Comments on: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

By: France

France — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 07:08:27 +0000

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was fun to see the characters develop as you read each letter and response. A very quick read and so entertaining I hated to put it down.

By: Marguio

Marguio — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 10:13:52 +0000

Love it! And I’m bit excited about the movie adaptation billing Kate Winslet. I think she’s the best option out there for the role of Juliet. And maybe an Oscar again? why not!

By: N. Lundeen

N. Lundeen — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:09:36 +0000

Well, it is unusual that’s for sure. I found it easy to read but some
what difficult to keep a consistent “read” of the characters as the
“letters” jump about, here and there.
I would have preferred a novel type book with consistent characters.
However, on the whole the novelty of the book made it interesting,
but not something I would care to re-visit.

By: Barbara Duffy

Barbara Duffy — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 17:55:29 +0000

The lure and pull of this wonderful novel propelled my friend and I to Guernsey this fall, and we loved it! Our taxi driver told us the book’s stories were “mostly true” and we saw many of the places that were written about in the book. It is a beautiful country, and the legacy of the occupation and its horrors lingers strongly on the island today.

By: Serene

Serene — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 00:58:51 +0000

This book is a wonderful, wonderful read. I had borrowed this book from the library because it had on the cover, a bit of review from the Sunday Telegraph that said ‘When was the last time you read a book that made you feel really good?’ And I thought, ‘Hmmm, it’s been a long time!’

And you know, it does! It does make you feel really, really good. A book that comes alive as you read it, makes you laugh, makes you thoughtful and has wonderful characters in it who become your dear friends and when it’s finished, you just want to jump into the next boat to Guernsey…..

By: Kate F

Kate F — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 18:44:22 +0000

For anyone wanted more background on this excellent read, get hold of “Island Madness” by Tim Binding.
I quote: “Binding captures the essence of life under occupation with fine description of character and a taut plot … This is high-class fiction: tense, compassionate, surprise and moving.
Reviewed by Catherine Pepinster, Independent on Sunday.

By: Didimoe

Didimoe — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 17:12:24 +0000

I totally loved this book. It brought me to tears, made me laugh and just made me feel sooooooo alive.

Thank you Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows for your gift.

Mary Ann left a gift of love that will always have a place in my heart.

I believe this book has made me a better person and I definitely appreciate life more.

By: Helen G

Helen G — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 14:03:08 +0000

Imaginative and historically accurate, I came across this lovely book as a result of having read another book by a first time writer, Gwen Southgate, a now 81 year old lady living in NJ. Gwen’s book Coin Street Chronicles, is a memoir of a childhood growing up in London in the 1930s and 1940s with extraordinary detailed memory and gift for writing. It leaves in the imagination such a clear picture, at times enchanting, at times sad, sometime funny, as the Guernsey book does.

By: chazz jorflin

chazz jorflin — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 02:03:58 +0000

I LIKE EGGS JIMMY!
I WANT YOU TO FRY SOME TURKEY GOBLETS FOR SUE!
BEANS!!!!!! R GOOD!!

By: Phyllis

Phyllis — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 21:42:20 +0000

A friend loaned me this book–so charming and engaging, I relished every page.

Just the idea of letter-writing has such strong appeal for me; in an era of instant everything, the thought of putting pen to paper and having a thoughtful time connecting with a friend is so refreshing and completely real.

Reminded me a bit of the letter-writing in the Griffin and Sabine books, which I also thought were very clever and engaging (and really terrific art!).

By: Julia Catherine Dawson

Julia Catherine Dawson — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:52:41 +0000

Sorry I should use spell check more often…….I ofcourse meant to say ‘That Special Person’

Whoops – Julia

By: Julia Catherine Dawson

Julia Catherine Dawson — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:49:31 +0000

I have this book so much that it was finished in one day.
Then passed it to my daughter who also read it in one day.

I so would have loved to meet these’people’. I have started writing my name in books I give away hoping to meet that specail person!!!!

