The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, By Annie Barrows and Mary Anne Shaffer
(Reviewed by Jane)

I loved this book!  It’s set in post-WWII, London, where writer, Juliet is searching for something to write about, when she stumbles into a correspendence with first one, then numerous inhabitants of the small island of Guernsey.  Guernsey is off the British coast and was occupied by the Germans, during the war. 

Juliet is delightful and a smart-aleck, which is probably why I enjoyed her so much.  The whole book is a series of letters between her and the various characters in her life, but most importantly, the colorful members of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, who formed, when some of the folks on the island were caught outside, after curfew, buy the occupying German soldiers.

I have to admit that my knowledge of the history of WWII, is limited, other than the obvious stuff about D-Day, the Holocaust, etc., but the horror that people in Great Britain (and other countries) suffered, with the bombings, occupation, rationing, etc. was really what this book is all about, but it’s not a sad, horrible story.  In fact, it does deal with that awful time in history, but in a very human way, and that is with humor. … (more…)