Before passing it on to me L told me it was a very good. Reading it revealed that to be an understatement. It's one of those books that engages from the first page while getting better steadily in reading. Seldom do I read books currently on the NY Times current best seller list, but this is one.
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans is totally in the form of letters sent and received, except for one that's more like a diary. Sybil, the primary character, a retired attorney living alone, has written, and, consequently received, letters since she was a girl. Now her pattern is to sit at her desk at 10:00 am every day and write letters. These letters, and the replies she receives, constitute the book. A family tragedy much earlier in her life had a huge impact on her, to which she only comes to terms in her final years.
A brilliant and self reflective woman, her engagement with others causes her to significantly change in her latter years. The book is filled with the wisdom that comes with such reflection and her willingness to engage honestly with others. These include life long friends, family inc. a son and daughter, neighbors and young boy who's the son of a friend. She also writes to authors, public figures and people in the news, often receiving a reply. Not only does she change with her correspondence so do others through her missives. Almost by accident long secret family members come to light.
In her acknowledgments at the end of the book Evans give strong tribute to her husband, Mark. Then below the last line the acknowledgment is this.
James 1:17
Takk for alt,
Al
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