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.

Can listen to this over and over!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society to be better than the print version?

The audiobook really draws you into the story! It's easy to visual the characters and their story!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This does a great job of telling the WWII story for a new point of view. The story of the Tolt workers broke my heart!

Any additional comments?

Great book! Can listen to it over and over again!

Neat story

I found the most interesting part of this book to be the post war atmosphere of the people and places of the story.

Fun Read

What a WONDERFUL read with amazing character developments and different narrators to bring the cast to life. Told through letters, it was innovative and fun.

Loved it

This was a lovely little book, heart warming and informative and a very interest insight in to an island at war.

So rich in being genuine, funny, sad & refreshing

I so enjoyed hearing the different speakers for each character. It made it come alive.

Charming story with historical roots

I learned so much about the occupation and about life in Europe just after the war but it was on the sly, wedged in amongst a charming love story with a whipsmart and likable heroine. I’m not ashamed to admit I cried in places, realizing what the people on Guernsey went through during the occupation and listening to the immediate and confronting way the authors dealt with survivors (and casualties) of the camps. Yet I also laughed - imagining the won’t-take-no-for-an-answer American suitor and Sydney’s fresh wisdom and dry humor. John Booker drinking his way through his lordship’s wine cellar, for one example, made me cackle in my car. (Apologies to anyone at red lights with me who may have thought I was having some sort of fit.) Juliet is a female lead I can support, full of energy and strength, with a deep and abiding sense of empathy that makes you root for her. The audio performance was wonderful - read by voice actors who made me feel like I was watching a play, so immersed was I in their stories. This is a purchase you will not only not regret, but listen to again and again. Well done by all!

Addictive

This is by far the best book I have listened to on audible. The characters are endearing. The story line is riveting. This is a must listen for those who enjoy quality writing.

I wanted to go to Guernsey as soon as I finished!

I loved this charming tale. I read a lot of WWII fiction, and I appreciated the accurate portrayal of some of these events. I had to know if Guernsey was real. That is how wonderfully built this story is; I wanted to go there as soon as I finished listening. It took me a chapter or two to get used to the different voices for the different characters, but by 1/4 of the way through I was so grateful that it was narrated that way. The author did an amazing job of researching for this story and giving each character their own "personality". It really felt like you were reading letters written by different people in the aftermath of WWII. For the most part, the narrators were great. The story starts out a little slow and you don't realize you are reading a romance until you are half-way through. If you like happy endings, I promise this is one to read. Give it a chance; you will love it.

I loved this book!

I laughed, I cried, I beat the floor!
I was sorry when it ended.
Excellent!

great book! great audio recording!

thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook. different people represented different characters. charming accents. made the story come to life.