartwarming tale of the indomitable human spirit.

Interesting, clever, funny, sad - a page turner. Great characters and plot. Fascinating and unusual WW2 theme - many wouldn't know places like Guernsey island were occupied by the Nazis. Descriptions make you want to visit there today. The letter format provided a fun and intriguing twist, and worked really well.

It is a wonderful story of the World War II presented in a way that is less horrific than most. We find out many of the horrors of war but for some reason it seems easier to read and deal with than most books.
I read the book and also listened to the audio book. I would highly recommend listening to the audio. It was an absolute delight.

Everyone in the entire book club enjoyed this book. It was informative because none of us realized the tribulations the people of Guersney had during the war. It was an eye-opener to read and be a part of their daily struggles of coping with the war and its effects. Interwoven in the book is a delightful story of people and their lives. We wholeheartedly recommend this book.

The characters come alive through letters! I enjoyed the format. Literature touched the lives of ordinary people during extraordinary times.

A great read - interesting set up - letters back and forth. Very positive remarks from all who read the book - we all enjoyed it very much.

Our group loved the characters in Guernsey and didn't want the book to end.A great book about the life-changing possibilities of books and a community sharing their love of reading.

This was a fine book to read--several of us enjoyed it quite a lot. Others were put off by the format, since it was written as letters. There just wasn't a lot to discuss--oh, wasn't it awful what they had to endure during the war; how terrible to have been occupied for so many years, etc. Many of us didn't know about this occupation, and were glad to learn. However, our discussion was brief.

I wasn't sure how I would feel about a book written entirely in letters, but I ended up liking it a lot. Letter-writing really is a lost art. The book touched on some very serious topics related to World War II, but it still managed to be a fun, light read. It would be great to take on vacation and read on the beach.

Our group really enjoyed this book. We had a good discussion.
We all were amazed how reading letters told a wonderful story. To some it was like the joy of received a note from someone in the mail. We definitely all thought it was a good pick and recommend it highly.

Lovely and engaging. Very insightful as to what went on during the occupation. Opened up a whole new world for me....the Channel Islands. It's on my list of places to see...

Members of our club loved this book. They found it cleverly written and historically interesting. Some of us felt the characters were a bit two-dimensional, but everyone enjoyed the unfolding of the story. We liked the theme of the transformational potential of reading groups!

I enjoyed the book very much...i felt like i had gone on vacation and met some lovely new friends.

Interesting writing style, all in correspondence. A little annoying at first until I got into the book further. I learned alot about the era. A good read.

Once you get over the fact that the book is written viz letters back and forth this book really captures the time and age of 1940s.

I loved the book, it was very well written. The story was wonderful and I couldn't put it down. However I was the only member of our bookclub that loved it. Some liked it others hated it and couldn't finish it. Members did not like the style i.e. letters going back and forth between people.

We just finished "The Guernsey Literary and Potatoe Peel Pie Society". Most of us found the book to be a little difficult to read in the letter style that it is written. However, we all loved the story and would recommend it to others.

At first I thought that this book of letters was not going to hold my interest. However, after I began, I felt as though I was reading letters from an old friend. This is an interesting look on life after WWII.

It was really interesting to hear the WWII history from a European perspective. I enjoyed the format of letters to tell the story. It made me feel like it doesn't have to be a lost art.

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed this book. It brought some surprises with the characters. We had great discussions about the historical aspects of the time and events we never knew occurred. Everyone should read this book.

Would make a good Lifetime movie. Predictable.

Everyone who attended the meeting enjoyed this book and the richly drawn characters. We each had a different favorite character because they all had such unique personalities. We were fascinated with the story and all of us enjoyed the fact that it was written completely through letters.

Slow start but stay with it. Loved the letter format!

This book was absolutely wonderful. I almost hated to finish it - I enjoyed it that much. Character development was good and it flowed beautifully even written in letter format. Highly recommend this book!

Very informative and fun read.

The feeling overall was don't give up on the book even if the first 1/4 you are distracted with all the characters, letters being the body of the work, etc. All were glad they continued on to the end and felt they learned something about WWII that was little known.

Maybe there's some hope in human nature afterall. Truly enlightening about the Channel Island Situation during WWII.We have about 30 book club members and this is the first time EVERYONE loved the book.

i'm not very big on epistolar books, but this 1 was very informative on data i was totally unaware of

Shaffer gives us a thorough depiction of the occupation of Guernsey during WWII in episolotory form. The horrors that abound are molified by the dry wit in the letters exchanged. Many WWII novels are graphic and painful heart-wretching stories. Though all the details are here the format makes the telling go down like a creme brulee. Don't miss this one for your club.

