Today's Featured Book:
The Correspondent
by Virginia Evans
Genre: Fiction
Published: April 29, 2025
Page Count: 291 pages
Summary:
Sybil Van Antwerp has throughout her life used letters to make sense of the world and her place in it. Most mornings, around half past ten, Sybil sits down to write letters—to her brother, to her best friend, to the president of the university who will not allow her to audit a class she desperately wants to take, to Joan Didion and Larry McMurtry to tell them what she thinks of their latest books, and to one person to whom she writes often yet never sends the letter.
Felix, my dear brother,
Thank you for the birthday card, the fountain pen, and the book, which I started the day it arrived (Thursday) and finished today. It was exactly as you described. Unlikely and electric, inventive, and right up my alley. Seventy-three feels the same as seventy-two for what its worth, arthritis, constipation, and trouble sleeping, and I've decided to stop dyeing my hair....
THE FRIDAY 56 is hosted by Anne of Head Full of Books. To play, open a book and turn to page 56 (or 56% on your e-reader). Find a sentence or two and post them, along with the book title and author. Then link up on Head Full of Books and visit others in the linky.
I began writing letters and became obsessed. Most often, when I wrote, I got a letter back. This surprises people, but I have found that most people write back...
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Sybil Van Antwerp writes letters. That is Sybil's identity: a letter-writer. She writes to her brother (like her, he was adopted by their parents), her daughter, her sister-in-law and best friend, authors, university professors, support staff at a genetics company, and anyone else she takes a mind to contact. She also adds to a lengthy letter to an unidentified person that she never sends.
This book is a compilation of her letters and some of the responses to the letters. By reading the letters she writes, we get a picture of a life.
The purpose of THE BOOK BLOGGER HOP is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, and befriend other bloggers. THE BOOK BLOGGER HOP is hosted by Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.
May 16th - 22nd - What are some of your favorite books to re-read? (submitted by Nicole @ The Christian Fiction Girl)
Great question!
This year I have reread The Backyard Bird Chronicles; Wolf Hall; Big Magic; The Forgotten Door; The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store; The Enchanted April; The Westing Game; The Color of Magic; Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver; and 1984.
But you asked what are some of my favorite books to reread. I've reread most often A Wrinkle in Time; The Good Earth; Gilead; The House on Mango Street; Don Quixote; The Great Gatsby; The Grapes of Wrath; Because of Winn-Dixie; and Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
That book sounds so good! Have you finished it by now and if so was it good all the way through? I guess I can pop over to Goodreads and look for your review and add it to my TBR.
ReplyDeleteI love epistolaries and this sounds like one I'd enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI've re-read a few books this year: Olive Kitteridge, Small Things Like These, Amy & Isabelle, and Iron Lake. I plan to read My Name Is Lucy Barton for the third time later this month.
I'm also a fan of epistolary books. I've seen a couple of other mentions of this book. Need to see if I can find it. Re-reading - I'm a big fan of that behavior. Various reasons. I have books that make me feel happy or comfortable that I've read more than once. And I enjoy catching up on series by doing some rereading as well. I know it doesn't appeal to everyone though. To each his/her own.
ReplyDeleteI often think about rereading but rarely do...so many books are calling my name that are unread. This Correspondent sounds like a thoughtful book. Is it a novel or nonfiction?
ReplyDeleteThe Correspondent sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteWow you have reread so many books!
Have a great week!
Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
My post:
https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com/2025/05/16/book-blogger-hop-what-are-some-of-your-favourite-books-to-re-read/
I like the sound of this book. Glad you posted about it.
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds fascinating! I love the idea of exploring a life through letters—such a unique and intimate way to tell a story. Sybil's habit of writing but never sending letters adds an intriguing layer.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a rather charming one. And I love the idea of writing "real" letters!
ReplyDeleteThough the premise sounds interesting, I'm not a huge fan of books written by letters or diary entries I do hope you enjoyed it though... The Art of motorcycle maintenance is an interesting choice of reread, somehow I doubt i'll see it on anyone else's list.
ReplyDeleteWriting letters this way is a fabulous idea, I've always wanted to take time to write more letters and never seem to have a moment to spare. Maybe notecards would help, I wouldn't feel so overwhelmed and unable to fill pages...
ReplyDeleteI've heard good things about this book. I do enjoy epistolary books if they are well done. I hope you enjoyed it, Deb.
ReplyDelete