A Comparison Between Annie Barrows' Potato Peel Pie Society and Mary Ann Shaffer's Awakenings in The Guernsey Literary

Awakenings in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

In the novel The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, writer Juliet Ashton falls in love with Guernsey, an island in the English Channel occupied by Germany during World War II. One day, she receives a letter from stranger Dawsey Adams about a book he acquired that once belonged to her. They exchange more letters and Juliet gathers more information of the island’s book club: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. As several other members of the society begin to write to her, Juliet becomes drawn to the world of these islands and believes she has found a new topic for her next book. Throughout the story, characters experience awakenings and changes in attitude that play a part in making life changing decisions.

While still living in London, Juliet begins dating Mark Reynolds, a publisher visiting from America. Mark treats her to lavish dinners and various other extravagant dates, which Juliet enjoys since she would not be able to provide these things for herself in these trying times. After two months of dating, Mark asks Juliet to marry him. She then discovers it is not Mark she is attracted to but his wealth. She finds that their personalities are not at all compatible and she cannot possibly have a future with this man, no matter how handsome or rich he may be. About two weeks after giving Juliet time to think, Mark’s patience runs out and refuses to take no for answer no matter how long it may take to get a yes, telling her, “We’re right together – you make me happy, you never bore me, you’re interested in the things I’m interested in, and I hope I’m not deluded when I say I think the same is true is for you. We belong together. I know you loathe it when I tell you I know what’s best for you, but in this case, I do.” (153) The next day, Juliet leaves for Guernsey much to the dismay of Mark and proudly leaves behind the thought of a life of fame and fortune, although she still may not be aware of what she really wants for her future.

Shortly after receiving her first letter from Dawsey, Juliet becomes fascinated with the interesting story of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and begins exchanging letters with its other members. She soon discovers that the most compelling member of the society is their founder Elizabeth. Every person who writes to Juliet adds to story of Elizabeth’s extraordinary life. As punishment for helping a polish slave worker, she was been deported from Guernsey and the islanders later hear that she was killed later at a concentration camp trying to save someone else’s life. So captivated by the stories that the letters deliver, Juliet decides to travel to Guernsey herself. After leaving London for Guernsey, Juliet experiences something new to her, the feeling of belonging. Although the death of Elizabeth proves to be devastating for them, in the end they all grow closer because of it. Wanting more of this rare feeling for her, Juliet agrees to become the caretaker of Elizabeth’s daughter, Kit. She treats her as she would with her own child and quickly falls in love with her. She develops her relationship with Dawsey and very often hangs around the society members and is able to converse with them as if she has known them for years. Despite only living in Guernsey two months, Juliet now sees it as a real home, saying she “would never marry [Mark] or anyone else who didn’t love Kit and Guernsey…” After deciding that this is the life she wants, she makes the decision to stay in Guernsey and without hesitation asks Dawsey to marry her.

In The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, characters make life-changing decisions after experiencing awakenings and changes in attitude due to changes in environment and the actions of others. Before first writing to Dawsey, Juliet was very dissatisfied with her life. She did not have many friends to talk with and was struggling to find a new topic for her book. After leaving Mark behind, Juliet decides that the glamorous idea of life that she once had is not what she really desires. Being welcomed to Guernsey with open arms from the society members showed her what she really needs in order to be happy with her life: the feeling of family. Juliet’s relationship with Dawsey and the islanders shows us that love is sometimes where we least expect it.