Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Genre: Historical Fiction
People who should read this: If you enjoy letter structured stories or stories based during WWII with a strong female lead that makes up her own mind. Community driven stories with a large cast.
“But that is like wishing I were someone else. The war is now the story of our lives, and there’s no subtracting it.”
I really wanted to like The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Potato Peel Pie for short), but it had two things against it from the start. First off, the entire book is told through letters, not something that I’m particularly fond off. The reason I read is to be immersed. I want strong emotions, characters’ wants, desires, and setting, all of which are hard to represent in a letter. For me, they always come out a little cold and distant. And the second reason, I’m not a fan of stories based during WWII. You would think I would stop reading them then, but I don’t. I’m drawn to them as much as I despise them. They’re always so sad, and not in a good way. There’s enough crime and pain happening in the world right now that I don’t want to be reminded of the kind that happened years ago. And Potato Peel Pie doesn’t hold back.
“Perhaps there is some secret sort of homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.”
The book is based around Juliet, an author on her first book tour when she receives a letter from a stranger living on Guernsey Island. He happened upon a book she used to own, and since their whole island was cut off from the world during the war, he was hoping she could help him track down a few more books. This starts a curious discovery of the people on the island who started a book club to survive the war, literally. Juliet plays the main source for the letters, but a wide range of characters make an appearance.
And the characters are a huge reason the book is so well done. Each one is unique. They have very clear voices on the page, almost jumping right out at you. The reader gets a clear idea of what it was like living under the German occupation. How they all starved, froze, and watched monstrosities play out as the Germans thought they could just make a quick jump over to England. And yet, with all of this pain so strongly shown, there’s a humor in the characters that gives them depth and helps them to appear more human - even in the silly letter format. Which I think is the reason the book became such a hit.
“I don't want to be married just to be married. I can't think of anything lonelier than spending the rest of my life with someone I can't talk to, or worse, someone I can't be silent with.”
But to enjoy the characters, you must get through the first third of the book. This is where the characters are introduced. After that, they get to rule the show and then it’s less about Juliet and more about the island. There’s a lot of history about the island and the war thrown in. The book felt well researched, though I did not fact check anything, so don’t take me at my word.
There was just one tiny detail that I couldn’t get past. There’s a small child on the island, I’ll leave it there, and the child is allowed to live with Juliet. They let her live with a complete stranger? Nothing is explained or said to make the reader feel even a tiny bit comfortable with the idea. I wouldn’t let my child live with a complete stranger. I know they corresponded for a time, but as we’ve all learned with the internet, someone can be anyone on paper.
“I felt like she had given me a gift - even such a tiny gesture as a touch takes trust - and I was glad she felt safe with me.”
In the end, I’m not regretting the time I spent reading the book. The ending was sweet, if a little predictable, and the community of the island drew me.
Now off to watch the movie. I’m kind of scared though. I already started it and a lot has been changed, which makes me think they’re going to cut out a very important character. Other than that, I’ve already seen four cast members from Downton Abbey. It’s almost like a reunion. That might be the only reason I stay with the movie.
Happy Reading
Love Kait
Reading Challenge: (35/100)