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Allison Larkin

Internationally Best-Selling Author

You are here: Home / books are awesome / The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

April 1, 2009 Filed Under: books are awesome

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is about a writer and her growing relationship with the inhabitants of the island of Guernsey after the German occupation, as she searches for subject matter for her next book. The story is told through a series of letters to and from her editor, the members of the Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, and some assorted friends and relations.

When I realized the entire book was letters, I worried about the way the story would unfold. I thought this method of story telling might make for choppy reading, missing details, or information being added unnaturally to the letters, since there is no other narrative in this book. But the book is a marvel. It’s so well crafted and the story progresses easily. The characters’ voices are strong and the subject matter is fascinating. I’ve read The Diary of Anne Frank, and Night, but I’d never given much thought to the challenges facing non-soldiers outside of concentration camps in German-occupied areas of Europe during WWII.

While the subject matter is certainly heavy, the book doesn’t read that way.
This book was an absolute delight to read. I finished it a few days ago and am so sad it’s over.

Sadly, this was Mary Ann Shaffer’s first and only book. She became ill, and was unable to complete the editing process. Her niece, Annie Barrows, stepped in to complete the book. Ms. Shaffer passed away in 2008, just before The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society was published.

4 Comments

Comments

  1. Neil says

    April 1, 2009 at 5:15 pm

    Wow, the author’s story is as heavy as the premise of the book. For a funny, light use of letter writing as a novel, check out “Who Moved My Blackberry?” which is a British import. It’s written entirely from one person’s emails, leaving us to imagine what the other emails are saying.

    Reply
  2. TMC says

    April 2, 2009 at 2:52 pm

    I read this one! I liked it. I enjoy epistolary novels and thought it was well done. Heavy subject but not an overall heavy tone. Quirky characters are always a draw for me.

    Reply
  3. Vanessa says

    April 4, 2009 at 5:29 pm

    I’m taking this as a sign. This is the 6th time this week I have been encouraged to read this book, including having someone GIVE it to me. Ok, ok, I’m taking the hint and heading for the couch!

    Reply
  4. C.J.Duffy says

    April 6, 2009 at 3:30 pm

    I find this really interesting as I have been using ‘sent letters’ and diary pieces by way to add ‘flavour’ and a historical perspective to my books. They are a great device but you have to be really brave to write a whole book of letters to tell the narrative.

    Reply

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Internationally bestselling author of STAY, WHY CAN'T I BE YOU and SWIMMING FOR SUNLIGHT. THE PEOPLE WE KEEP coming from @gallerybooks on 8/3/2021

Allison Larkin
A few days ago, I took this photo of turkeys while A few days ago, I took this photo of turkeys while I was out on a run, marveling at how wild animals do not seem to mind when they see me. Once, I almost bumped into a deer, the way a couple might meet-cute in a rom com. We just didn’t see each other. I’ve always thought it was a fun little quirk. Not even bunnies are afraid of me. But this afternoon on my run, I came up over a hill and was suddenly within fifteen feet of a wild boar. Thankfully, a year or two ago I got curious about the big traps that show up trailside around the bay, looked them up and learned about how fast, ruthlessly aggressive, and unpredictable a wild boar can be. Otherwise, I might have (stupidly) thought I was in the middle of another one of my Snow White moments and been all “Hello there, Mr. Pig! Look at you!” believing that I could quietly observe in wonder. Instead, I knew this was a bad situation. The boar grunted and moved to the center of the trail. It felt very ‘You shall not pass!’ But I did not want to pass. I wanted to get away. I backed slowly for a few moments and then turned and ran faster than I ever have in my whole life. I’ve since learned that there’s no way that boar chased me, because there’s no chance of outrunning a boar (climb a tree if you can). But I know that boar saw me and also wasn’t happy about the surprise, and I had a moment, racing back over the hills I’d just run — not daring to look behind me more than once or twice in fear I’d lose my footing — when I truly did not know what would happen. I’ve been in scary situations, but they were a different kind of scary. I don’t think I’ve ever flat out run for my life before, but that’s truly what I thought I was doing. Right now I am still full of adrenaline and also exhausted and so so thankful to be okay.
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