theliterateleprechaun 's Reviews > The Correspondent

What a delightful, unassuming book!

It was wonderful to meet with Virginia Evans over Zoom last week and listen to her share about the journey to publication, and see the various proposed covers of the book before publication.

If you’ve seen the cover or read the book, who do you think the two birds represent? I’d like to think they represent Sybil and Rosalie.

For those who haven’t read this book, it’s an epistolary account of Sybil Van Antwerp, a lonely and grieving septuagenarian. Don’t let that sway your opinion, though. It’s not full of sadness. Just the opposite; there are twists, secrets, romance, and many laughter-filled moments as Sybil reveals herself to her reader. She’s a vibrant, smart woman with a big heart, and the author shows how grief over an extended period of time (long grief) builds a person.

Through the letters, readers get to see the different sides of Sybil; they’re a tool for understanding her better. The author described them as mirrors, and I loved that! I did notice that Sybil readily offers help (and her opinion) to everyone she corresponds with, but often fails to take her own advice or seek help for her challenges. I appreciated the lesson in this.

Do you send handwritten letters?
I used to when my grandparents overseas were still alive. Sadly, I’ve allowed email to take over as my main form of correspondence.