Kundenrezensionen

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

5 Sterne:		(14)
4 Sterne:		(4)
3 Sterne:		(1)
2 Sterne:		(0)
1 Sterne:		(0)

 

 

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society will appeal to anyone who loves to read about courage, integrity, kindness, love, literature, and happiness. Written as a series of letters among the characters, the book will also charm those who enjoy getting to know people through what they reveal in writing.

It would be easy to spoil this gem so I'll reveal as little as possible. In the first letter dated 8th January 1946, author Juliet Ashton writes to her publisher, Sidney Stark, about the results of her book tour for Izzy Bickerstaff goes to War and her new book, English Foibles. It turns out she's tired of being a light-hearted journalist. From there, we trail Juliet as she eventually finds her subject through an unexpected letter from a Guernsey farmer, Dawsey Adams, who owns an old book of hers, Selected Essays of Elia by Charles Lamb, which had her name and former address written inside the front cover. Like Alice when she went down the rabbit hole, that letter opens up a whole new world . . . and set of experiences . . . relating to the English Channel island of Guernsey which was occupied by German forces during World War II.

Unlike literary letters (say of Virginia Woolf), these letters are more often chatty and informative than witty. But each letter opens the door into the hearts and minds of the characters in deeper ways than can occur in the normal narrative of a novel. You will feel like you are solving a mystery at times. You'll even get to know characters quite well that don't write any letters.

I found myself torn between wanting to race to the end . . . and wanting to savor the pleasure of each letter. The latter instinct prevailed.

The letters are short, and you could read most of them in two minutes or less. Even if you are frequently interrupted, you will get right back into the story.

There's a clear possibility of a sequel here. I look forward to it!

Es ist schön zu lesen, wie die Protagonistin sich für die kleinen Geschichten und Erlebnisse der Inselbewohner begeistern kann und durch den brieflichen Ausstausch mit ihnen richtige Freundschaften entstehen. Dabei fand ich den ersten Teil, in dem sie per Briefaustausch die verschiedenen Mitglieder der Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society kennenlernt, etwas zu langatmig, weil zu viele Leute vorgestellt werden, wobei ich nicht zu negativ werden möchte. Deswegen auf jeden Fall nur 4 Sterne. Im zweiten Teil ist sie dann selbst zu einem Besuch dort, und das Buch gewinnt wieder an Schwung. Der Erzählstil ist sehr angenehm. Mich wundert es, dass es sich um das erste - und leider letzte - Buch der Autorin handelt, weil die sprachlichen Beschreibungen so schön sind. Es ist eine Geschichte zum Gernhaben. Man kann gut verstehen, was die Protangonistin zu der Insel und ihren Menschen zieht und was sie dort bleiben lässt.

Unusual style - the book consists only of letters and telegramms, received and sent by the fictional woman-writer who collects material for her next book. Topic is the German occupation of the Channel Islands during WWII and while this is a very serious matter, the authors manage to make it an easy and compelling read. All characters are well cut out and even though they are quite different and normally probably wouldn't mix, the occupation brings them together in this book club. There is a love story, too. It's a charming book, describing lovely people who survived the worst.

Ein wunderbares literarisches Kleinod! In äußerst warmherziger Art mit herrlich trockenem britischen Humor schildert die Protagonistin die Geschichte der deutschen Besetzung der Insel während des 2. Weltkrieges, verwoben in ihren eigenen Alltag. Sehr berührend, sowie informativ, nie anklagend, ganz und gar menschlich!

This book is such a charming page-turner, full of wisdom, wit and love for all the honest people of the world.
And it is a massive plea to prevent any war with its cruelties.
I promise that you will be in love with the book's characters after reading. And you will never forget those adorabe human beings: Juliet, the young, almost forlorn writer, Dawsey, the upright, shy, but precious farmer, bewitching Isola, motherless, artistic Eli, sweat fatherless Kit and courageous Elizabeth.

This epistolary novel is a real gem! Don't miss it!

Deutscher Übersetzungstitel: Deine Juliet! (Wie einfallsreich).

