January 1946: Writer Juliet Ashton receives a letter from a stranger, a founding member of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. And so begins a remarkable tale of the island of Guernsey during the German Occupation, and of a society as extraordinary as its name.
Published: 2008
Genre: Epistolary Novel, Historical Fiction
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Aww this book! Somehow it manages to read as a 'feel good' novel despite its subject matter of post war reminiscence about Guernsey's German Occupation. It made me laugh out loud on many occasions. It's filled with the British sense of humour and the war time spirit of keeping calm and carrying on. There's romance, there's practicalities, there's tragedies faced with friendship and an enduring community spirit. And...there's dozens of references to books! Perhaps it's title should have given me a clue, but this is quite literally a book for book lovers. The references to books and titbits of knowledge revealed about various authors satisfy the interest of the characters who are part of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, but also us as readers.
It's so endearing when a story can be woven and revealed through a compilation of letters. I admire the authors' ability to write this way without leaving huge gaps in time unaccounted for, or questions unanswered. Letters are uniquely personal things, and by presenting the book in this way, I found instant insight into the characters that normally would have revealed itself more gradually throughout a novel. For this reason I'm always instantly engaged by Epistolary novels.
It's even more satisfying when this is done as a seamless collaboration between two authors. There is no distinction between their writing that I could detect. Both story and characters are fluid throughout.
As a history lover, I do enjoy a well written Historical Fiction. I enjoy learning about various periods of history without the stiffness or detachment of non-fiction delivery. There's something about the Second World War that always captures my attention. It's humanity's ceaseless strength during a period of time that could only be described a devastating and horrific. So much loss and destruction was witnessed and endured, yet everyone carried on stoically. So much of this is captured in this novel, and relayed so well.
I pride myself on being quite knowledgeable about the war years, and though I knew Guernsey Island was occupied by the Germans from 1940, I knew very few details about what went on during this terrible occupation.
My knowledge, therefore, was comparable to that of Juliet's in the book, who begins to correspond with various members of the Literary and Potato Peel Pie society after the war by chance, and requests details about their lives during the occupation and the general situation on the island to compile into an article.
It's inspired me to do my own research and find out more to fill this blip in my 1940s knowledge.
When a book can inspire you into more reading I consider it a success in every way.
I can't believe it took me so long to find this novel, but like Juliet says in one of her letters, "Perhaps there is some secret sort of homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers."
Maybe now was the time for this book to find me.
I thoroughly recommend treating yourself to this story and exploring Guernsey both during and after the war through the eyes of its characters.
Thank you for reading everyone, let me know your thoughts on this book if you have read, or decide to read. You can find me in between blogs on Instagram and Facebook @zuzuspages
Zuzu 🖋
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