Saratoga Reads!
2024 Reading Season

Saratoga Reads closed out its sixth year on Friday evening, April 16, with a festive capstone celebration of this year’s book of choice, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, and an appreciation reception for sponsors, volunteers, and supporters. More than 80 guests gathered at the New York State Military Museum for an “insider’s guide” to both the island of Guernsey and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

Guest speaker Sara Loyster, a true Guernsey insider, offered her remembrances of Mary Ann Shaffer, as both a friend and a fellow writing group member, and her talk and the special video clip she shared allowed presented an intimate view of the author, as well as her writing process and her development of characters. In addition to Ms. Loyster’s funny and moving portrait of the author, the journey to Guernsey included video clips of the island both today and during the German occupation of 1940-45.

Recollections of World War II and the impact of the war on Saratoga Springs were among the themes explored in two events offered by Saratoga Reads and its community partners. The events, open to the public, drew on themes from the current Saratoga Reads book of choice, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.

On Saturday, Feb. 27, at the Spring Street Gallery (119 Spring St.), the Saratoga Vital Aging Network (SVAN) offered a discussion of Guernsey with a focus on the book’s theme of resiliency and bonding in times of adversity. The organizers encouraged participants to share their own stories and extended a special invitation to veterans and others who experienced World War II.

Activities include discussion groups and a family-oriented movie matinee.

Recollections of World War II and the impact of the war on Saratoga Springs will be among a wide range of themes explored in upcoming events offered by Saratoga Reads and its community partners. The events, open to the public free of charge, will draw on themes from the current Saratoga Reads book of choice, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.

The book is a fictional story told through a series of letters. It depicts the life and struggles of a group of neighbors on the English Channel island of Guernsey during World War II, when the island was occupied by Nazi Germany.

Saratoga Reads will launch its February programming with a special sales event at Borders Books and Music on Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs and will offer three programs for young readers through mid-month. All events are open to the public free of charge.

An all-day Borders benefit for Saratoga Reads will take place on Saturday, Feb. 6, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Shoppers who use a special coupon will save 10 percent on their entire purchase, and in addition, Borders will donate 10 percent of all coupon sales to Saratoga Reads in support of the organization’s public programming.

Saratoga Reads has announced a list of some 60 suggested books for young readers, compiled to complement the program’s book of choice for this year—The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.  The list of “junior companion books” has been designed to appeal to a wide of range of age groups and to encourage families to read together.