Eines der besten Bücher, die ich in letzter Zeit gelesen habe, witzig, traurig, informativ.... man geht durch eine ganze Reihe von Emotionen...und wünscht es wäre nie zu Ende.

Audio books are getting better and better. For this listener that is largely due to increasing narrations by ensemble casts, giving a breadth and richness to readings that cannot be achieved by even the most accomplished single voices. Such is certainly true of this warm, humorous story that is related in a series of letters.

It is the winter of 1946 in London when our story opens. Author Juliet Ashton is pondering, no searching for ideas for her next book. She's surprised to receive a letter from the island of Guernsey, which was once under German occupation. The epistle is from a man she does not know, Dawsey Adams, who now has a book by Charles Lamb that once belonged to Juliet. Dawsey wants to know where he might find more books by Lamb.

Juliet's curiosity is aroused by this man who shares her affinity for Lamb, and in future correspondence he tells her that he is a member of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, a group formed for mutual protection during the German occupation.

Eventually, Juliet receives letters from other members of the Society, a disparate yet fascinating group, each with a story to tell. In due time she decides she must meet her new friends.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a wonderful tale, peopled with unforgettable characters and filled with courage, love, humor, all of which reminds us of the invincibility of the human spirit.

- Gail Cooke

I totally adore this book! From the beginning to the end a declaration of love for literature wrapped up in a gripping plot set against the German occupation in Guernsey during WWII.

The story starts in January 1946 when Juliet, a young Londoner and aspiring author, receives a letter from a stranger. Little does she know that this letter will not only provide the inspiration for her new book but also change her own life completely.

"The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" is a compilation of letters written by its characters and thus rich in very different points of views. From the memories of her pen pals, Juliet slowly learns more about Guernsey's occupation and how the islanders coped with the German oppression.

The love story evolves slowly and the reader is in for a surprise (that is, I was). The special charm of this book, however, comes with countless references and quotes from the masterpieces of world literature. It is obvious how much the author must have loved her books, a love that every passionate bookworm must identify with. The love of a lifetime.

Dear Readers, I fervently recommend this book. It is so lightheartedly written and at the same time gives a factual background about the German occupation. I loved reading all the letters that made up this book. Juliet is a really endearing person. You will not stop smiling as you proceed with it as Juliet is so honest with herself and makes everything sound so amusing. You won't regret buying this book, believe me. :)

Ein Roman in Briefform, der im Jahr 1946 spielt. Die Geschichte zog mich von Anfang an in ihren Bann und entwickelte sich durch den Schriftverkehr auch recht schnell. Spannend wird es, als ein Brief eines Unbekannten eintrifft, der ein gebrauchtes Buch der Haupt-Ich-Erzählerin (Juliet Ashton) gekauft hatte - hier treffen zwar Welten aufeinander, aber die Bücherliebe vereint. Und so entwickelt sich bald ein reger Schriftverkehr über den Ärmelkanal, denn Juliet ist Autorin auf der Suche nach einem Thema für ihr neues Buch, und die Society-Mitglieder haben aus ihrer jüngsten Vergangenheit (Besetzung der Kanalinseln durch die Deutsche Armee im zweiten Weltkrieg) viel zu erzählen - aber fast immer in Bezug auf die Literary Society und die erlesenen Bücher. Im zweiten Teil reist die Ich-Erzählerin dann nach Guernsey und lernt die Society-Mitglieder persönlich kennen (und lieben). Auch dieser Teil bleibt der Briefform treu - schließlich ist Juliets Verleger und ihr (konkurrierender) Verehrer weiter in London, und die beste Freundin in Schottland. Im zweiten Teil wird dann die direkte Nachkriegsgeschichte intensiv beleuchtet, aber trotz aller Tragik behält Juliet ihr "sonniges Gemüt", was sich in der Leichtigkeit der Erzählung niederschlägt.
Der ganze Roman macht den Eindruck, auf der Grundlage intensiver Recherche entstanden zu sein, sowohl was historische als auch was lokal geographische Details angeht, so dass die Bilder von Guernsey schnell (wieder) im Kopf entstehen können.

Der Roman ist auch auf Deutsch erschienen - "Deine Juliet".