Amy’s Pick of the Week: The Correspondent

For many of us, letter writing has been replaced by emailing and texting. But not for the protagonist in Virginia Evans’ new epistolary novel (a book written through letters), The Correspondent. Sybil Van Antwerp, a mother and grandmother, a friend and reader of books, retired from a distinguished career in law, communicates with people from many segments of her life through pen and (a particular kind of) paper. Through these letters, readers are given insight into 10+ years of Sybil’s life.

At the beginning, the collection of letters seems insignificant: heart-felt and sometimes nagging notes to her brother in France, a thank you card to her neighbor, fan mail to Ann Patchett regarding her most-recent book in 2012 (State of Wonder). But then we start to see excerpts of letters written to a mysterious someone, and we begin to catch on that Sybil has more complicated relationships with some of the people to whom she writes.

Her best friend happens to be married to her ex-husband’s brother. She corresponds frequently with the alienated young son of a former colleague with the understood agreement not to share information with his father. She’s in a spat with the garden club, and she starts to receive threatening letters from someone who only signs their initials.

Throughout the book, we understand that other people accommodate Sybil’s preferred communication style, and that this communication style allows for a careful, measured response. It also allows the reader to see so many sides of Sybil, who might otherwise be seen as a gruff character.

These ten years of Sybil’s life are full of intrigue, some danger, romance, family, quarrels, and forgiveness. All told through written correspondence that allows the reader in to this complicated woman’s life. Even if you don’t see yourself picking up a pen and paper to write a letter, you will want to pick up this book for a lovely read.

If you enjoyed Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout or The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams, The Correspondent may have been written for you.