One of the best books I have read in a long time. Your were right to savor it. I love hearing when someone else reads it and praises it, because it makes me remember it and smile.

I, too, loved this book and recommended it to our book group for discussion last year.

My book club is going to read this later this year. I'm looking forward to it.

This book affected me deeply. I had no idea what the islanders endured; this was all new to me. I almost didn't read it, being put off by the cutesy title and the apparent cutesiness of the opening letters. But then I could barely put it down, and I started reading it again as soon as I finished it. I cannot tell you the last time I did that. I also purchased the book, not one but two copies, one for my mother which was passed on to a sister, and one for myself. I rarely purchase books anymore as budget and space don't allow for it.

I had no idea either what the people of Guernsey went through during the war. I loved this book and just could not stop reading it. I just read that Victor Hugo wrote "Les Miserables" when he was in exile there.

I read this book in late 2008 and it was the book we hand sold that Christmas. It is such a treat, and was suitable to recommend to just about anyone looking for a book as a gift. I love it when I can learn something from a book that is also so entertaining and easy to read.

This was one of my absolute favorite books from 2008 and I've recommended it to everyone. I also had no idea the Guernsey islands were occupied by the Germans during the war, so as Kath said, it's great to learn something from a book that's also entertaining.

A wonderful book, a real gem, a joy to read.
Warm and loving characters and the history of the island war time was so sad, oh what hardships they all endured, with courage.
I was not sure when I realised that it was mainly an exchange of letters book, however before I knew it I was hanging out for the replies.

So sad that the author was unable to live to see the joy that she had passed on.

Of course, being English I knew about the German occupation of the Channel Isles. In fact on the main island of Jersey there are still the military installations and an underground hospital built by 'slave labour' which can be visited.
I understand there are, even now, a few 'issues' about the collaboration that went on between some islanders and the Germans, which had led to questions about What if the same thing had happened in mainland England, would we have behaved the same way?
I do feel the book 'sugar pilled' much of the bad times and I can't believe that the islands 'recovered' so quickly after the war.
But certainly an enjoyable, undemanding very light read.

I truly enjoyed this book, and hated for it to end. I so want to know about the rest of the lives of the cast of characters. I have lent it to a DD, with the admonishment that it be returned to ME!!

I just finished the book because of the glowing praise from this forum.

When I saw that it was 'just' a collection of letters, I almost didn't read it at all. I loved every single minute of it and like Yvonne, I made myself read it slowly and savor each minute.

I lurk here on a regular basis to get ideas for selecting books.

I have had some great reads. Thank you all so much for sharing.

glenda

I am one of those who have read and liked this book. I was almost put off by the title too, but read a review that tempted me to give it a try and I am very glad I did. I am another one who didn't realize the German's occupied the Guernsey Islands during WWII. I'm afraid that doesn't say much for my educational background. What history classes I had focused mainly on the US involvement during this time frame.

I too loved this book (we had it for book club several months ago) and thought it a tremendous shame the author didn't live to see it in print and how popular it was. I really liked the way the story was exposed in a series of letters, it was like a jigsaw puzzle where you got the pieces one at a time and slowly the whole picture was revealed. Highly recommended.

I liked the book very much as well. I didn't find the title one which encouraged me to read it though. Also, I sometimes was not totally clear on who some the characters were, got them mixed up, but maybe that's just me (mixed up, that is!).

I must go back and reread the first letters from Dawsy.
For some reason, I thought he was an older, doddering man.

I am so happy to hear that I was not the only one who LOVED this strangely endearing epistolary.

I have avoided any books written in letter form, thinking that they must be boring and confusing.

This certainly was not!

I adored her sense of humor which, apparently, reflected the same character of the writer.

I was fascinated by her ability to draw you into a character via letter and then tell a story of the occupation which felt like a gut punch to me. She really made the reader feel the sorrow and horror of that time.

I will happily suggest this book to everyone looking for an incredible story.

Although I have mentioned loving this book on several different threads, I feel the need to add my praises to this one. TGLAPPPS is a wonderful book. And I was one of those who turned back to the front and began again when I finished. I especially wanted to concentrate on Dawsy since it seemed I had not pictured him clearly the first time. But the characters were so unique and their experiences so hard. The book is a fascinating mix of sadness and humor. It was wonderfully done.

certainly an enjoyable, undemanding very light read.Vee, I think you pegged it exactly: It goes down easy, like Junket.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed TGL... since my expectations are usually deflated when I read the most-hyped and most-praised books. This is one of the few that kept its air for me.

I knew about the German occupation from reading history and other novels -- The Book of Ebenezer Le Page by G.B. Edwards and Lying with the Enemy by Tim Binding (neither of which I would call book-club-reader-type books). I have been interested in the patois of the Channel Islanders since my linguistics classes at university. If I have any disappointment with TGL..., it's that the unique dialect was not well represented. However, if it had been, it might not have appealed to the widest range of readers, so the author and her editors were probably wise.

