The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

The Correspondent follows Sybil Van Antwerp, a sharp-witted, opinionated septuagenarian who has spent her life making sense of the world through letters—sent, received, and sometimes never mailed.

Through writing and receiving letters, she makes sense of her world, both past, present, and future. As new correspondence dredges up a painful chapter from her past, Sybil is forced to confront long-avoided truths and consider what forgiveness really requires. The epistolary framework gives the narrative a contemplative rhythm and leads to some interesting discussions about both the permanence and vulnerability of written words.

Ultimately, this is a story of connectedness: how easy it can be to connect to strangers and create mutually nourishing new paths; how difficult it can be to open to the people who are always there; how a single act can form grudges for years; and how small decisions can
permanently change our lives. The members of our book group enjoyed the audiobook versions as well as the written versions of this novel.

~Reviewed by Mary Day