By: Max Johnson

Max Johnson — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 10:57:36 +0000

I’m a Brit, male and I liked the book. Mostly! I thought the device of using letters to unfold the narrative worked well, and for most of the book the letters were used cleverly to alter the mood and pace. I liked the unusual setting, and the idea of using different styles of writing to introduce different characters to the stage. I was pleased that this little corner of the War, where there was no American presence was written about by an American, because that is unusual.
However, I thought it a bit naive in places. For example, No Brit would have expressed surprise that it was illegal to keep an un-registered pig. That was required on the British mainland, let alone occupied Guernsey. Rationing was severe, but I felt that the deprivation on the Channel Islands was rather understated. They were starving. I felt that the Islanders tended to speak with the same, rather quirky, yokel voice. I understand that this helped to underline the paradox of an unsophisticated, provincial community suddenly reading and critisising Seneca and Yates in such a sophisticated way! I just felt that they all seemed to be the same eccentric person after a while. I agree that Pride And Prejudice was knocking rather loudly at the door but as someone else pointed out, it could have been intentional (Isola actually mentions it at the end of the book), and maybe not responding to it is a ‘bloke’ thing. I thought that the pace became very uneven towards the end (for perhaps obvious reasons). I thought that Elizabeth, whom we never meet but is at the centre of nearly every plot-line was used to very clever effect (although in reality she would have been villified by the community and after Liberation, had she survived, would probably have been literally tarred and feathered as a ‘Jerry Bag’). So, for me, it was something of a curate’s egg.
Apologies for taking up so much space – I really enjoyed it!

By: Debra Harding-Morris

Debra Harding-Morris — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 22:21:51 +0000

An absolute peach of a book. A book to fall into and enjoy….the only problem bing that it ends too soon. An excellent plot. Likeable characters. A must read!

By: DBaker

DBaker — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 20:43:26 +0000

A quick read and extremely entertaining! Those that want to ‘pick’ the book apart must have an undeveloped artistic side and also be missing an emotional chord which this book strikes continually…empathy should prevent anyone from disliking this book (IMHDAO) Sincerely, D Baker

By: David Hain

David Hain — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 11:53:35 +0000

I am just 40% through the novel and enjoying it. Before I forget, I wish to point out that, despite the fact that nearly all of the letter writers are English, they use American spelling. In 1946, when England and the Channel Islands and the rest of the world had not yet become Americanized, they would not do that. They are probably all victims of Spell Check. I also noted that in her letter of 1948 April 18, Isola uses the word “fulsome” in its ancient or very modern sense of “abundant” as opposed to its 1948 version of “excessive or insincerely lavish.” Things for the editors to consider.

By: VEN KAT WARREN.M.D.

VEN KAT WARREN.M.D. — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 01:33:55 +0000

I HAVE BEEN TO GUERNSEY ! TERRIBLE PLACE !! GOOD ONLY FOR THE COWS AND THE FARMERS !! THE BOOK IS TERRIBLE AND COMPARING THIS TO PRIDE AND PREJUDICE IS A TERRIBLE INSULT TO JANE AUSTEN !! THOSE WHO “ENJOYED” THIS BOOK DOESN’T KNOW THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND THE LITERATURE ,I AM AFRAID !! I RECOMMEND THAT THEY READ “THE POSSESSION” BY A S BYATT FOR A CHANGE TO TRULY UNDERSTAND THE CLASSIC ENGLISH LITERATURE ! I REST MY CASE . VEN KAT WARREN.M.D.

By: Kae

Kae — Fri, 28 May 2010 17:48:34 +0000

Loved the discriptions of the island! This book has made me
want to visit the Channel Islands. Many thanks to the authors!

By: B

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 17:24:43 +0000

I found that this boook was good and a quick read. The letters were a great insight into the characters and setting

By: Jane Cheek

Jane Cheek — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 22:52:42 +0000

The first half of the novel was most engaging. After Juliet goes to Guernsey, I found myself flipping pages to see if the plot would unfold through narrative instead of letters. I began to lose interest…..hope that I am not a troubled soul, Meg.

By: Lyn

Lyn — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 05:39:40 +0000

I’ve just finished reading this novel and found it highly engaging from start to finish. I loved it.

My only quibble would be I found the foreshadowing of the central love story heavy-handed, from the start (maybe designed to mimic features of the 18th novel, like Pride and Prejudice – and hence wholly successful?).

I thought the understated, gut-wrenching portrayal of the Guernsey war realities was particularly well handled.

