It’s so like me to be behind on the times.  I rarely indulge in new releases or anticipate upcoming titles. I’m just drawn to books that have already made their impact on society. Occasionally, I’ll pick up a new release from an author I have enjoyed, but normally I read books that most book lovers have “been there – done that” a long time ago. It’s just how I roll. My fashion is old, my music is old, my books are old, and my EYES are old. That’s why I am loving my kindle more and more. And the last book I read on my kindle is the beloved The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer.

The story takes place immediately post World War II. Author Juliet Ashton receives a letter from someone on the island of Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands off the coast of France, that was occupied by Nazi’s for five years. Her name and address were discovered inside a book written by Charles Lamb and the reader/writer of the letter is hoping she can assist him in finding additional books by Lamb. He doesn’t know that she herself, is an author. They strike up a friendship in their correspondence which leads to Juliet traveling to Guernsey to get to know his friends, the members of the Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, and to begin her next writing project.

This book is compiled solely of letters. I thought that this might eventually annoy me but it didn’t and the story unfolded beautifully. The characters were superb and their personalities were fun, smart, quirky and most of all compassionate. I enjoyed this book wholeheartedly and it still managed to teach me some hard things I didn’t know about occupied life.

If I have only one criticism it would be that I never got much of an English vibe from Juliet. Nor did she seem to me like a woman living in the 1940’s. I don’t know what a feminine voice from that time and place should sound like but she seemed incredibly modern, confident and free from the typical reserve we’ve come to expect from the English. I guess it shouldn’t seem strange to me since I’ve been watching The Crown. Those are some strong women!

I read this one as part of two reading challenges.
I. Roof Beam Reader’s 2018 TBR Challenge
2. Modern Mrs. Darcy’s 2018 Reading Challenge for the “Recommended by Someone with Good Taste” category. My book club friend, Marcy, who is working her way through the entire Newberry Award list as we speak, recommended this jewel to me. It is my favorite read of the year so far.