The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Book description
"I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers." January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she's never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb... As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends — and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society — born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island — boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all. Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society's members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever. Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways. Published in 2008, 304 pages.
Description from hardcover

Research the author and the book using library resources
Information on the author’s life and works is available through our library’s online resources. Recommended online resources for The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows include Literature Resource Center and Academic Search Premier. Enter your library barcode and then use the author’s name or the book title to search for full-text encyclopedia or magazine articles.

Discussion questions
Fiction discussion questions from readingroupguide.com

Additional information
LitLovers LitGuides
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society website

Readalikes
Griffin & Sabine by Nick Bantock
The Pull of the Moon by Elizabeth Berg
The Boy Next Door by Meg Cabot
84, Charing Cross by Helene Hanff
The Color Purple by Alice Walker