The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society in Fantasy Buddy Reads

Jul 27, 2019 Brittany rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, audiobook, 3-wwii

Loved listening to this. I think the audio with the multiple narrators was the best way to take in this story. This is a post WWII story told through the perspective of letters.
I knew nothing of the occupation in Guernsey and now want to know so much more. It sounds like a lovely place that maybe one day I can get the chance to visit. I love how a group of people came together because of the occupation and found a love of books, literature and respect for one another. Its crazy how something so ...more

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Apr 14, 2019 Noninuna rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: english-fiction, historical

3.5 stars

Juliet is a likable character but I like side characters more than her. Isola for example and Susan. Tho the story is more or less predictable, the setting of right after WW2 ends and the depiction of how people start to build up their live back from what was left of it that drew me in.

My expectation was too high and by half of the book, I can say that it is a disappointment. Haven't seen anywhere if it was mentioned where Ms Shaffer stopped and where Ms Barrows pick up but I thought t

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Jul 13, 2017 Rachael rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites-of-all-time

Ah, this book is right up my alley. Apparently the more charming a book is, the more I fall over myself enraptured. This book has charm in spades and it also brings levity with WWII anecdotes that are gut-wrenching. The balance between humor and gritty reality worked well for me as the atrocities of war are not something I care to read about in heavy doses and even with the all the back and forth of the letter writing I thought it flowed nicely.

There were so many cutesy things about this book th Ah, this book is right up my alley. Apparently the more charming a book is, the more I fall over myself enraptured. This book has charm in spades and it also brings levity with WWII anecdotes that are gut-wrenching. The balance between humor and gritty reality worked well for me as the atrocities of war are not something I care to read about in heavy doses and even with the all the back and forth of the letter writing I thought it flowed nicely.

There were so many cutesy things about this book that charmed me, the idyllic setting, the tone, the sheer darlingness of it all...I just can't even. ;) My least favorite thing about the book? The name, honestly. It's a bit of a mouthful and makes it hard to recommend haha. Also, it seemed like the language was a bit casual for the late 40's, and that took away from it a bit. Other then that, I loved this book so very, very much. Even with the large cast of characters I felt it was easy to tell them apart.

It's the little turns of phrase in this book that bubbled over with charm. In context, they catch you by surprise and bring a giggle to your heart.

"Will Thisbee gave me 'The beginners Cookbook for Girl Guides' it was just the thing, the writer assumed you know nothing about cookery and writes useful hints--'When adding eggs, break the shells first."

"What a blight that woman is. Do you happen to know why? I lean toward a malignant fairy at her christening."

"I think you learn more if you're laughing at the same time."
(coincidentally, also my life motto)

Anddddd I love the very last letter of this book the most! Not really a spoiler, but if you don't want to read the last page of a book don't read ahead....

"All my life I thought the story was over when the hero and heroine were safely engaged-- after all, what's good enough for Jane Austen ought to be good enough for anyone. But it's a lie. The story is about to begin, and every day will be a new piece of the plot. Perhaps my next book will be about a fascinating married couple and all the things they learn about one another over time." ...more

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Mar 21, 2021 Erin rated it really liked it

Shelves: library, historical, audiobook

I picked up this book because the movie adaptation is one of my favorites and I've seen it countless number of times. I think this may be one case where I actually liked the movie adaptation slightly more, but that being said I did still quite enjoy this novel.

The charm in this novel comes from the eclectic group of book club members that we get to meet on Guernsey. They makeup a truly delightful cast of characters who were kind of just thrown together for this book club and became friends. I re ...more

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