The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Random House Reader's Circle Deluxe Reading Group Edition): A Novel Kindle Edition

It’s difficult times for everyone. WWII, Hitler, and Germans occupying Guernsey. How does Juliette get there? Become friends with everyone and yes fall in love!?

The Random House Reader’s Circle edition has an additional 80 pages of annotations which makes it really interesting (and has opened my eyes to some of the more hidden atrocities that took place - like all the famous/popular companies that used slave labor during WWII). There’s some very cool info from the authors at the end that provides you with a bit more insight into their own lives. It also includes book club discussion questions, which is perfect since this is the book my book club chose!The book is written in the form of letters and telegrams to and from Juliet Ashton, her publisher/friend, her best friend from school, a potential love interest, and the Guernsey islanders, as she moves away from her position as a highly popular, humorous wartime columnist to branch out into writing a more serious book on something she’s passionate about, although she’s not quite sure what that is yet. At least, not until a chance letter from Dawsey Adams sparks that passion within her and she’s drawn into Guernsey island life after the German Occupation and the events that unfolded during said Occupation between a group of friends and near-strangers who ultimately grow into the family that none of them knew they needed or wanted.I was surprised by just how different the movie was from the book, since the movie is what inspired me to pick up the book. The movie takes a lot of liberty with events in the book that really didn’t need it other than to create more cinematic drama, imo. That’s not to say that I didn’t thoroughly enjoy both of them for the lovely creations they are.

The use of letters is interesting yet not off putting at all. Reading the version w annotations is both helpful and a bit annoying. Kind of interuptive yet adds dimension to the story's theme. Highly recommend this version.

It is rare that I read a book more than once. I have read this book 3 times. It has been the subject for discussion twice in our own "literary club. It is historical fiction about WW II . It's snail mail method in unfolding the story line was nonetheless gripping in the telling, post WW II, of life during the war for an isolated and occupied part of the British people . The authors ' ability brings to life an "old" topic with researched precision and colorful characters who show their courage and wit under extreme circumstances.The retelling of history gives me hope for our future.

First I saw the movie on Netflix and was enchanted. Then went looking and found the book. I never thought I would enjoy a book that tells its story through a series of letters. I could hardly put it down. The letters are written so well with the right amount of details that it was if I living there with Juliet. To me a great book is one in which I get to be part of the story. Admittedly as a bystander but still there. Now I am going to watch the movie again and because I have read the book I will be even more involved.

With the advent of the Netflix movie, I decided to read this great book again. I forgot how much I loved it, and I'm calling this my favorite book at the moment. It's an epistolary, written entirely of letters to and from the characters. I wondered how they would handle that in the movie, and I found I liked the movie and the book equally. There is more information to be found in the book about the occupation of the Nazis on the Isle of Guernsey. I wish there could be a sequel to the book, but (spoiler!) once the MC hooks up with her love interest, there doesn't need to be any more letters. It's a book you think about for days and weeks after reading it, and it's on my "read again" list to read even once more in the future. I think I've read it three times now.

I am so happy I pressed play on a random movie that seemed like a partial Downton Abbey reunion two days ago. I’m even happier if originated from this book. Thank you!

Where to start ! This book is a gem, the location (the ISLE OF Guernsey ) is a delightful place and even though the story takes us there in a sad time (German occupation during WW2 ) this islands charm cannot be diminished. The characters are perfectly developed and this reader came to love them all. Each one is made so beautifully vivid that I found myself becoming totally immersed in them all and in the complex web of lives lived under war conditions. The book has everything; humor, sadness, suspense and heaps of charm. I loved the format of the lives of the Guernsey Society members being told through letters written by the main character to friends. This style has the affect of creating a degree of intimacy as though the reader is looking over the shoulder of the letter writer and discovering her world while the readers role becomes that of an eavesdropper. One gains a Birdseye view as well of life in Great Britain during the war. Everything we have ever heard or read about the strength and resolve of the British people during their "darkest hour " is epitomized in each of my wonderful new friends who are so skillfully brought to life by Mary Ann Shaffer in this winner book which is also so well written it is a pleasure to read

The greatest fault this book has is its length - far far too short. One can only hope that greed, avarice, worldwide demand - whatever! - will drive the co-author, Annie Barrows, to channel her aunt's voice once more in a sequel! Or - a prequel? Guernsey leading up to the moment the GL&PPPS is created...I think I would love that even more...perhaps starting as far back as the little child on the road who is met by a man in a carriage.

While the letters skip around some, it keeps it interesting as you never know who will write to Julia next. Each writer has an abundant amount to say about life on the island during the German occupation and how they stayed healthy and sane and fed.I recommend this read.

I've read this book a number of times, and will probably read it again. Love the characters, the history. It is very moving, humorous, entertaining and enlightning.

Loved this book! Read it twice

Great read, couldn’t put it down. Learned some things from WWII I didn’t know.