Book Club Book: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Book: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Authors: Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrow
Publisher: Dial Press Trade
Year: 2008


Loved! Loved! Loved this book! Don’t let the confusing title frighten you away from this book. I am still unsure how to properly pronounce Guernsey or what constitutes a potato peel pie, however Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows will have you wanting to visit and taste both.

 This novel is entirely composed of letters. After her copy of Charles Lamb’s Selected Essays of Elia lands in the hands of Guernsey native Dawsey Adams, Juliet Ashton finds herself being drawn to the small Channel Island. It is January 1946 when Juliet receives the letter from Dawsey thanking her for reselling her copy of the book. He further explains that this book saved him during the German Occupation on the island.

 Juliet, from London, is currently riding the high from her success of her book of collected newspaper columns during the war. When receiving Dawsey’s letter, she not only trying to recover from the effects of the war on the city, but she is also trying to move on and find a new topic to write about. She is intrigued by Dawsey’s mention of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and writes back to discover more.

What begins as a fake society to avoid punishment at the hands of the Germans, bands together this group of misfits and acquaintances into a hodgepodge family. Each society member writes to Juliet telling her of their struggles and reads during the war. Juliet begins to fall in love with each person she corresponds with.

One member she feels a particular connection is Elizabeth. Elizabeth is feisty, spirited, and the creator of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society. She is also the only society member who hasn't contacted Juliet since she was taken by the Germans after trying to save a worker. Left behind is Elizabeth's young daughter who is passed through the homes of members until Elizabeth's hopeful return.

The relationships she develops with the people of Guernsey leads Juliet to the decision to go visit the island herself. What begins as a visit ultimately changes her life through the love of friends, a community, and a small child.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a quick and easy read. You will not be able to put this book down and you will develop a new appreciation for hand-written letters (especially in our current era of poorly written text messages).

I should also note that this book was started by Mary Ann Shaffer who got sick while writing it and had to rely upon her niece Annie Barrows to finish it. Mary Ann Shaffer died in February 2008 (shortly before the book was published).

Current Read: Trinity by Leon Uris - An Irish epic that has already made me prouder of my Irish roots.

Book Club Book: Not Wanted on the Voyage

Book: Not Wanted on the Voyage

``...went in two and two unto Noah into the ark...``

Author: Timothy Findley
Publisher: Viking Canada
Year: 1984

Can you imagine being one of the chosen few to land a coveted ticket on Noah's Ark? What an honour that would be. The entire population is going to wash away and you scored big by being part of the chosen family by God to carry on the human and animal race. While according to Timothy Findley's version of the famous tale, most of the people chosen would have rather been washed away.

Findley (1930-2002) tells his own version of the tale using the Noyes family. The world has become corrupt and God chooses Noah Noyes and his family to carry on. Unlike the Biblical version, this one focuses more on characters.

Main Characters:

Noah: Known as Doctor Noyes, Noah is portrayed a tyrannical ass. Hard on his sons, demeaning towards his daughter-in-laws, and completely disrespectful to his wife, the reader completely looses respect for the aging patriarch from the start. His cat lives in complete fear of him, as he is notorious for using kittens for scientific experiments. As the book progresses, it is discovered that Noah is sexually assaulting his daughter-in-laws and is also becoming senile in the process.

God: God is roughly 700 years old at this point according to Findley. His character is portrayed as tired, cranky, and downtrodden by the current situation on Earth. A flood seems like the easiest solution to eliminate the world's corruption and sins. However it seems like the choosing of the Noyes family is solely based on a past friendship with Noah. At least that is the only way to explain why anyone would choose this dysfunctional family to carry on the human race or maybe its just Findley’s way of portraying a not-so perfect family people can relate to.

Mottyl: Mottyl is the cat and quite frankly the most likeable character in the story. She gives the perspective of the animals prior to the voyage and during the voyage. She is originally denied entry by Noah onto the ship, but is snuck onboard by Mrs. Noyes.

Mrs. Noyes: As the wife of Noah, she is a depressed alcoholic who is constantly being put down by Noah throughout the novel. She does spiteful things towards her husband, however she does have a good heart. She helps her daughter-in-law Emma see her family, she cherishes her cat's company, and she tries to save Emma's sister (though ultimately fails as Noah orders their son to kill her).

There are other secondary characters onboard the ship as well. Noah’s three sons Shem (described to be a worker with little opinion on any matters), Japeth (who has blue skin after an encounter with thieves), and Ham (who is wise and science-minded).

Each son has a wife who plays a significant role. Shem is married to Hannah who is favoured both by God and Noah. Her character is very pious though it is later discovered that she is carrying Noah’s child. Japeth is with Emma who is twelve years old. A major issue during the story is that they have yet to consummate the marriage after a year. Noah comes to a disturbing and horrifying solution on how to fix this problem. Finally, Ham begins the novel single, but discovers a woman in the forest shortly before the floods begin. Her name is “Lucy” and she is Lucifer in disguise. It is Findley’s way of getting Lucifer onboard the ark. Obviously there are still evils in this current world and therefore Lucifer had to have somehow made the journey. No one really questions when Ham decides to marry a mysterious seven-foot tall woman.

This story isn’t for truly devout Christians. At some parts it can be offensive and disturbing. It is a perspective of one man and is meant to be read as fiction. The story of Noah’s Ark in the Bible is actually very brief and this gives the reader a more personal view of the characters involved.