The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society

Title: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society

Author: Mary Anne Shaffer and Annie Borrows

Publication date: 2008

Book's setting: 1946

Random facts: The story is told letters and correspondences.

Plot summary: The main character is Julie Ashton, a middle-aged columnist trying to start a new novel after WWII. A Guernsey local, Dawsey, writes because he owns a used book that has her name in it, and a friendship is formed. Dawsey tells Julie about the trials that the islanders went through during the Germany occupation, including an odd sort of literary society that was formed by mistake, but affected his entire town. It is a very sweet book and incredibly well plotted. I suppose it is a historical romance first and foremost, but it manages to move past that label and into some sort of more cerebral literary class.

Favorite aspects: Guernsey has a seriously amazing host of characters. You meet snooty Londoners, German soldiers, sweet old maids, quirky young woman, and droll publishers. In that sense it is a very "British" sort of book with fond stereotypes and an ensemble cast. The sweetest part of the book is the romances between a German soldier and a local Guernsey girl. It's a very blink-and-you'll-miss-it romance, told from other people's perspectives and hidden within the subtext of the book. I actually read the bulk of the book twice, and was pleased to catch all the subtle scenes and sweet lines that were hidden from me the first time round. The book's format makes it more challenging to read, but also more compelling. The authors did an excellent job creating distinct voices for their character's correspondences.

Least favorite aspects: I really did not like Julie. I thought the story could have been better told without her in the center of it all, although I completely understand why it was set up that way. Guernsey is so close to brilliance... yet just a tiny bit off-center. I believe that Julie kept the book firmly rooted in the "romance" genre when it should have fallen more into "historical drama" territory. But that is just my opinion. I am sure other readers will adore Julie.

Other works it reminded me of: Madensky Square by Eva Ibbotson; anything by Rosamunde Pilcher.

Sadie's merciless break-down: Okay, so this book confused me. It made me feel like some sort of freaking Anglophile, and I am decidedly not an Anglophile. It takes a lot for me to want to drink tea out of tiny china cups and run around in pastures and wear thick navy stockings. This book had what it takes. Despite the fact that Julie was a bore it transcended nice British literature into a much more terrifying realm of OMG ENGLAND WHAT IS THIS COUNTRY OF MAGIC AND CHARM!? I read it on a plane, flying home from Florida. In the airport I had half a mind to sneak onto the next flight to London. It was a scary feeling.
Also in my head Christian looks just like Devon Woodcomb from Chuck. This fact is irrelevant when it comes to the quality of the writing, but hopefully I have just put an image in your head you will never be able to remove. So go watch some Chuck, feel the Devon love, read Guernsey, and hold onto your hats, because the Anglophile germs will have colonized your SOUL.

Recommendation rate: If you like British stuff and WWII this is a must read. Otherwise you can skip it.