It was a delightful book filled with beautiful discriptive scenery and inspiring characters.

If you would like something lite but also shows what life was like at the Island during the war this is a nice book to read. I would also recommend if you want further insight into what happened on this island go to your library and check out the DVD "Island At War". If your library does not have it then have them try to obtain using Lend/Lease from another library. My library is wonderful using this method. As a first book by the author she did a good job.

What?? Too many characters. The ending comes out of nowhere. A strange way to learn about the effects of war on the Guerney Island.

Engaging. Enjoyed the many ways this book could be viewed ~ letters, characters, authoring, romance.

Set after WWII in England, a female writer befriends the town of Guernsey after reciving a letter from a resident. An idea for a book is seeded for the main character, she corresponds, and visits the people of Guernsey. The characters are diverse and each show the humanity of WWII. You learn about the Channel Islands and WWII. The book is witten as letters from character to character. Charming book.

It was surprisingly easy and interesting to read an entire book of letters. I also really liked reading about that time in our history - we don't appreciate how hard life can be and how people really do overcome. It would seem like that is sad to read about, but I think it makes us more appreciative and brings a good feeling.

One of my favorite books of all time. I enjoyed reading a book that was written in the form of letters. It really made you think about the individual characters and their personalities. I bought a dozen to give as gifts.

Excellent info on a part of WWII I was completely unaware of. Interesting characters. Format different and fun.

I loved getting acquainted with all 27 (was it?) characters and enjoyed the epistolary composition of the book. I didn't want the book to end and am sorry Ms Shaffer didn't live longer to write many more books.

This is quite a charming little book. The characters are all very interesting and the story is not only sweet but also very informative on many levels. I would recommend this book to anyone.

The format was a little hard to follow, as there were so many characters in the book. Learned about Guernsey and its part in World War II. The people became real as the book went along, and they were real heroes during a trying time in their lives. I grew to love them all.

I hadn't read a book written in letter format before and REALLY enjoyed it! The characters were so much fun! It was very thought provoking for me to realize WWII affected not just the countries involved but even remote islands as well. There was a lot of good discussion about the book. I would highly recommend it to other book clubs!

It was a very compelling story, providing interesting historical events in a fun romantic way. Great read!

Yesterday the Blue Ridge Readers met to discuss the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.

The book, written in an epistolary format, took place after World War 2 on the British Island of Guernsey, just after the Nazi occupation. Through the letters from Juliet Ashton, an author, and many of the occupants of the island, the reader meets many wonderful and unusual characters, and learns about their experiences and tragedies that took place during this time.

The author does a wonderful job of characterization, and the reader gets to know each and every member of the book club (and some others, too) through their letters back and forth. The one important character that we do not meet is Elizabeth, who was the creator of the Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Although not present, she plays an important part in everyone's lives, and the reader comes to know her as well the others.

Our discussion was lively, and the book sort of came alive as we talked about the characters and the events in the story. Everyone liked the format (letters) and the concensus was that the book was one of our favorites.We enjoyed the 'happy ending' for Juliet and the other islanders, though we mourned along with them over the death of Elizabeth in a concentration camp, leaving her daughter motherless.

As usual, the discussion was wonderful and it was a pleasure to hear everyone's feelings and ideas about yet another wonderful book. We would love to schedule a trip to Guernsey ! Field trip anyone?

I hated this book. I had heard so much about this book. Everyone loved it. A must read. For the life of me, I don't know why. Let me say I do not like to read letters or journals and I should have just put it down. I pushed myself to get through this. I did not find the main character likable or sympathetic. Way to self-absorbed. She reminded me a lot of Helen in E. Georges books. Entitled, fluffy- "oh, silly me". The ending was ridiculous. There is no way she would take up with a pig farmer and live on a remote island. A waste of my time/

I visualize books often and have sort of a movie in my mind. This one was definitely black and white and felt like something I would curl up and watch on AMC. The letter format of the book really helped to capture that late 40's era and hence my "charming" description. This book was an easy read and covered the tragedies of WW2 respectfully but did not dwell on them so much as to become a depressing book. The characters were quaint and dimensional and I came to care about them. all in all it was an enjoyable book, but not one I will find myself compelled to talk about. I did recommend it because it did provide us with some good discussions and I know we all seemed to enjoy reading it.

Once you get used to the format of reading letters it is an entertaining read. A little slow in the begining but heart-warming by the end.

We all liked the book and the letter format. It was eye opening to see how close the Germans came to Britain in WW2. The characters were wonderful and down to earth.

