Will Byrnes's Reviews > The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Good review Will. Interesting period in the Channel Islands too.

Thanks, Lynne. This is a lovely, lovely book.

Now don't entice me to purchase it!

Library not an option?

I would rather read this in English than French Will and this is not England where libraries are a very nice place to go to and browse. I live in "rusticana" here, about an hour's drive from Pau.

Got it

Great summary. I loved this book!

I keep wondering about this book but seeing this review from you, Will, gives me a positive vibe.

I loved this book, wish she had been able to write another before she died.

Me too

I am completely smitten with this book and characters!

I like reading your reviews Will but oh dear this book. It is so out of kilter with how life would been like in England and Guernsey in 1946 that I scarcely know where to start. I expect the authors did do some research on the occupation of Guernsey and so the basic facts will be correct but they seem not to have had the first idea of the texture and feel of the times. I’ll give one example – the novel starts with the main character, Juliet going on a book tour of the UK. This is in a country which is still suffering from the war shortages and in which paper, petrol, clothes and most food stuffs are rationed and will remain so until the mid 1950s. Sweets were rationed for most of my mum’s childhood as I can remember her telling me. People definitely didn’t go on book tours.

Then the main character starts writing to the folk on Guernsey who have just come out of the darkest time of their lives and they write back and pour their hearts out to her. People simply did not do that. At least not in 1946, they will wanted to turn their backs on what had happened and get on with the rest of their lives. My grandfather was at sea serving on the convoys and he never spoke about it.

I wouldn’t want anyone to read this book thinking they are getting an accurate picture of those times or being educated. It is not that sort of book.

Sorry to hear that it is lacking in historical accuracy.

@ Caroline and Will:

This happens quite a bit with historical fiction. Readers who are not familiar with the era and/or the area a novel is set in won't notice it when the social environment doesn't match reality, whereas readers who are familiar with the era and/or the location cringe when they come across such discrepancies.

I, for instance, had my hair stand up straight when I glimpsed for 2 hours through "The Book Thief", after the book had arrived in the mail, and found already a number of such inexcusable mistakes. Most readers won't notice these mistakes, but I grew up in the very same area this novel is set in. (I still haven't read the book, which I purchased about a year ago. I am afraid to find more such hair-raising adulterations of the social environment.)

I bought "The Guernsey Literary ..." also about a year ago. It is buried somewhere in my boxes of unread books. It is not one of my priority TBRs, and if I'll ever get around to read it, I'll keep it in mind that it is "fiction-fiction". :-)

I have vowed to not ever to read historical fiction again that's set in Germany (especially Bavaria) during my lifetime and written by an author who is not familiar with the time and place. I have had other such books make my hair stand up straight. Whenever a dear GR friend is writing such historical fiction, I offer to proofread the draft in respect of the social environment (even though I hate to read PDFs).

I can only caution all authors about writing historical fiction set in times and places they are not familiar with, as long as there are people alive who have lived in these places during these times. If one sets a novel in the Middle Ages, no person alive will be able to testify about the social environment, yet there will still be historians who might be able to spot such mistakes.

Any fiction with historic background needs to be very carefully researched.

I probably knew that the channel islands were occupied by the Nazi's during WWII, but it not doubt was relegated to the depth of my subconcious. Sounds like an interesting book.

Thoughts re accuracy/realism vis-à-vis quality of a novel had already been swirling around in my head before I read "Guernsey." Look; can't novels be written for a variety of reasons? For example, in the field of psychotherapy, there is a technique of writing a new ending for a nightmare! That could be worthwhile on a cultural level. ...Even history itself, having been written by the winners du jour, is malleable. ...Are we going to condemn nonrepresentational art as decadent? No!

So, fine to inform everyone of the inaccuracies, but--what's the takeaway here? Maybe not to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

I am doing a thought experiment of how I'd feel if a novel portrayed my stomping grounds inaccurately.... It's probably already been done, and I just can't remember. Possibly I'd consider whether the raw details become the medium in which to communicate some wider point, and also whether the purpose was indeed that, as versus some nefarious aim of misrepresenting the locals.

In this book the author does stereotype Americans, in the person of the pushy suitor. That makes me reflect, not that all Americans are like that, but that there has been such a stereotype (although I know not universally, so no need to inform me about that).

And anyway in this case the author is an American. I just read her biography, such as it is. She was in Guernsey briefly. Looks like it figured in her imagination, and she took off from there. Not a bad method! ...I have seen family-placed obituaries that it occurred to me could be the basis of a novel, but don't worry so far don't have the wherewithal to do anything about it.

These are some of my thoughts so far, and not pretending to be "the answer," and possibly related to the quality of the novel as opposed to a lesser one.

At least don't worry Ms Shaffer will show up on this thread feeling concerned and hurt or eager to explain or whatever (as happened on another thread in a somewhat similar case, recently), as she has since passed away.

I liked the book. The weakest part, I thought, was the romantic denouement.

Just finished reading this one, it is a warm and wonderful story, I loved it. I had read a Readers digest condensed book version a couple of years ago, and liked it enough to go for the full one 😊

"Warm and wonderful," yes.

💓 for your review and this wonderful book.😊

Thanks, Claudia

I found I actually enjoyed the movie more than the book but that's just me, nice review :)

Thanks, Dorie. I have not yet seen the film, but plan to.

I adored this book... can't wait to see the movie! Thanks for the movie photos! And, great review! : )

Thanks, Christine

I loved the book, but didnt quite like the movie. It felt very superficial.

Sorry to hear, re the movie

I just started reading this one this morning, so I'm so glad to see how much you enjoyed this one. I hardly had any time for reading this morning, but am loving it so far! Wonderful review, Will!

Thanks, Cheri

Thanks, Dennis.

Lovely review Will, as always!

Have you seen the movie yet, Will? Not academy award material, but definitely an enjoyable experience. I wondered if I would have liked it as much if I hadn't read the book. Loved revisiting your review!

Beverly wrote: "Lovely review Will, as always!"
Thanks, Beverly

Suzy wrote: "Have you seen the movie yet, Will? Not academy award material, but definitely an enjoyable experience. I wondered if I would have liked it as much if I hadn't read the book. Loved revisiting your r..."
I have not yet seen the film.

I read this awhile ago and enjoyed it immensely. I regret donating it during a move but hope it brought someone else pleasure.

Good on you for donating

I watched the movie recently and really enjoyed it.

I just read this book after watching the movie last night and your review is spot on!

Karen wrote: "I just read this book after watching the movie last night and your review is spot on!"
Thanks, Karen

My wife and I finally watched the film tonight. Quite loved it.

good

Jan wrote: "Thoughts re accuracy/realism vis-à-vis quality of a novel had already been swirling around in my head before I read "Guernsey." Look; can't novels be written for a variety of reasons? For example, ..."

I think that what you said was lovely and very wise, books don't have to be historically pure to be enjoyed, it is fiction after all, not non-fiction.

I've seen the film and need to read the book. Thanks for the background info concerning Annie Barrows and Mary Ann Schaffer.

Thank you, marilyn