Will I love The Correspondent?

This is a brilliantly written story about a complicated, contemporary woman, seen through her letters and emails. Sybil Van Antwerp is in her seventies and has been writing letters all her life. She is a hardworking, intelligent career woman; a friend, sister, mother and avid reader. Through her correspondence, we learn about those around her; her effect on them and their effect on her. I enjoyed all the characters; those with whom she corresponds, including well-known authors. (I loved that part). The sad reality is that she is losing her sight and may not be able to continue writing letters.… show more.

Engrossing novel in the form of letters and emails about a divorced, retired woman' s life.

Heartbreaking, funny, engrossing, and character-driven -- there was nothing I didn't love. We listened to this on a long drive through New England, and yes, it is possible to bear the sadness while tears are streaming down your face and stay on the road.

To be honest, at first I was put off by the "crotchety old lady" personality of Sybil, the main character, and the epistolary style. But as I read on, I was totally absorbed by the brilliant way the plot lines interweave and undercut each other, and Sybil's growing self-realization.

There were so many seeminly disparate threads to the epistolary storyline but they came together so naturally and beautifully in the end.

When I first started The Correspondent, I found it a bit confusing and had to jot down who was who to keep everything straight. But that didn’t last long, once I settled in, I was hooked. The story centers on Sylvia, a senior woman who was ahead of her time professionally, and whose life unfolds through letters to family, friends, and even film stars, authors, and politicians. Through her correspondence, we see her regrets, kindnesses, heartbreak, health struggles, and moments of joy.
At first, I wasn’t sure about the letter-writing format, but it ended up being one of the things… show more.

How original to write the novel through the medium of letters. The storytelling was masterful.