Well-written book using letters as the format for conveying the story. I really liked the characters in the book and found the historical information about the Channel Islands fascinating.

A delightful novel that mixes humor and pathos. The main character, Juliet, keeps you laughing when you would normally cry. The history is really interesting as it is told through the eyes of the delightful Guernsey residents.

I thought it was a light-hearted, easy read. It gives insight as to how people kept their sanity during a troubling time in history. The main character is a woman before her time who has a great sense of humor. The cast of characters and how they interact is wonderful. I would say it takes about 20 pages to get used to the letter-writing style of the book.

I absolutely loved this book! I couldn't put it down.

The story started off interesting, but then became predictable. It didn't make sense that the mother would put her life at risk when she had such a young daughter in her care. Contrived so the other woman could fit into the story. Plenty of discussion though.

I did not enjoy this story and felt it was rather worthless. Not much to it and slow.

Well done!

A great read! Interesting and engaging, highly recommended.

This is one of my favorite books in the last couple of years. I read the book and then listened to it on CD and both were very enjoyable experiences. I loved it because of the history portrayed and the book's portrayal of human healing through friendship and reading.

Somehow this part of history was totally new to me. WWII history is something I really enjoy reading about and this one was the best so far. Having been written in letters it allows you to see many different sides to the same situation and teaches about all the angles. Since I hosted this one and I love to cook, we had the Potato Peel Pie too. It wasn't the best but it sure set the scene.

Very sweet book - easy to read and enjoy.

I loved reading about how reading changed people's lives during an impossible time.

Good book. Interesting characters and different look at WWII.

We could'nt put it down! It was one of our best lunch-time discussions also.

How sad that Mary Ann Shaffer died before realizing that her book would inspire so many people. I hesitated to read it when I realized it was mostly in correspondence, but my daughter insisted, thank goodness. I was mesmerized and couldn't put the book down. What a beautiful story of finding oneself.

dont know i it was because i am not a big history buff but found it to be boring. I am the only one in my club to think that though. everyone else did like it. to each their own opinion

this is what it all comes down to in moments of despair and accomplishments.

A little slow in the beginning. However, a wonderful book to read. Interesting and insightful.

I don't normally like reading letter format, since I always felt it was hard to be "in" the story, but this was the best I have ever read of the type. Engaging, great plot, and great descriptions helped to overcome the shortcomings in this type of storytelling. I highly recommend it.

I fell in love with the people in the book. I wanted them to be your friends.

I did not think I would like this book when I saw that it was written through letters. I put off starting it for 3 months. When I started it, I couldn't put it down. It was so out-of-the box! In a world of predictable story lines, this one is so unexpected. This should be on the top of any book club's list!

It was an excelent read!

I didn't want this book to end, loved every minute of it.

Such a fun, easy read. Loved the format after I got used to it - only written in letters. I thought it was informative to hear more info on life during those times. Looked up the recipe for potato peel pie - don't think we'll be trying that!

By no means a literary masterpiece but craftily done only through epistles and revealing an aspect of WWII in a location we knew nothing about.

We all enjoyed this book. It was fun reading from the perspective of a set of letters.

couldn't put it down. great character development.

The authors' use of a series of letters to write an novel is a very interesting concept. The letters made the characters come alive, helping the reader to really get to know them.

I loved this book. I loved the style and format of the writing. It is written in letters revealed to the reader. It takes you on a wonderful journey where you get to know an amazing cast of characters. I couldn't put this book down and would love to close my eyes and be there on the Channel Island with that group.

Once I adjusted to the 'letter/correspondence' rather than discriptive paragraphs and dialogue, I was drawn into the
relationships between the characters and felt I was part of the
group. It was a simple and enjoyable read and I will certainly read future works by this author.

completely pointless

I'm not sure exactly how I feel about this book. It was well writing and the concept of a story unfolding through letters between the characters was very different and well done. It's a very easy read and not long to get through. I didn't find the story all that exciting or memorable, so for those reasons I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

Clever dialogue, compelling characters

I enjoyed reading this book. It sparked some interesting conversation at our meeting

I really liked this book. I enjoyed the letter style of writing - it was different. The characters were good and it was written so you feel as if you are there and part of the book. It was not so wordy that you were not able to use your imagination to visualize the characters and put yourself there with them.

I really enjoyed reading this. It's an easy read and one that you keep on reading until you finish!

