Mary Ann Shaffer, who passed away in February 2008, worked
as an editor, librarian, and in bookshops. The Guernsey Literary
and Potato Peel Pie Society was her first novel.
Her niece, Annie Barrows, is the author of the children’s
series Ivy and Bean, as well as The Magic Half. She lives in
northern California.
“I can’t remember the last time I discovered a novel as smart and
delightful as this one, a world so vivid that I kept forgetting
this was a work of fiction populated with characters so utterly
wonderful that I kept forgetting they weren’t my actual friends and
neighbors. Treat yourself to this book please—I can’t recommend it
highly enough.”—Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray,
Love
“Traditional without seeming stale, and romantic without being
naive . . . It’s tempting to throw around terms like ‘gem’ when
reading a book like this. But Guernsey is not precious. .
. . This is a book for firesides or long train rides. It’s as
charming and timeless as the novels for which its characters
profess their love.”—San Francisco Chronicle Book Review
“[The] characters step from the past radiant with eccentricity and
kindly humour. [The] writing, with its delicately offbeat,
self-deprecating stylishness, is exquisitely turned.”—The
Guardian (U.K.)
“I’ve never wanted to join a club so desperately as I did while
reading Guernsey. . . . [The novel] is a labor of love and it shows
on almost every page.”—The Christian Science Monitor
“I could not put the book down. I have recommended it to all my
friends.”—Newsday
“A jewel . . . Poignant and keenly observed, Guernsey is a small
masterpiece about love, war, and the immeasurable sustenance to be
found in good books and good friends.”—People
“A book-lover's delight, an implicit and sometimes explicit paean
to all things literary.”—Chicago Sun-Times
“A sparkling epistolary novel radiating wit, lightly worn erudition
and written with great assurance and aplomb.”—The Sunday
Times (London)
“Cooked perfectly à point: subtle and elegant in flavour, yet
emotionally satisfying to the finish.”—The Times (London)
“A sweet, sentimental paean to books and those who love them. . . .
It affirms the power of books to nourish people enduring hard
times.”—The Washington Post Book World
“[A] marvelous debut . . . This is a warm, funny, tender, and
thoroughly entertaining celebration of the power of the written
word.”—Library Journal
“A poignant, funny novel that celebrates the resilience of the
human spirit. . . . A treat.”—The Boston Globe
“A sure winner.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Delightful . . . One of those joyful books that celebrates how
reading brings people together.”—New Orleans Times-Picayune
“Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows have written a wondrous,
delightful, poignant book— part Jane Austen, part history
lesson. The letters aren't addressed to you, but they are
meant for you. It's a book everyone should read. An absolute
treasure.”—Sarah Addison Allen, author of Garden Spells
Read LJ's 9/9/08 starred audio review of this debut title, currently a best seller in hardcover, which was recently optioned for film, at xpressreview.notlong.com. Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.
"I can't remember the last time I discovered a novel as smart and
delightful as this one, a world so vivid that I kept forgetting
this was a work of fiction populated with characters so utterly
wonderful that I kept forgetting they weren't my actual friends and
neighbors. Treat yourself to this book please-I can't recommend it
highly enough."-Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray,
Love
"Traditional without seeming stale, and romantic without being
naive . . . It's tempting to throw around terms like 'gem' when
reading a book like this. But Guernsey is not precious. . .
. This is a book for firesides or long train rides. It's as
charming and timeless as the novels for which its characters
profess their love."-San Francisco Chronicle Book Review
"[The] characters step from the past radiant with eccentricity and
kindly humour. [The] writing, with its delicately offbeat,
self-deprecating stylishness, is exquisitely turned."-The
Guardian (U.K.)
"I've never wanted to join a club so desperately as I did while
reading Guernsey. . . . [The novel] is a labor of love and
it shows on almost every page."-The Christian Science
Monitor
"I could not put the book down. I have recommended it to all my
friends."-Newsday
"A jewel . . . Poignant and keenly observed, Guernsey is a
small masterpiece about love, war, and the immeasurable sustenance
to be found in good books and good friends."-People
"A book-lover's delight, an implicit and sometimes explicit paean
to all things literary."-Chicago Sun-Times
"A sparkling epistolary novel radiating wit, lightly
worn erudition and written with great assurance and aplomb."-The
Sunday Times (London)
"Cooked perfectly a point: subtle and elegant in flavour,
yet emotionally satisfying to the finish."-The Times
(London)
"A sweet, sentimental paean to books and those who love them. . . .
It affirms the power of books to nourish people enduring hard
times."-The Washington Post Book World
"[A] marvelous debut . . . This is a warm, funny, tender, and
thoroughly entertaining celebration of the power of the written
word."-Library Journal
"A poignant, funny novel that celebrates the resilience of the
human spirit. . . . A treat."-The Boston Globe
"A sure winner."-Kirkus Reviews
"Delightful . . . One of those joyful books that celebrates
how reading brings people together."-New Orleans
Times-Picayune
"Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows have written a wondrous,
delightful, poignant book- part Jane Austen, part history lesson.
The letters aren't addressed to you, but they are meant for you.
It's a book everyone should read. An absolute treasure."-Sarah
Addison Allen, author of Garden Spells
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