Is this possibly my favourite book of the year?

I was captivated by this story and the history in it making it to print in the first place. This is the first and only novel of author, Mary Ann Shaffer.  Mary was a 70 year old English librarian who was goaded by her book club to write a novel. She chose the setting of Guernsey where she had visited and become stranded due to heavy fog in 1976. Unfortunately Shaffer did not see her book in print before she passed away. The book was ultimately finished and edited by Shaffer’s niece, Anne Barrows.

The book is written as an epistolary novel (written in the form of letters). Initially I thought this approach would  lead to the flow of the story being dis-jointed, and leave me as the reader, frustrated.  On the contrary, I loved how this style made the characters more real and likable.

WW11  has ended and Juliet Ashton, a writer based in London, has writer’s block. She receives a letter from Dawsey Adams, a stranger from Guernsey, who comes across her name in a second hand book. Ashton and Adams begin corresponding and soon the young author is corresponding with other members of the island’s Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Through their letters, the Society tells Ashton about island life under the German occupation.They explain not only their love of books, but also how each of them has in some way been affected by their wartime experiences. The young author soon finds she is setting sail for the island with the view to writing the Society’s story and bringing it to life. But is that what the island’s eccentric mix of characters want? is there more to their stories than they are letting on? Will Ashton discover the truth, leaving her life changed forever?

I truly enjoyed this book, not only because Shaffer made her characters likable,  but also because of her interesting recounting of how the island and its occupants were affected by the occupation.  It is an enchanting novel and the Afterword written by Barrows is a moving tribute to her aunt.

So was this my favourite book of the year? Yes, I would rate it alongside Burial Rites by Hannah Kent.  Both books have been adapted to film. I am eagerly looking forward to watching Shaffer’s story come to life on the small screen over Christmas.

I would recommend you put this book on your Summer reading list.