This charming and insightful novel tells a little known part of World War II history through the eyes of a young English writer whose life is changed forever when she decides to go to the Isle of Guernesy to meet in person some of the people with whom she has established a friendship through correspondence. This tale, at times light and humorous and at times somber, reveals the courage of the people and the lingering effects of Nazi occupation on the residents of this small isolated island.

I really liked this book. It's cleverly written with a string of letters to and from Guernsey telling the story. A little predictable but who cares?! I loved the characters who seemed very real. Nice little quick read.

This was a great book. Very informative but still to fun to read. The characters were very real. Everyone in our book club loved it.

The writing style of this book, in the form of personal letters, taught me about the German occupation of the Channel Islands during WWII, a period in history of which I knew very little. However, because it was written solely in the form of letters (as primary sources), I found it somewhat difficult to keep the characters and characteristics straight. I devised a list of characters, traits, their favorite authors/books, and unique events in their lives. Each member's favorite author and/or literary quote uniquely captured their experience during the hardship of the war and 5 years of German occupation. The joy of companionship, united by a newly found love of literature, bonded the members of the society to eachother and ensured their survival.

I found the book to be delightful! It praises the joy of reading and the impact that a book can have on a person's life. There are so many beautiful lines, which I have personally written as my own memorable quotes, such as "reading good books ruins you from enjoying the bad books" (p. 53). I wholeheartedly agree. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is not to be missed.

I really liked this letter style of this book. It made it a quick, fun read.

Although this book was predictable, it was a pleasant read. The subject of the German occupation of the Channel Islands was interesting and some parts of the story were very sad. A bit of a tear jerker.

Great books written through the viewpoints of letters. Interesting history on part of World War II with wonderfully developed characters.

An epistolary novel - letters to and from Juliet and the various inhabitants of Guernsey. I did have to refer back to previous letters on occasion to see if Juliet had received any others from that particular source. A missing inhabitant Elizabeth weaves her way throughout the letters until I felt I knew her also. I learned about Guernsey and its role in WWII - something about which I knew nothing. An uplifting story in that people can not only endure hardship but move beyond it. Humor in the story kept it from being depressing.

A little confusing to begin with, as several characters and I had to re-check a few times as to who was who. It also took about a third of the way through the book to really get into it and for the letters to get beyond niceties. Great subject matter though and I found the German occupation of Guernsey very interesting to read about.

Don't be put off by the hard-to-recall (and spell!) title; the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a must-read!

"The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

What a treat for the bibliophiles of the world. This novel, beautifully written in epistolary form, gives us a peek at life in Guernsey, on The Channel Islands, while under the German Occupation during World War II.

The characters in this novel are quirky and lovable. We are able to observe just how the power of books enables these lively characters to transcend the barriers during a time of war.

While reading this book, you will discover the importance of friendship and the human spirit that connects us to one another. You will see how during the good times as well as the tougher times, we get through it all so much better with humor and optimism.

My favorite character in this book is Isola Pribby. She is one original piece of work, yet we’ve all known someone like her. She’s a ‘hoot’ and just thinking about her brings a smile to my lips!

Please, pick up this book that you cannot put down! Get it! Read it!!

(from my 'book bagg' blog @
http://www.keepitsimplesweetee.com/books.htm )

A compilation of letters written after the second world war illuminating the effects of the occupation of Guernsey during this time. Gentle, clever and heart wrenching.

An enjoyable and delightful book to read once you understand the format.

This book was also one of the best books of 2009! Loved learning more about this period of history!

Good pick for a light read. Creatively written as the book is in the form of letters written between characters. Enjoyed some of the witty remarks demonstrated by main character.

This book was written entirely using letters written back and forth to people. This was different, but it did give 1st person point of view from all the characters. The beginning of the book was a little slow and confusing. It picked up by the middle of the book. The end of the book was great.

One of the wittiest books I have read. You crying one minute and laughing the next.

Our bookclub made this wonderful pie! The book was an historical, beautiful account of a lost art...letter writing.

Fantastic book that got me to love reading again!

I had never realised how the Guernsey Islanders suffered during WW2 or how long the island was occupied. The use of letters let you step inside the characters and allowed relationships to grow over time. A quick, easy and addictive read...as well as being interesting and informative. Would recommend it

The book didn't hold my interest, and I didn't really care about the characters. I would not recommend this one.

Written as a series of letters this book was a little difficult for the first 30 pages only because it was difficult to get a grip on the characters. Once you figure out who is who the story is very educational and enjoyable. You really want to know how everyone's story will end.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were very likeable and makes you think about how difficult daily what life was during WWII. I want to go visit Guernsey and make friends with the locals!!!

I enjoyed getting to know the charaters through "their own words"
I just wish I could have kept reading their "letters."

