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.

LOVED THIS BOOK

What did you love best about The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society?

Charming, lovely, reminds me of the old "All Creatures Great and Small" series.

What did you like best about this story?

The characters. Wonderfully written folks.

Any additional comments?

The readers are marvelous. It's an epistolary novel and each voice is distinct and so nicely realized. A joy to listen to.

loved again

Read first b/c my sister. Again b/c my daughter. Loved it both times. Will again

Such a lovely story

Absolutely loved the story. Was so fun to have multiple voice actors for all the different parts. has become a new favorite book

Keep track of the characters

What did you like best about The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society? What did you like least?

It felt like a slow start but the humanity that it brings to what it was like during and after WWII includes stories of humor, heart break, and twists.

Loved it!

On the surface a simple presentation of letters between unpretentious people. These letters reveal the intimacies of a closely knit island society which is forced to deal with the iniquities of being invaded and occupied for five years by the German army during World War Two. There are deeply moving stories of privation and courage. There are gentle themes of the search for truth in love. Compassion, judgmentalism, innocence, torment, There is innovation, ingenuity and wonderful eccentricity. And there is the painful ambiguity of people forced to be enemies when their humanity over-rides this dreadful imperative.

Blended throughout is the appreciation of reading, largely presented in a non academic and appealing manner, .

Delightfully presented with a cast of involved and quality readers.

Love at first listen

The voice actors really brought the story to life. I laughed, I cried, I listened to two people fall in love while living in and overcoming the aftermath of WWII. A wonderful story told in a unique way.

Loved It

I loved the way that each character writing a letter has a different voice. Creates so much character, I loved the book in general also, it was a fantastic, well written and captivating novel ❤

Great Book

this book just made me Happy! Every time I picked it up to listen to I was smiling. It's a very refreshing read!

Loved, loved, loved it!

The narration was delightful. I laughed out loud several times as the characters' unique and quirky personalities shone through. I will very likely listen to this many more times on road trips or just when I need apick-me-up. SO ENJOYABLE!

Sweet, lovely, pleasant listen

After listening to a handful of pretty heavy books, I needed something light and romantic, while still slightly educational, and this book was perfect. It is cleverly told through letters, which I loved, because it was easy to pause if I was distracted. The story was beautifully written, very innocent in the midst of a horrid time in Europe, a bittersweet story that gives a mid-30's guy or gal hope for a simple, good love after experiencing the worst. The readers were fantastic, too.