THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, 2008.

I had been meaning to read this, but had just put it off. Don't know why, just got buried under other books I wanted to read more. It's an excellently crafted story done in letters, between a British woman writer and a group of people on the Island of Guernsey, concerning their lives during the German Occupation of the island during World War II. As the story is set in 1946, the memories are fresh, and thus there's more of an impact. Author Juliet Ashton is contacted by a man, Dawsey Adams, who owns one of her discarded books, and the correspondence takes off from there: she, looking for another subject for a book, becomes intrigued by some of his references to the Literary Society and wants to know more. Dawsey recommends she correspond with others on the island. So she exchanges letters with others in the society and over time the story is fleshed out through these letters. Juliet is drawn into their varied lives comes to know them intimately--their likes, dislikes, what they read, how they feel, etc., and eventually she decides to visit Guernsey to meet them all in person. Her visit becomes a time of self discovery for Juliet, as she meets the folks she has come to know only through their letters. There is kind Amelia Maugery, fisherman Eben Ramsey and his grandson Eli, Isola Pribby (who makes potions), the pretender John Booker, Will Thisby, who concocts potato peel pie for the group, and young Kit McKenna, an orphan; all of whom have their own stories, plus pieces of the main story. Central to the novel is the story of Elizabeth McKenna, a friend to many on Guernsey, who is taken away by the Germans to Ravensbruck, and who hasn't returned yet. Part of Juliet's discoveries on the island concern Elizabeth and her whereabouts and what they learn about Elizabeth's fate changes all of these characters' lives forever. A very moving and fascinating book, well drawn characters good and bad, interesting story and setting, lots of genuine warmth and humor, and about finding connections. A very worthwhile read.