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

You might enjoy this book if you are a romantic with an interest in wartime love stories. You might enjoy this book if you are a history buff, particularly the German occupations during World War II. You might enjoy this book if you can appreciate fine writing and the craft of letter correspondence. You most certainly will want to read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer if those attributes define you as a reader.

Like me you could be a reader that "tastes" many books. I come home from the library with tall stacks, lots of genres. I'm not sure if any of them will draw me in so I take home several. I first learned of this book during a lunch conversation with a fellow teacher. She highly recommended it so I placed a hold on it from my public library. I began to read it and put it down - it wasn't connecting with me. I returned it to the library unread. Oh well. Fast forward a couple months to a beach-side party Up North. Once again friends asked if I had read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. "Oh, you must read it. It's great!" I was told. Resolved to give it another try, I checked it out again from the library and determinedly began to read. This time I did not put it down. It was not a favorite for me but I did enjoy it enough to keep reading, hoping for more.

Mary Ann Shaffer, the author, has woven a series of letters between her main character, Miss Juliet Ashton, and her various friends and colleagues. The letters are written post World War II and entwine stories of the German Occupation of Guernsey, a Channel Island in the English Channel north of France. We learn not only of the hardships the people of Guernsey endured but also of Miss Ashton's search for meaning and love in her life. The story is tender and peaceful in spite of the war time. The characters will become your friends. This story is about connections we make with those around us and the strength we find in our friendships. Give this one a try, or two.

Reviewed by Mrs. Boehm