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

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Reviewed by Elaine Simpson-Long at Random Jottings of a Book and Opera Lover

"It is January 1946 and writer Juliet Ashton sits at her desk, vainly seeking a subject for her next book. Out of the blue she receives a letter from one Dawsey Adams of Guernsey, a farmer with a shy manner and tender heart, who has by chance acquired a secondhand book that once belonged to Juliet.......they begin a correspondence and when Dawsey reveals that he is a member of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, Juliet's curiosity is piqued and it is not long before the begins to hear from the other members"

There is gawky Isola, who makes love potions and lives alone with her claustrophobic parrot Zenobia, Eben a fisherman who loves Shakespeare; Will, creator of the famous Potato Peel Pie and Dawsey, kind reliable and loving, and a host of other characters. I hasten to say that though you may be thinking that this is all a tad whimsical, it is not. Underlying the wit and humour is the story of how the islanders coped during the German occupation of their island, of the horrors that they saw, the hunger and starvation, but also the bravery and friendship.

A central character who we only read and hear about through the eyes of others, is Elizabeth, the founder of the literary group (they discuss Elizabeth von Arnim so she is a woman after my own heart) who was sent away to a concentration camp leaving her child behind her, a child with a German father, who is cared for by all the members of the Literary society. We learn all about her steadfast courage, her love for the father of their daughter, her feistiness and care for her friends and the fate which awaits her in Germany. Elizabeth's story provides a sombre balance to Mary Ann Shaffer's book and makes it clear that this is not just a light, frothy and witty read.

The book is entirely epistolary, and the letters fly thick and fast backwards and forwards and with each letter we read we learn something about the writer, the characters live through their own writing. I do like books like this, no narrative telling us what to think about each of the protagonists, we are left to make up our own minds through the letters and to picture locations and settings in our own imagination.

This book reminded me in style and wit of Diary of a Provincial Lady. Very difficult to describe the humour of E M Delafield's book, it is understated and does not bounce out at you, it is in the reading, no laughing out loud (well, perhaps occasionally) but just a general feeling of deep amusement and affection. I felt just the same about this wonderful book by Mary Anne Shaffer, who I understand died a few months before publication, though she knew her book was to be published, she never even saw the copy that was in my hands. I was so sad when I heard this, no more from this writer, just a one off and yet I feel that this simply delightful book is due to be a classic and will be read for years to come.

OK better stop quoting huge chunks otherwise there will be no need for you to buy this book and I SO want you to do so.

I loved this book.

And no need to tell me that this is hardly a critical or analytical summing up, I know and I don't care.

I loved loved loved this book.

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Price: £7.99

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