Book Review - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows

It's 1946. World War II has just ended, and the victims and survivors of the German Occupation are slowly gearing up for a new beginning, all the while dealing with the trauma of the war. Juliet, a columnist in London, is bored of writing the usual stuff and looks for something refreshing and different. She receives a letter from a certain Dawsey Adams from Guernsey, Channel Islands, informing her that he had come across a book with her name written on it, and asking her for information about bookstores in London. One letter leads to another, and gradually, Juliet gets introduced to the enigmatic and charming The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society which had its foundations over a roasted pig. Soon Juliet finds herself corresponding with its various members and over shared stories of grief, courage and hopeful beginnings, becomes a part of their community.

I am a huge fan of the epistolary form of writing (even if I weren't, this book would have converted me). It is amazing how an entire story, spanning years and generations, can be told purely in the form of letters - letters which are hilarious, poignant, heartbreaking, inspiring and beautiful, all at once. The events of the war mentioned in the stories broke my heart. The courage and resilience displayed by the survivors inspired me. The quick and witty banter between the members of the society, their quirky personalities and their experiences made me smile and also brought a lump to my throat. 

There is something hopeful about the end of a disaster (if I may say so) - a feeling of hope, of new beginnings and the chance to begin anew. There is also the trauma of deep and personal loss that nothing can ever replace. Under such situations, mutual friendships and community spirit come to the rescue, reminding of everything that is good in life. This book is based on such relationships that make life worth living, no matter how deep and irreplaceable our loss be. 

While all the characters are unforgettable, Elizabeth McKenna, although appearing only in the mentions of the society's members, dominates the story to a large extent. If I could get just a quarter of her courage and determination! Dawsey Adams is another character who is difficult to ignore. Although silent and shy, he owns every scene he is featured in. 

The romantic angle in the story deserves its own fandom. I won't let out spoilers for those who haven't read this book yet. But the romance is something to literally pine for. Clean, old-fashioned, pure and beautiful - the brief moments of budding romance that we can glimpse through the letters set up a very high standard for the romance genre. 

This book ended far too soon for my liking. I wanted it to keep going, letter after letter. 

This is definitely one of the best books that I have ever read, and I would recommend this to everyone, to every reader, and to every budding writer looking for stories to inspire and to share. Books like this come but once in a lifetime and leave us better versions of ourselves. Must, must, must-read, this one!