I'm not a fast reader. Sometimes it takes me an entire month to read one book, but other times I pick up a book and I simply cannot do anything else with my life until I finish said book. The Correspondent, opens a new window by Virginia Evans was like this for me. Unputdownable (yes that is a real word).
I had no idea it was an epistolary novel (a book written in the form of letters), although obviously that isn't too surprising given the title of the book. I picked up this book late Saturday night and finished it the next day between loads of laundry and a trip to the grocery store. I did nothing else all day, and I have no regrets.
There’s something uniquely intimate about stories told through letters. They invite us to piece the narrative together ourselves, creating a reading experience that feels personal, immersive, and a little bit magical. In a world that is so technology-dependent, I just absolutely loved the concept of this book, that Sybil simply loves to communicate via hand-written letters (she will use email too, if she must), and that everyone in her life just accepts this and follows suit. I looked forward to every single exchange, be it with her best friend of sixty years, the kind neighbour from across the street, her family living both nearby and abroad, the young son of a former colleague, the stranger-turned-friend from The Kindred Project, the authors that she wrote to over the years (many of which wrote back!)... the list goes on. I loved it all.
If you're like me and you love novels that unfold through letters, diary or journal entries, found documents, or other nontraditional formats, you might enjoy this list of read-alikes. I will say that one key title is missing from our collection (and therefore missing from this list), and that is 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff. We have just reordered it, so we'll have a copy soon, but it can be borrowed through Interlibrary Loan in the meantime.
This charming classic, first published in 1970, brings together twenty years of correspondence between Helene Hanff, at the time, a freelance writer living in New York City, and a used-book dealer in London. Through the years, though never meeting and separated both geographically and culturally, they share a winsome, sentimental friendship based on their common love for books.
It's such a delightful little book (and it consists of their actual letters to one another – they were real people!). I shared Fiona's sentiment in The Correspondent when she notes that Helene reminded her of Sybil (I guess in my case, Sybil reminded me of Helene, but same thing)!
Anyways, back to the list. And if you haven't read The Correspondent, opens a new window yet (the holds line is long, I know!), be sure to put it on hold ASAP!
If You Liked The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
Check out these books where the stories unfold through letters, diary or journal entries, documents, or other unique formats. Did I miss any titles that fit this theme? If so, drop them in the comments and I’ll add them!
About the author: Candice is Red Deer Public Library's Brand Manager. Her reading tastes are all over the map, but she usually reaches for contemporary or historical fiction. She loves when books make her cry or laugh out loud. She also loves a good page-turner romance, thriller, or mystery. If you're looking for fantasy recs, she is not your go-to gal, but she’d be happy to point you to someone who is!
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