Terrie Robinson's Reviews > The Correspondent

Epistolary Fiction: An interesting window into a life...

Our protagonist, Sybil Van Antwerp, has much to say in her correspondence with family, friends, acquaintances, and even people she has never met. She's a mother, grandmother, divorcée, prestigious lawyer, and a septuagenarian who struggles with aging and mortality. She never holds back, uses wisdom and experience to get her point across, and when all else fails, her snarkiness slips in.

Sybil Van Antwerp is mostly an acquired taste...

I inhaled this lovely book in three emotionally charged sittings. I laughed and cried, shouted in my head, and spent time staring off in space, thinking about my life and remembering the past. I didn't want this book to end, and the two times I set it down, I couldn't wait to dig back in. And who, in their right mind, can resist a story that references books throughout?

An immersive read, the audiobook has a multicast narration bringing the characters to life and delivering authenticity and uniqueness to each correspondence. Trust me, it's a memorable experience.

The Correspondent, at its core, focuses on the power of human connection through Sybil's correspondence. It also explores themes of regret and forgiveness, family and belonging, and discovering solace and happiness late in life. This is beautifully written and creative storytelling using the epistolary narrative and format. An impressive debut, and I look forward to what's next from Virginia Evans!

5⭐