You may have seen the Netflix film starring Lily James about a picturesque island filled with charming people navigating life at the end of World War II. It’s a wonderful movie, but (as is often the case in my opinion) the book is even better.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society reads like a collection of letters sent back and forth between the various characters. Normally, I don’t really care for this style of narration, as I feel like it’s hard to immerse yourself in the world of the story. However, authors Shaffer and Barrows do the job magnificently. Their characters are human, witty, vulnerable, and likeable. These women write with honesty but also with an element of fantasy that juxtaposes the war-torn island of Guernsey with an almost fairytale-like element of natural beauty.
The story follows Juliet, a successful author, and her journey to the island of Guernsey via a spontaneous letter, a name scribbled in a book, and a shared love of reading. She connects with a literary society there, formed during the German occupation of the island, and her life (and theirs) is forever changed by that encounter. We join Juliet and a host of other well-fleshed out characters as they process the grief and horror of the war and begin to rebuild.
I found this book a poignant blend of delightful narrative and humor coupled with thoughtful insight into recovery and remembrance of the war. It takes a unique writing style to pull that off without making light of the tragedies war produces, and Guernsey does that well. You both laugh and cry… and that element of laughter makes the tears all the more meaningful. It’s as if you are recovering with these people in real-time: the humor in how absolutely awful a pie made of potato peels tastes, and the sobering realization that you only know that flavor because potatoes were the only thing to eat. It’s a beautiful combination.
This book provides a little something for everyone. There’s an element of romance, the heaviness of a World War II novel, the deep love between good friends that remains platonic (one of my favorite things to read about), and, best of all, a celebration of reading. I love a book that talks about how wonderful books are. Guernsey showcases how the forming of a literary society provided companionship, hope, and an escape during the occupation of the island. A book is what connects Juliet to the people and the stories that completely change her life. A love of reading can be a powerful thing.
Good writing can also be a powerful thing. Shaffer and Barrows brilliantly paint the world and breathe so much life into their characters that you learn to love them all. I almost always have my next read picked out before I finish my current one. With this book, I just wanted to linger a little longer. I’ll conclude with the brief review I penned right after I finished this story: “You know it’s a wonderful book when you continue to think about the characters and wish you were still spending time with them after the story ends.”
If you’re looking for an easy-to-read, yet beautifully written and delightfully enjoyable novel, this is a book for you.
Meredith
Copyright The Trust Estate of Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows and Random House, Inc. Image from Amazon.com.
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