It is 1946, and London is just emerging from World War II. Author Juliet Ashton is struggling with her new book, “English Foibles”, about the Society to Protest the Glorification of the English Bunny.  In a letter to her publisher Sidney Stark, she admits that her head and heart are not in it.  However, she receives a letter from Dawsey Adams of Guernsey in the Channel Islands. He found her address in a work of Charles Lamb and hopes she can help him learn more about Lamb.  During an exchange of letters, Juliet learns of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, a book club formed as an alibi to protect its members from arrest during the German occupation of Guernsey. Intrigued by the group and its members, Juliet sails for Guernsey to learn more.

            A former librarian and editor, Mary Ann Shaffer always wanted to write a book that would actually be published.  (I know the feeling.)  During a trip to England, she flew to Guernsey on a whim.  A thick fog stranded her in Guernsey airport for a lengthy period of time.  While waiting in the airport, she read every book in the bookstore, including “Jersey under the Jack-Boot” and became fascinated with the German Occupation of the Channel Islands. The “Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society”, resulted from that forced lay-over.  Written in an epistolary format, the story and the setting come alive through the letters of the characters.

Okay, I must fess-up.  Before I read this book, I had no clue where the Channel Islands were, and as far as I was concerned, Guernsey was a just cow.  I was surprised to learn the Channel Islands were off the coast of France, not the British Isles, and Guernsey was an island and not just a cow.

Back to the book, the correspondence begins between Dawsey Adams of Guernsey and Juliet Ashton.  In his first letter Dawsey says, “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society came into being because of a roast pig we had to keep secret from the German soldiers….”  Naturally, Juliet wants to know what a roast pig had to do with German soldiers and a book club.  One thing leads to another and Juliet begins receiving letters from members of the Society.  She learns that the Society began as a ruse when the Germans discovered the “society” members out after curfew.  Once the Germans believed the islanders were meeting weekly to discuss books, it became necessary to meet weekly to discuss books.  Sometimes the Germans even took part in society meetings, but usually left confused. 

            Following are a few selections from the letters and provide a sense of the book.

            Isola Pribby writes of her love for the Bronte sisters and especially “Wuthering Heights”.  “I don’t believe that after reading such a fine write as Emily Bronte, I will be happy to read again Miss Amanda Gillyflower’s ‘Ill Used by Candlelight’.  Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad books.”  She also states,  “I could tell you more about reading and how it perked up our spirits while the Germans were here.”

            Eban Ramsey writes, “I had not zest for such matters [reading] in those days.  It was only by fixing my mind on the Commandant and jail that I could make myself to lift up the cover of the book and begin.”  His first book was “Selections from Shakespeare”.  He says, “Mind you, I cannot always make sense of what he says, but it will come.”

            Clovis Fossey writes, “At first, I did not want to go to any book meetings.”  While courting the Widow Hubert, he came to believe that poetry would win her heart, “So I thought—If it’s rhymes the Widow Hubert wants, I will find me some.”

“The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society” by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows is a heart-warming book and “…a celebration of the written word in all it guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways.” If you’re curious about how “Potato Peel Pie” became part of the society’s name, read the book.

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