Is this chic-lit? I see possibly only one comment from a male. Are there men out there who have loved this novel, too?

By: norma

norma — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:55:12 +0000

I just finished reading this book in the new digital format offered by the Library of Congress’ National Library Service for the Blind and Visually Impaired. The clarity and listenability of this format is absolutely wonderful, and the female narrator was extraordinary in her ability to represent the various colorful characters. The book delighted me, though I felt that the ending was a bit contrived. I, too, wish that the author could be with us to read so many enthusiastic comments.

By: Hendrik Gideonse

Hendrik Gideonse — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 02:44:25 +0000

My partner and I listened to the book on audio “performed” by an absolutely first-rate English cast as we drove to Boston from Maine and returned the next afternoon. When we were done we could identify all the characters by name, were struck by our familiarity with most of the literature discussed, and our new-found familiarity with the Guernsey surroundings. A total delight!

By: M-H

M-H — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 09:03:01 +0000

I’m afraid I agree with Elle and Penelope. It is a rather saccharine little book, and the tone of the early letters really gave me the pip! I’m sure that people never really spoke like that – no-one I have ever known did, whether they were English or not.

However, I think it will have a role in letting people know more about the terrible things that happened to ordinary people in Europe during and just after WWII. Juliet says that most Americans didn’t seem touched by the war, and maybe this book will help with that gap. I agree with the recomendation for the Foyles War TV series – they are much grimmer and more realistic than this book.

By: Monica

Monica — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:32:40 +0000

My sister (a prolific reader)gave me this book for Christmas this year. I am so very glad she did. I loved it, I could not put it down, read it in one day.
Unfortunately I just found out there will be no sequel. How sad Ms. Shaffer has passed. But all the same I thank her and Ms. Barrows for this wonderful book.

By: Penelope G

Penelope G — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 11:59:29 +0000

I must be troubled because I agree with Elle Low. I was well disposed towards the book to begin with and I went on to find the information about the German occupation fascinating. But the simple, good-hearted locals (with their natural affinity for classical literature)and the ludicrous romantic ending! Oh dear. I ended up feeing as if I’d read a pastiche of Dodie Smith (whose books I enjoy). We can’t all like the same thing and obviously this book gave a lot of people a lot of pleasure. But let’s not go over the top.

By: Meg B. Hoobrozy

Meg B. Hoobrozy — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:17:41 +0000

I feel sad for Elle Low. If you didn’t enjoy and adore this book, you must be troubled.

By: Elle Low

Elle Low — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:31:22 +0000

I find it very depressing that so many grown ups rave about this book. It is really a children’s book, a bit like the Horrible Histories – perhaps for ladies – in the mould of Ladies and Home. The characters are [honey, the situations silly. The tall handsome hero, although a German, his golden hair singles him out as different and his lover Elizabeth, so perfect except she fraternized with the Germans…

It’s fair enough for someone to write the book but it’s truly a bad piece of literature.

By: Ruth Walker

Ruth Walker — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:46:58 +0000

A warm and cheering cup of tea. Just the thing for difficult times and yes, it does come close to being a bit too sweet at times but somehow, stops just short of it so that we fall back into the truth of the tale. Given the stark reality and terrible places we sometimes had to visit, a touch of sugar was welcome more often than not.
Rich and gorgeously full characters and placed into settings that are so well drawn I can close my eyes and see it all. As to the comments about the speed of letters — I understand in the UK at the time there was a morning post and an afternoon post, so that you mailed your question in the morning and had your reply in the afternoon. In the 1920s, my grandfather proposed an elopement to my grandmother in just such a fashion.
I did not want this book to stop. It ended too quickly but I smiled nonetheless. Lovely. Just lovely.

By: Donna in Florida

Donna in Florida — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:34:21 +0000

Have read the book twice. It was recommended by a friend but is also on the reading list of a wonderful series of literary lectures given each year by Elaine Newton at the Naples Philharmonic. First time I could not read fast enough as I so enjoyed the story. The second time was on a trip by plane and I read slowly so it would last. We have a wonderful library system and I was interested enough by some of the letters to read Seneca’s letters, some of the World War I poetry mentioned, as well as dipping into Lamb. Am planning to reread the book before it will be discussed at the December lecture. It is truly a book for those who love to read.