Epistolary Novels for World Letter Writing Day – September 1
Australian Richard Simpkin launched World Letter Writing Day (September 1) in 2014 to introduce children to the art of letter writing. Many of the children at Waverley College, Sydney, where the launch was held, had never written a letter by hand before.
There is something special in receiving and reading a letter that a friend or loved one has taken the time to write by hand. The connection to the writer seems stronger than one sent digitally, such as through email or text messaging.
If you would like some inspiration to write a letter to a friend or loved one, here are some novels that I have enjoyed that are composed primarily of letters.
The Chilbury Ladies' Choir by Jennifer Ryan
As the men begin to head to battlefields of World War II, the Chilbury village choir becomes the first casualty of the war. When a female professor of music insists the choir can continue as a ladies’ choir, the small community is at first scandalized by such an idea. As the Ladies' Choir is established and starts to flourish, the town is soon distracted by other shocking events. As the war advances on Chilbury, even more lives are changed forever.
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The Color Purple by Alice Walker
In 1930s rural Georgia, Celie has survived a childhood of ceaseless abuse and neglect. As a teenager she begins writing letters directly to God as a way to endure a life that often seems too difficult. Her letters span twenty years and record her journey of self-discovery and empowerment. Winner of the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
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The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society book club was born as an alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island during World War II. Juliet Ashton, a London writer struggling to write a new book, converses in letters with the Society's members, learning about their lives, their island and the impact that the recent German occupation has had on all of them.
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Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole
In 1912, young poet Mrs. Elspeth Dunn begins a long correspondence with her fan, David Graham, an American college student. Years later, they briefly meet when David is away to serve in France. Interspersed with Elspeth and David’s letters are 1940s missives from Margaret, Elspeth’s daughter, to her uncle as she tries to find out about her father. After Elspeth disappears, Margaret discovers her mother's correspondence with David and has even more questions.
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Sophie's World: A Novel About the History of Philosophy by Jostein Gaarder
One day fourteen-year-old Sophie Amundsen comes home from school to find in her mailbox two notes, with one question on each: "Who are you?" and "Where does the world come from?" From that irresistible beginning, she enrolls in a kind of correspondence course, covering Socrates to Sartre, with a mysterious philosopher, while receiving letters addressed to another girl. Who is Hilde? And why does her mail keep turning up? To unravel this riddle, Sophie must use philosophy.
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8 thoughts on “Epistolary Novels for World Letter Writing Day – September 1”
This is great! Written correspondence is indeed very special. I rarely get postcards or letters in the mail but when I do, it’s so exciting and nostalgic! A great non-fiction title to look into on this theme is “Dear Scott, Dearest Zelda: The Love Letters of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald”. It’s so moving and romantic, and fascinating to see how beautifully and thoughtfully people wrote back then!
For lovers of the classics, Dangerous Liasons by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos is a very smart and somewhat biting epistolary novel. It inspired at least two movies that I know of. TPL has it in several different translations. For tween girls, I really like P.S. Longer Letter Later by Paula Danziger and Ann M. Martin, as well as its sequel Snail Mail No More. It shows two girls with very different personalities and their long-distance friendship. And for teens, Jaclyn Moriarty’s The Year of Secret Assignments is a great look at the fallout, romantic and otherwise, of a pen-pal school assignment, while Sorcery and Cecilia, or the Enchanted Chocolate Pot, by Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevermer, is just plain delightful. Great topic!
I am eager to read these books. Thank you for telling us about them. I enjoyed writing letters to pen pals as a kid and to my grandmother after I moved away from home. Receiving letters was always enjoyable, too.
Thank you for the suggestion Andrea. The book about the Fitzgeralds sounds wonderful.
Thank you for all the suggestions Claire. My ‘To Be Read’ list is getting longer and longer.
You are very welcome Sharon. I hope you enjoy the books. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is one of my all-time favourites.
Because of this blog, I listened to the audiobook of Letters from Skye. Being originally from Scotland myself, and having already read the Guersey book, I thought it sounded interesting. This book did not disappoint, it was beautifully read by several of the actors, and was a very engaging story. I thoroughly enjoyed it and have already recommended it. Thanks!
I’m thrilled that you enjoyed the book Anne. Thank you for taking the time to let me know. It’s always wonderful to hear that someone has enjoyed a book that I have suggested. You’ve made my day!