Mixed reviews from our book club on this one - I really enjoyed the book and found it addictive. The short letters made me want to keep reading and gave it a feel of being from a different time (when people still wrote letters!). Others found the letters to be distracting and hard to follow from one to the next. In general, worth a read as you learn about different aspects of WWII in England and get great insight into the characters.

This was an absolutely delightful book. While enjoying the many charming characters, I actually learned about an island I had never heard of.

I loved this book. I listened to the narrated version and loved the different characters. It shows that war and desperate times can only take so much away from people. I loved how the different characters dealt with their different situations and learned to move on from it all.

This was a interesting book and brilliantly written. The author was thought outside the box to beable to write a book in letters format.

It was very unique.

We had 2 members rate the book with 5 stars, 4 members gave it 4 stars, and the other 2 members rated it with 3 stars. Interesting format using the letter writing. Personalities of characters came through easily with this format. Most members liked it even thought it took a while to get used to. Letter writing was much more common than now a days since phoning was difficult and computers nonexistent.

I enjoyed reading this book, but it did take awhile to get used to the style of writing. The story was interesting and as you read you wanted to know the characters more! The story did seem to end abruptly, but it wasn't disappointing.

Loved this book, enjoyed how it was well written, and kept my interest about that timeline. I would highly recommend this book to others to read in their book clubs, and i made a potato peel pie to go along w/ the discussion.

It was a beautifully told story written entirely in letters. I couldn't put it down and was very sad when it ended.

Read these letters between friends and acquaintances, and you too will want to move Guernsey Island in the English Channel and join the Society!

We loved the story the way it was written and the characters.

Inspirational....this book will tell you what things were like during the War, things we can't even imagine having to deal with today. Never heard of this place, but it is real and has great historical detail. Good for your book club.

We learned so much about the Nazi occupation of England with this book but it was also a heartwarming tale of the connection between people who love to read.

Juliet is a writer in London and she recieves a letter from a resident of Guernsey, a small island in the English Channel. And so begins the continued correspondence between Juliet and a group of friends on Guernsey. The book is comprised solely of letters back and forth from Guernsey to London.

The best word I can come up with to decribe this book is "charming." It is enjoyable. Some of the characters are adorable. But as one of my fellow book club members pointed out, they are too perfect. Even their quirks are too perfect. The ending is too perfect. It's all too perfect. I felt that the story lost a lot of impact due to the fact that it is written completely as letters. This format allows the author to tell random anecdotes about characters we know nothing about and will never meet again without feeling like you are being overwhelmed with random characters. But motives are lost. There isn't a lot of background to explain why the characters do what they do, the emotions they are feeling, what led them to where they are, what are their character flaws. It makes for a shallow story. I can definitely see this book being made into a Hollywood romantic comedy, and I don't think that's what the authors were going for.

I enjoyed the letter writing format of the story, although it seemed a bit contrived at times. Overall it was a delightful story regarding a subject I knew very little about, namely the German occupation of British soil during WWII. I did quite a bit of reading about Guernsey after reading the book.

Our book club read this book, and the majority of the women, who are closer to the WWII era than I, liked the book. I am interested in Guernsey Island and its wartime occupation and for that reason I recommend the book, but the story was not compelling and the heroine did not impress me as very real or memorable. Some readers may not care for the epistolary format of the book.

I couldn't put it down!

I picked this book up strictly because of the title. How can you not be interested in the Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society!!! I found the story behind the title to be a beautiful story of a woman who falls in love with a group of people who in all the important ways become her family. It is written as correspondence, so it moves quickly without lots of internal monologue. I made me laugh and cry and I found it to be a nice way to spend a weekend.

Overall, we found this to be a light read. Most of us enjoyed it, but those of us who read it over a longer period of time found the all-letters format a little confusing; trying to remember who wrote what to whom. Very interesting hostorical background.

I really did enjoy this book the characters, the setting, the plot, but I was expecting to be blown away by it with all the talk and hype surrounding it. Perhaps because historical fiction is my favorite I held it to too high of standards. Still a lovely and thoughtful read though.

Love that it is written in letters by the characters, makes for a good read. Great insight.

I loved it; loved the letter-writing style of the book; it provided a piece of history re Guernsey of which I was unaware; very insightful regarding issues with which ordinary people had to contend during this period. However, not all of our group feel the same regarding the style (letters) -- some felt it was confusing to keep track of the characters...

Very Good.

