The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie BarrowsMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Charming is the word for it! Udderly charming.
Sorry, I couldn't help myself.
There actually aren't that many cows in this book, not like you might expect. There is an important pig, however, who gets eaten on the night of the formation of the Guernsey Literary Society.
It was 1941 or so, and Guernsey was under German occupation. A few friends and neighbors found themselves out after curfew and the literary society was the excuse presented to the German officers. From then on, the society met every fortnight to discuss their latest reading.
Those who had rarely read anything other than scripture, seed catalogues, and The Pigman's Gazette discovered a different kind of reading. (45)
The islanders' individual stories are marvelously quaint and full of personality. One of my favorites was when Mr Clovis Fossey wooed 'his Nancy' with a bit of poetry. He had heard from a friend that women like poetry:
I thought there might be something to this poetry after all. I began to go to meetings, and I'm glad I did... I got her to go for a walk along the cliffs one evening, and I said, 'Lookie there Nancy. The gentleness of Heaven broods o'er the sea - Listen, the mighty Being is awake.' She let me kiss her. She is now my wife.
It's not all sweetness and innocent pig farming, though. The Nazis do some nasty stuff, and there are lost souls. There are starving children, slave workers and betrayals; but there is also romance, compassion and neighborly generosity.
Most of all, this book is made up of the extended hands of friendship. The outpourings of people's lives in their letters (did I mention this is an epistolary novel?) were at times goofy, sincere, tragic, and healing.
It is a wonderful book to bask in, especially for book lovers. My favorite literary quotes:
Perhaps there is a secret sort of homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers. How delightful if that were true. (9)
Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad books. (47)
I wonder if Guernsey has seen an influx of literary tourists since the publication of this book? It certainly makes me want to visit someday.
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