Wednesday, February 27, 2013

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows and Mary Ann Schaffer

Hello Ladies!  The time has come to prepare for our next book club meeting. 

We are discussing the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Annie Barrows and Mary Ann Schaffer. Here are the details:

Meeting Details:
We are meeting at Stephanie's house on Thursday, March 7 at 7:30PM

Address:
5 Burrwood Drive
Hamilton, ON
L9C 3S9


Menu Ideas- Traditional Guernsey Island dishes, handed down through the generations 

Appetizer: 
Potato Peel Pie - Chandra

Mains:
Ormer Casserole - Sarah
Guernsey Bean Jar - Sherrie
Guernsey Biscuits - Trish
Island Crab Patty - Melissa

Dessert: 
Guernsey Gache  - Tessa
Gache Melee - Amanda

Drinks:
Alderney Milk Punch - Stephanie
Coffee/tea - Stephanie

Any other menu ideas?

Most of these recipes can be found on the following website (or wherever you choose to get them from!): http://www.visitguernsey.com/-recipes

I will provide the drinks including the Alderney Milk Punch.
Please leave a comment indicating which menu item(s) you would like to bring.


Discussion Questions

1.Did you enjoy the book?  Why or why not?
2. What was your experience reading a novel composed entirely of letters? Are there types of information or emotion that letters convey more successfully than other forms of expression? Would a novel in emails have different strengths and weaknesses?
3. What makes Sidney and Sophie ideal friends for Juliet? What common ground do they share? Do you now have or have you had people in your life who have offered similar support to you?
4. Dawsey first writes to Juliet because books are so difficult to obtain on Guernsey in the aftermath of the war. What differences do you note between bookselling in the 1940s and bookselling today? Do book lovers share common qualities across generations?
5. What were your first impressions of Dawsey? How is he different from the other men in Juliet's life?
6. Discuss the writers who capture the hearts of the members of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Does a reader's taste in books reveal anything significant about his or her personality?
7. Whose lives are changed the most by their membership in the society?
8. In what ways are Juliet and Elizabeth kindred spirits? What does Elizabeth's spontaneous invention of the Society say about her approach to life? What does her bravery reveal about it?
9. Numerous Guernsey residents give Juliet access to their private memories of the occupation.  Which voices were most memorable for you? What is the effect of reading a variety of responses to a shared tragedy? 
10. How does Remy's presence enhance the lives of those on Guernsey? Through her survival, what recollections, hopes and lessons are preserved?
11. What historical facts about life in England during World War II were you especially surprised to discover? What qualities of wartime experience are captured in a detail such as the invention of the potato peel pie? Are there ways in which fiction can provide the means for more fully understanding a historical reality?
12. Which member of the Society was your favourite? Whose literary opinions are most like your own? Do you agree with Isola that "reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones"?

15 comments:

  1. Wow - great job, Stephanie. I loved the book and can't wait to try out some of these dishes!

    Don't forget to sign up for a menu item here in the comments. Guersney Gache has my name on it. :-)

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  2. Lol Tessa! I'd like to bring the Gâche Mélée. Can't wait!

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  3. I will do the crab patties. Looking forward to it!

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  4. I'll bring the potato peel pie. :)

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  5. Trish Actually :)
    I'll bring the biscuits

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  6. I will make the potato peel pie :) Do you want me to make the old style pie or the newer recipe that is more appealing and appetizing?

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    1. I emailed you already, but Chandra has claimed the pie... unless you want to make a different recipe from her?

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  7. Well this isn't working out too good is it :) I'm not able to make any of the other things so I will try to find something different to bring and surprise you all :)

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  8. Hey all!
    Sorry, but the way my week is looking, I won't be able to make it out this Thursday night. Too bad really... I hope to finish the book regardless, so far I really like it! Perhaps Amanda would like to take my item?

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  9. I would like to bring Tan's dessert please :)

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  10. Does anyone have any other ideas what to make/bring? Sarah is having a hard time thinking of something and I am coming up blank. I was lucky with mine :) Thanks Tan though we will miss you :)

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  11. I don't think everyone always has to bring something, not sure I even know what an Omar is so I can see how nobody has taken that one:) Just tell her to come without bringing something, there is always next time...we have plenty of food.

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  12. If you follow Stephanie's link and go to "veg and herbs" there are some simple recipes for rosemary biscuits and tomato soup and asparagus salad - not that anyone HAS to bring anything, but just in case you really wanted to. :-)

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