The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (audiobook)

 genre: epistolary fiction

When we meet Sybil Van Antwerp, she has already lived most of her life.  She has retired from her work in the law, her children are grown and she takes pleasure in all the ways one can entertain one's self.  What makes Sybil's life unique, though, is that for hours each week, Sybil dedicates herself to her correspondence.  With a piece of stationary and a pen, her life is expounded and explored and, like other epistolary novels, we as the readers are left to piece together what is said and unsaid as we read both what Sybil puts out into the world and what comes back to her.  And the task is such an engaging one.

I know I'm the last person ever to listen to this book and yes, you all were right, the audio is absolutely the way to go.  The voice of each of our letter writers and recipients and how these people interact with the indomitable Ms. Van Antwerp make the book move along quickly.  Keeping everyone straight does take a little brainpower but soon I felt like these were familiar old friends.  As much as Sybil can be a tricky person, as the book goes on we can understand why and my heart filled with so much compassion for her and for the people that she loves and that love her back.  I just kept FEELING so much as the years of letters went by: grief, hope, more grief, joy.  I think what I also really loved about this book is that it reminds me that life can constantly be full of surprises - new people and new experiences - and that it is never to late to find peace.