Extract of interview with GL&PPPS author

Listen to extracts of an interview with author Annie Barrows of the Guernsey Literaty and Poato Peel Pie Society at YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7FBcYKl7RA

Featured in Guernsey Literary Society:Wilfred Owens

Clovis Fossey finds a voice in the poetry of Wilfred Owens' experiences in WWI. pg. 72

Featured in Guernsey Literary Society: Rainier Rilke

In the novel GL&PPPS, Christian gives Elizabeth a book of collected poems by Rainier Maria Rilke. The inscription in the book reads, "For Elizabeth, who turns darkness into light." pg. 259

Featured in Guernsey Literary Society: Letters of Seneca

On page 88 of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, character John Booker states that Seneca's letters keep him from getting drunk.

Annie Barrows' Potato Peel Pie Recipe

Here’s a recipe for a potato peel pie, but I warn you, it tastes like paste. The more authentic it is, the nastier.

These ingredients will make a very small pie (expand at will):1 potato 1 beet 1 Tablespoon milk

Peel the potato and put the peelings in a pie pan. Don’t cook the peels, because you’re in the middle of an Occupation and you don’t have any fuel. Boil the potato and the beet together in salty water, but not for very long, due to the fuel problem. Just until you can stick a fork in the potato. Take them out and mash them up with the milk. Pour the glop in the pie pan. Bake at 375 for as short a time as is consonant with digestion (fuel again), say, fifteen minutes.

The finished product will look quite attractive and pink. If you squint, you can almost imagine raspberries. Don’t be fooled. It looks a lot better than it is. However, if you forgot that you were in the middle of WWII and added a bunch of butter and milk and salt, it could be quite tasty.

http://www.guernseyliterary.com/bkRecipe.html

Extremely rare letters by Oscar Wilde found in Guernsey

One of the stories in the novel "Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" revolves around finding letters written by Oscar Wilde about the many lives of a cat. These "letters" perhaps were inspired by the real short stories written by Wilde and published as fairy tales for children. Another interesting note: Wilde had a sister named Isola-one of the characters in our featured book.

Meeting Guernsey Dawsey Adam's muse: Charles Lamb

Wikipedia reports that Charles Lamb Charles Lamb (London, 10 February 1775 – Edmonton, 27 December 1834) was an English/Welsh essayist, best known for his Essays of Elia and for the children's book Tales from Shakespeare, which he produced with his sister, Mary Lamb (1764–1847). Lamb has been referred to by E.V. Lucas, his principal biographer, as the most lovable figure in English literature, and his influence on the English essay form surely cannot be overestimated. Charles Lamb was recognised greatly by The Latymer School; it has six houses, one of which, "Lamb", is named after Charles.

Learning about Guernsey Island

In preparation for the 3/21 Book Discussion, Janeites may want to learn more about the Channel Islands, especially Guernsey. Here are a couple of links: http://www.visitguernsey.com/guernsey.aspx

http://www.islandlife.org/history_gsy.htm

Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society Book Discussion

Save the date! March 21st around 1pm, we will meet at Janeite Barbara's house in Spring Lake, NJ to discuss this delightful book. Barbara also recommends reading Helene Hanff's 84 Charring Cross Road too-a quick enchanting read. More details will follow under separate cover.