Written in the form of letters back & forth, this book tells the tale of the people of Guernsey in the Channel Islands during the German Occupation. It's a story of survival and strength and how a love of art, and more particularly a love of reading sustains one through a difficult time. It's a story told from a unique perspective and a different way of experiencing the pain and the sorrow suffered during the war and the occupation, as well as the strength,the rebuiliding and renewal of these people's lives after the war.

A great read and great for discussion!

The book soon made me forget the letter format and I was engrossed in the characters and story. The author shows insightful views of the human condition and did a wonderful job with character development.

Wonderful story about the trials and triumphs of the citizens of the Guernsey Island during the German occupation in WWII. Nice character creation and amazing choice of language. GOOD BOOK!!

I loved this Book. I loved the way the author entangled the history of the times and the characters.Each character had depth and was a vital part af the story. At first I had trouble reading the format of the letters. But I started to really enjoy that format

What a fun book. Lots of history and some sadness but you just wanted to board a plane and hop across the pond and meet the characters in person.

Love this book! Fun characters, informative facts, excellent story line.

I know this book has received glowing reviews from many quarters but it just wasn't my cup of tea. My mother-in-law (another avid reader) also read it and really didn't care much for it either. My next door neighbor was very interested to read it but once I gave it to her she just couldn't get into it and eventually gave it back to me unread. For me it was just slow, boring, and the style it was written in (letters back and forth from one person to another) just didn't do it for me. I finished it...but I really didn't care about it one way or another.

Once you start reading you won't want to put it down. I learned a lot about what happened in the Guernsey Isles during WW II that I didn't know about.

Overall I enjoyed this book, but I found the reliance on letters to tell the story a bit tedious. Also the characters weren't altogether convincing or even likeable.

I want to know these people! I want them to be real.

I absolutely loved this book. And I absolutely DID NOT want to read it when it was chosen as my book club's pick. What a pleasant surprise this was. The book isn't written in the normal writing style. It is written as letters or telegrams between the main characters. You will fall in love with the characters and the island of Guernsey. I also highly recommend the audio edition of this book. Absolutely delightful! Different characters are voiced by different speakers which makes the format of the book even more enjoyable.

This is the best book I've read all season! I've read it 3 times in a row (and I NEVER do that!) I just loved the characters as well as peaked my curiosity abut Isle of Guernsey...our book club all were ready to sign up for a flight to Guernsey. Delightful read...

This book tells of the experiences of Guernsey Island people during German occupation of WWII. Format is interesting-all letters to and from young journalist right after the war-They reveal her personal struggles to find herself and the collective experience of the Island people she comes to love and adopts as her own. Lots of emotional turmoil but overall a light read.

All of our members loved this book. While the topic of German occupation is not a light hearted topic, this book handles it in such a way that doesn't drag you down.

This may be the most charming book I've ever read. It sat on my book shelf for over a year...what a waste. I loved these characters and wanted them to be my friends, I wanted to join their community. I was hesitant about the way this book was written using only letters, but I soooo fell in love with it. It made me sad that the art of letter writing has died. Definitely read this book....don't roll your eyes because of the title. It is so worth your time.

But SUCH a good book. Once you get past the whole "letter format" context, it will become a delicious read you won't want to put down. I found it informative and touching all at once. HIGHLY recommend.

A great read. Loved the creativity of the characters.

This was a light, but most of us felt, pointless read in the end. It's really written at the level of a sort of modern romance without much romance. Don't really understand all the hype.

When I first started reading the this book, it took me a while to get into because it is written in a different format than I am used to. The first part of the book is written in 'letter style' and was confusing for me as I am used to a plot with a beginning, middle, and end. BUT, staying with it, I found this to be a very brilliantly written book which was both informative, in spiring, and entertaining. I highly recommend it.

I never knew that England had areas that were occupied by the German's during WWII. This book taught me a history lesson in an enjoyable way. Although the set up as letters seemed odd at first, later I hardly could wait for the next one. The author was great at character development. And the descriptions of the islands and the people were so good and enjoyable that you felt you were part of the book. This was a very sweet, likable book!

This was a really interesting book. Easy reading with characters you can relate to and I really like the letter writing format. It made feel like I was reading letter from friends.

This book is really good! You get sucked into the letters and story and I found myself wanting to get to know these people and be a part of their world. It also made me want to get out a pen and paper and write a letter to someone. I'd love to see this as a movie although I doubt film could capture the same feeling that these letters did.

Our club read this book after I had watched the British TV Series, "Island at War". Despite equivalent hardships, the characters in this story have a unique, optimistic approach to their situation.