All in all, a charming read for me and an easy book to recommend.

It may be a scandal to mention TV on RP but I can't resist. The BBC did an absolutely wonderful series called "Enemy at the Door" about the German occupation of the Channel Islands. It was made back about 1978-80 and there are only two seasons but it is really gripping. It's about the humans involved, not military history.

It's out on DVD and I got it free thru my local library. There are only two seasons but quite a number of episodes. I couldn't wait til evening to watch another episode. I think if you liked the book under discussion, you will really enjoy this version. It covers many of the themes that have been mentioned, showing how the war affected the lives of the Channel Islanders and the complicated relationship they had with the occupying Germans.

I really enjoyed the content but the letter form left me feeling like I was on the outside looking in instead of being right there so ultimately I found it very unsatisfying.

ginny-yes, I remember that series. Grittier than this book, since it is "as it is happening" rather than looking back and reading about it in the letters.

Chiming in to say how much I liked it too, and would welcome a re-reading, some day. I did know about Victor Hugo, but had no idea of the German occupation.

I, too, enjoyed this book so much. It reminded me of 84 Charing Cross Road, both the epistolary format and the charming characters. I love learning history this way.

I loved the book, too, and loaned it to my sister who is of a more gentle nature than I. She really liked it, too.

I remember seeing a TV production about the German ccupation. Was it a Masterpiece Theater production here in the U.S.?

Yoyobon, I meant to ask you if you have not read 84 Charing Cross Road. It is done in letters and is wonderful.

The film of 84 Charing Cross Road with Ann Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins was pretty good too. I loved the book.

I think both the book and the film of 84 Charing Cross Rd have the edge over the GL . . . because the story is true using the letters between Helene Hanff and the bookshop manager so all the stuff about post-war shortages, food parcels etc are totally accurate whereas GL . . . is 'made up' ( I hope no-one believes that the story of the literary society really took place). Of course if you just enjoy a good tale that's fine . .. I just happen to be a stickler for getting the facts right. ;-)

Although I didn't read the book, I have seen 84 Charing Cross several times and always enjoy it.

I am satisfied when an author researches enough to provide a substantial background of facts for a fictional story. Otherwise I tend to feel that I'm reading a history book.......although most of those are pretty edited and padded as well!

GLPPPS was just one of those rare and wonderful books that felt so comfortable from the first page.
For me, that is a great treat!

If a book doesn't "fit" reasonably, I find myself starting to critique the author's choice of words, writing style or lack thereof and am tempted to write scathing notes in the margins!! ( this is never a good sign ) :0)

Charming book, enjoyed it very much, I read it slowly and savored it.

I loved the book. However, curiously, my mom who is 87 and lived through the second world war could not get into it. She and I usually like the same books.

Pam, my experience is that if Mom lived through it, she's less enamoured of a re-examination than I am, and that includes fashions from the 40s that I just adore and she doesn't.

Sister had this for a book club and found she just didn't like it one little bit. Bothered by the format. I picked it up and loved it from the first page. You didn't know the Channel Islands were occupied? Heck, I didn't even know what Channel Islands were.

This was a happy book to read. Heartbreaking, too. Anger making. How can it be all three? Makes me realize how very seldom our character is tested. I want to think I'd never collaborate, but I'll never know living my insulated life.

I appreciated Juliet's dilemma of putting vignettes together in a comprehensive book and liked how Juliet chose to make Elizabeth the focus. I liked how Shaffer solved that self-same problem by putting the novel in epistolary form. Meta-moment there.

I finished this book last night. The book was quite enjoyable. I was born in 1947 and the book helps put the period in perspective. My parents met in Germany after WW2 both as members of the occupying forces.
My mother told me that when my father proposed to her she gave it little thought as proposals were common at the time. It was only later when she discussed this with someone else that she took him seriously.
One of my earliest memories are of a dingy grocery store in London, England and ration coupons still being used at the time. The family left England in 1952 and we never lived there again.

Quite a few years ago when I was in London I attended a play called The Dame of Sark. It was set during the German occupation of the channel islands. It was a fantastic play and I believe the playwright was William Douglas Home. It was based on a true story. The woman in the story wrote her autobiography and it is available as Dame of Sark, an autobiography by Sibyl Collings Hathaway. I haven't yet read the book but if you liked the Guernsey book, as I did, it might be something to look into.

I have read this book and I LOVED it too ! At first the title kept me away from it, but then some reliable friends said I should read it and I did NOT regret it. It's the kind of book that, by the time you finish, you already feel that the characters are friends of yours. It's well-developed, well-written, and a good read altogether.

I have found out that I actually like books whose stories take place during WWII.

I wrote my MA thesis on the occupation in the form of a historical novel, and was amused to find that I had written The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society's "prequel"! The Guernsey book is terrific; it's a shame that Shaffer didn't live long enough to see it in print. My book is going paperback next month in the UK; I'm very excited.

Here is a link that might be useful: War on the Margins