When not hearing buzz about The Lace Reader, the other book everyone is talking about (and I am about to get my hands on) is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society. This epistolary novel tells the story of a group of people who begin to call themselves "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society" because they need an excuse for breaking the curfew set by the Germans occupying their island during WWII. Juliet Ashton is living in England as the war ends when she receives a letter from a member of the society who has found her address in one of her old books that has made its way to Guernsey. As their correspondence progresses, Juliet is drawn into an eccentric world of charming and funny people, from pig farmers to phrenologists, who are all lovers of literature.
I love epistolary novels, and whenever I hear about Guernsey I think of another novel of letters that I devoured, Helene Hanff's 84 Charing Cross Road. This one sounds wonderful and I can't wait to read it. It goes on sale next Tuesday, July 29th, and you can read an early excerpt here. Here is the reading group guide and here is what others (including book club favorite Elizabeth Gilbert) are saying about it.
I've read so much about this that I'll be buying it next week.
Posted by: Mary | July 25, 2008 at 06:15 AM
I loved 84, Charing Cross Road too! I'll definitely be on the lookout for this one.
Posted by: Julie E. | July 25, 2008 at 09:16 AM
I haven't heard of this book before, but it sure does sound like a very interesting read. Thanks for the info!
Posted by: Stephanie | July 25, 2008 at 11:28 AM
I've not heard of this novel before but it certainly sounds like something I'd like to read. Thanks for passing on the info.
Posted by: Darlene | July 25, 2008 at 04:20 PM
Love your blog. I've just posted an award for you on my blog www.garrendennylane.ie/blog today, pass it on to 7 others if you wish.
Lorna
Posted by: Lorna | July 25, 2008 at 05:48 PM
I have read only positive comments about this book - and the format doesn't sound forced or gimmicky.
I'll have to write down the full title and author, or I'll be asking for "the book about potato peels" at my bookstore :)
Posted by: Dawn | July 25, 2008 at 10:57 PM
Tried to get a copy off of Amazon Vine (which I was just invited to join) but I fulfilled my maximum of books with just 2 books--one was a children's book. I'll try to get a copy from the library! or at work! It looked great!
Posted by: Kiki | July 26, 2008 at 03:32 PM
This sounds like it's gonna be a good one too! Can't wait to get started on the Lace Reader!!
Posted by: Lori Barnes | July 27, 2008 at 12:34 AM
I managed to get an ARC of this title and read it last week. I absolutely loved it. I'll be posting a review in a few places, Library Thing and Amazon among them.
Posted by: Gwendolyn | July 28, 2008 at 01:42 PM
I just ordered this book. I can't wait to get it. Toni
Posted by: Toni | October 02, 2008 at 03:19 PM
Only the person who has faith in himself is able to be faithful to others .
Posted by: air jordan 1 | November 03, 2010 at 11:27 PM