The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
I hope this finds you enjoying a great book. But if not, and you need a recommendation, I have one for you: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. I picked it up on a Friday and finished by Sunday evening! It’s the kind of story you can read straight through or revisit in pieces, thanks to its epistolary style—a novel told entirely through letters.
If you love books like 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff or The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, add them to your pile as well. These stories are favorites of mine, and The Correspondent belongs in their company.
Why Letters Matter
Sybil, a retired attorney in Arnold, Maryland, writes letters to everyone: her kids, best friend, brother, a troubled young boy, even Joan Didion and George Lucas. Most are handwritten, though some arrive as emails—and even those reveal her sharp wit and personality. Through her correspondence, you come to care deeply for Sybil, her family, her fears, her humor, and especially for Harry.
There’s something uniquely intimate about reading someone’s letters. We encounter Sybil and her world in a way that feels personal, almost privileged. Though I devoured this book quickly, the characters lingered long after, especially Sybil herself.
A Tribute to Letter Writing
Perhaps my favorite aspect of The Correspondent is its celebration of the art of letter writing. I love sending and receiving handwritten notes, though like most—even more so in 2025—I rarely do it. After finishing Evans’s novel, I revisited The Art of the Handwritten Note by Margaret Shepherd. She likens a handwritten note to “dining by candlelight instead of flicking on the lights, or taking a walk instead of driving.” She offers wisdom on crafting meaningful letters, thank you notes, even apologies.
So much of our communication now is instant: calls, texts, emails sent without a pause for thought. In the past, even dialing a rotary phone forced us to slow down, to consider who we were contacting and why. Sending mail was a ritual: drafting, writing, correcting, addressing, stamping. It gave us time to reflect and connect—to truly reach out.
Not Obsolete—Just Waiting
Unlike the rotary phone, heartfelt letter writing isn’t obsolete. We can still choose to send a note of thanks, encouragement, or love. It takes effort—and that’s the beauty of it. The time you invest is a gift to the person on the other end.
After reading The Correspondent (and rereading The Art of the Handwritten Note), I’m inspired to revive my own letter writing practice. My mom will be delighted! While I send thank you notes and condolence letters occasionally, it’s been too long since I wrote simply to connect. I’m not sure who will receive my first letter (perhaps my mom?), but I’m excited to begin.
If you’d like to join me on this venture, send me your address—I promise to write you a handwritten note.