The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

A Novel

By: Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows

Narrated by: Paul Boehmer, Susan Duerden, Rosalyn Landor, John Lee, Juliet Mills

Length: 8 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

Number-one New York Times Best Seller

Now a Netflix Film

A remarkable tale of the island of Guernsey during the German Occupation, and of a society as extraordinary as its name.

“Treat yourself to this book, please - I can’t recommend it highly enough.” (Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love)

“I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.”

January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb....

As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends - and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island - boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all. Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.

Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises and of finding connection in the most surprising ways.

Praise for The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society

“A jewel... Poignant and keenly observed, Guernsey is a small masterpiece about love, war, and the immeasurable sustenance to be found in good books and good friends.” (People)

“A book-lover’s delight, an implicit and sometimes explicit paean to all things literary.” (Chicago Sun-Times)

“A sparkling epistolary novel radiating wit, lightly worn erudition and written with great assurance and aplomb.” (The Sunday Times [London])

“Cooked perfectly à point: subtle and elegant in flavour, yet emotionally satisfying to the finish.” (The Times [London])

©2008 Marry Ann Shaffrer and Annie Barrows (P)2008 Random House, Inc.

Wonderful Listen

One of the best listens...totally engaging from the first moment. The book comes to life with several readers who made me forget my dull commute.

Narrators bring the book to life

This is a wonderful story that is significantly enhanced by the team of skilled narrators. At the end you feel as if you know the characters as individual friends.

I would like to see more multi narrator productions like these. This was a great listen for the whole family-- teens, parents and grandparents alike.

Wonderful performances

The written novel is a wonderful story, presented in a series of notes and letters by the protagonists, and set against WWII events and post war happenings. I have read the book several times, and cannot say enough good things about it. That said, listening to the letters being read by very fine radio actors has brought the story to heights I never imagined.
To date, there is only 1 other audible book that falls into the category of "best of the best", and that is Lonesome Dove (narrator, Lee Horsley).

Worth your money and time!

Where does The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is one of the best audiobooks I've listened to. It is funny and touching and the different narrators for each character adds to each characters story.

Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?

I truly loved each character. They are like friends I'd love to know. Each character had their own voice, their own story, and their own charm.

Any additional comments?

I was reluctant to read this book. I thought it was going to be boring. But it was a bookclub book so I read it. I loved it. It was so charming. It was heart warming and sad and hilarious all at the same time. Give this book a chance. It will be well worth your time and money.

Great Easy Listen

Perfect for the beach or a long drive.

Best book in a long time

This is the most delightful book that I have read in a long time. The background story of what happened on Guernsey during WWII is completely new to most Americans. The book is told in letter form with great humor and affection by a talented writer and features a group of marvelous characters, voiced by 4 actors. This book will be a delight to anyone who has ever enjoyed Charing Cross Road.

An Interesting Listen

I wasn't sure I'd like this book in the beginning - it's a far cry from the Thrillers I normally get - but I hung in there & ended up really enjoying it. I liked the multiple voices - especially that of the main character! But, I have to admit the stories of survival made me laugh, shake my head in amazement & brought me to tears at one point. An excellent book about small town people, survival, laughter, loving & caring. Recommended to everyone.

Wonderful, powerful story

Would you listen to The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society again? Why?

Yes, it was a beautiful story of survival and heartache.

What did you like best about this story?

The characters were very real and well performed by the talented cast.

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

It was much more of a performance than just reading the story. This is my first time listening to a story with multiple narrators. I usually enjoy the one narrator taking on the various characters but this was even more enjoyable.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There were many times that I was moved to tears by the storyline. It helped me to put life into perspective and realize how many precious things we take for granted.

Any additional comments?

I highly recommend this charming story but caution that there will be emotional portions throughout.

stumble at the finish line

The beginning of this book was a little hard to get through with all the characters being introduced. I recommend writing down the characters and a little snippet about them so you remember who they are when letters come up. The middle of the book is fabulous while it talks about the war in Guernsey and the lives of those that live there. That was probably my favorite part. Then it starts to go into a love story which would have been fine except there was no expansion on it and they kind of stopped talking about the war. I think they could have done a lot better - made the book a lot longer and added more history and more of the love story.

Wonderful character development

This is a must read. The characters in the book come to life and are delightful.