Et cetera : What We're Reading: The Correspondent

Review of 'The Correspondent' by Virginia Evans:

This book was told entirely through the exchange of letters between Sybil Van Antwerp and her many friend, relatives and even a few enemies. I had imagined that it would be dull and difficult to read, but on the contrary, it was quite enjoyable since it was, by turns, both sad to the point of tears, and next, so funny that the reader finds himself chuckling.

Sybil is no ordinary pen pal who dashes off a quick note here and there, or sends a purchased card, or even shoots a text. Although she has reached the age of 73 when first we meet, she holds fast to the proper way of communicating and refuses to deviate from it. From the book:

'...she straightens the stack of letter-writing paper and the short, always-turning-over pile of books she'll read next. She arranges the pens in the mug. She counts her stamps. She consults the stack of letters she's received and not yet answered; a list she keeps of letters she means to write; a stack of upside-down pages in the drawer, a letter she has been writing going on years now, still unsent.'

This excerpt tells us so much about Sybil as a dedicated correspondent; old-fashioned, disciplined, polite and gracious, but she also proves to be fiery, set in her ways, and never hesitant to speak her mind! Her family of letter-recipients include Sybil's younger brother, Felix, who resides in France, her best friend and sister-in-law, Rosalee, her children, Bruce and Fiona (who only sends and receives e-mails), the Garden Club leader, the president of a university concerning a class Sybil wishes to audit, and a columnist for the Baltimore Sun. In addition, she has ventured to write to several well-known authors critiquing their work; she is on a first-name basis with Ann Patchett!

'The Correspondent' is currently being read by quite a few of our patrons here at VPL, and we are happy to report that we have many copies; it is also available in large type. I enjoyed this book and would give it 4.8 on the "Connie Scale." It is on the New York Times Best-Selling Hardcover Adult Fiction list again this week; Goodreads says 4.51/5. Stop in today for a good book, and remember to relax and read!

~Connie, Library Assistant