July, 2011: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

(Book #15) This book gathering took place at my home, where I did not make a Potato Peel Pie, but rather mad a potato pie (quiche) with bacon and chives.  I put the beets into a green salad rather than in the pie and “Amelia” made a raspberry pie for dessert just as she did on p.211. (Her raspberries came in with a vengeance.) Everyone enjoyed the book, particularly Marcia who enjoyed the epistolary format. Geri brought a letter written by Charles Lamb apologizing for, while also excusing his drunken behavior — it was Dawsey’s interest in Charles Lamb that starts the book and the book within the book!  I asked if anyone else had to Google Todt to find out what was meant by Todt slave. I did and found that Todt was in charge of the construction of fortification around the island once it was under German occupation. We talked about the way literature becomes part of our life as is so beautifully illustrated in Eben’s reference to Shakespeare’s “The bright day is done, and we are for the dark.” We also loved the idea of a child who could make up a game called “Dead Bride!”