It was interesting reading a book that consists entirely of letters. I loved the WWII history provided as part of the narrative. Had never read a book with this "angle" before. Book had an overall light and fun pace. Every character had distinct personalities that came across in their letters. Really enjoyed it.

Unique subject. Great characters. Good story. Learned about a place and circumstances I never knew about before.

this was a great read, it's written via a series of letters and is an easy to read book. For historical fiction it was one of the better, less gloomy ones, and is a great read for a book club

Mine is a different opinion of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.

I had been reading reviews of this book for a year or so. ALL raved, practically drooled.

Here's what I learned before I read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society: it is made up of a series of letters written after World II through which the reader will both fall in love with the people of Guernsey and learn history they probably never knew.

That's mostly true, except for the falling-in-love part. Because this book is a series of letters, the reader never really knows much about any one character. How can you fall in love with someone you don't know? I guess you could argue that people do all the time. But I don't really think so.

The fact is, the book is just plain silly and predictable. Also, because this book is written the way it is (as a series of letters), it never grabbed me and made me anxious to read more.

It's nice that it ended the way it did, but I'll bet you can guess the ending after you read the first few letters.

So why did this get such great reviews? I can only guess why, but it's obvious to me that most weren't honest.

Even though it was written as letters, the author wrote a beautiful story. We learned about a place we were not familiar with.

I wasn't sure about the format of letters, but I quickly got lost in the story. The letters allow you to gain insight to lots of different characters.

Loved the book

didn't like the style at all... sorry...

I loved the history in this book and the scenery of the Guernsey islands. I loved the way the story was told through letters. Unique point of view. I couldn't put it down.

I did not expect to like a book written this way but I LOVED it! The characters became people I cared about. At one point in the story I actually said, "NO!" and teared up. I eagerly read the book, desiring to know what would happen to these characters. Very informative too; I learned much about WWII that I did not know.

I was concerned that I might not like this book. I was so wrong! I loved the way it was written as a series of letters. Yes, you might not learn quite as much about some of the characters because of this format, but I found my own imagination kind of "filling in the blanks" where necessary. This was a really hard book to put down. I kept telling myself, "Just another letter, then I'll stop reading for now." But then, I'd find myself reading more and more! Also, it was nice to learn so much WWII history.

This was a fun, easy, and quick read. The book is written during WWII and a writer is looking for her next book subject. Juliet starts to correspond with a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb….

As Juliet exchanges letters with this man she has never met she is drawn into his world. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—has charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters.

Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.

Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways.

I enjoyed this book after I got into it and knew who all the characters were. It is amazing how the characters came to life when you only learned about them thru letters. It reminded me of the present, how people meet and get to know each other on the internet, but for some reason, letters seem more personal. Maybe we should all go back to the "snail mail". How exciting would it be to get something other than bills and junk mail!

This is a favorite of mine; terrific characters and funny, appealing narrative that drew me in. I usually don't like historical books like this but I really did not want it to end.

I was surprised to like this book so much! It took me a while to get all who all the characters were, but I liked the variety of their personalities. It was a light read, which also surprised me because of some of the heavier content.

Cute, fun easy read.

Our Book Club highly recommends this book. It was delightful and unique in that the story was told entirely by letters.

The book tells about writer Juliet Ashton. She receives a letter from a stranger. a founding member of the Guernsey Literary and Potatoe Peel Pie society. and so begins a remarkable tale of the Island of Guernsey during the German occupation, and of a society ordinary as its name.

I didn't know if I would like an entire book - a composition of letters, but... I really DID like it A LOT! It was an interesting look at life in the 40's and a great way to get to know more about all of the characters. Clever.

Our book club really enjoyed this book and it produced some lively discussions.

Absolutely a fabulous book to read for your book club. Did not want to put it down. Even those who did not want to read the book were glad they did. Great selection!

I enjoyed this book very much. It took the first 30 pages to know who was who. The letter-writing format was slow at first but then it revealed so much about the characters.

The fictional story depicts a part of history (WW2) from a new perspective. I personally like the 'letter writing' format but others did not.

This book is composed entirely of personal letters to one another, which gave it a personal touch. Very enjoyable!!

My book club loved this book! It was an awesome read! The book takes place on the Guernsey Islands during WW2, and the Hermans were occupying this British Island. You learn how the islanders coped during the occupation. This book has it all, romance, tragedy, it makes you laugh and cry! One of my all time favorites! A must read!

Wonderful read....had a problem with the style of the letter-writing at first, but then started over, slowed down, and really enjoyed the contents of the letters. Really explored the big moments and little moments that make up life along with a good history lesson.

Did not like the format at all. Not literary.

I think everyone enjoyed this book. We had great discussion questions(found on line) and one of our club members made a potato peel pie for our snack! She found the recipe on line!

totally awesome read.. little know story of occupation of Channel Isles.. a part of UK off the coast of France.
with pathos and humor

I enjoyed the story but also learned so many things about happenings in WWII that I had never known before.

Easy read, learned alot about the German occupation of the Channel Islands during World War Two. Made you question your own conscience and couarge.

This was such a unique story - beautiful lovable characters, interesting history, and a touching love story all wrapped up in one. Very enjoyable to read.

Loved this book! The discussion was full of all the adventures and characters that we grew to love from this wonderful story. What a creative way to tell the story through letters. Everyone enjoyed the story and they were glad we didn't make potato peel pie for the treat.

After reading this novel we all agreed that we would like to visit the Island of Guernsey in the English Channel. The authors created colorful, interesting characters who were able to survive German occupation during World War II through their wits and camaraderie.

We all enjoyed the book. How inventive to tell the story through correspondence. Learned a lot about WWII and the Guernsey Islands. Didn't want to put it down.

I learned so much about Guernsey and what was happening during the war. Interesting reading in the letter format. I felt this way a great way to get to know the characters in the book. Would definitely recommend.

A delightful exploration of the occupation of the Guernsey Islands during World War II and the effect on those left behind as well as their captors.Leaves you wanting more stories from others as well.

Excellent characters loved the format and historical setting. Great discussion

There are some that find it difficult to read an epistolary novel, but I enjoy the format and Ms. Shaffer and Barrows did a remarkable job of providing insight into one small community during WWII and after. I loved the different perspectives and characters developed via letters. I thought this was a fast-paced and engaging read.

I've read several books that are made up of nothing but letters and it is a difficult thing to pull off. This author did it beautifully and seamlessly. It had a strange resemblance to the book "The Readers of Broken Wheel Suggest" in that it was filled with colorful characters who were filled with rare honesty and a delight to spend time with. The story revolves around the occupation of Guernsey during WWII. The pages contain stories of raw emotion and the bonds of friendship and kinship that evolve during times of despair. The old saying that it takes a village to raise a child never rings more true than in this story.

This book gives insight to, perhaps, the first attempt at a book club and it was a thrilling adventure to watch non-readers discover the world of literature -- to find a way to remove themselves from the overwhelming stress of war and enter a world where life is easy, good wins over evil and the guy always gets the girl.

Even more entertaining was getting to know the simplistic lifestyle of the townspeople, discover their background and catch a glimpse of what you pray is in their future.

This whole book unfolds in letters. At first it was a little tedious but once the real stories start unfolding you don't even realize the narrative are missives among friends, and sometimes not so friendly. Probably one of the best ways I've read about World War II. Enjoyable and heart warming. A book like this would never work in our current context of emails, texts, and tweets, sadly.

How do you turn history into fake news? You make up a fakey story, fill it with fakey characters and call it an historical novel. Also, the perfectly perfect ending was telegraphed half way through the book. The one irony is that the "Ugly American" character is a very handsome man.

Wonderfully adorable characters and a lovely portrayal of an interesting moment in history.

I disliked the letter writing style. It was difficult to become engrossed in the plot.

I found the book difficult to follow and some points. My favourite character doesn’t appear until the end. I would recommend that bookclubs don’t watch the movie. The book is significantly better.

A great book about how a group of people can be brought together in such a dark time. I enjoyed that it was written in letters.

While I found this book to be witty and I certainly appreciated the authors’ uncanny ability to evoke the period, miming its manners and mannerisms - did find it tiresome at times. I learned so much about the occupation of the Channel Islands while reading this book - something I had only moderate knowledge of previously. This novel did force me to ponder the question or what was better, to live in a war zone or to live under occupation and I appreciate the opportunity to think about my deeper philosophical intuitions. In the end I decided that I’d rather die on my feet than live on my knees.

Some people loved it, some people found the letter style to be confusing. I loved it!

cute story. interesting idea to have the entire book written in letters. but the story didn't grab me.

Loved it

I had to watch the movie first just to make sense of the all the characters. Some book club listened to the book and said that was less confusing. I really enjoyed the movie and about halfway through the book started to enjoy it better! Has some nice historical learnings and really gives you a sense of what it was like during that time period.

Good book

I loved the narrators of audio book and the story.

I absolutely adored this book!

Since it was our first book, it was hard to understand the circumstances and story line but ended up really interesting and enjoyable book. Even studied about the world war 2 and the background of the story.