I really and truly loved every moment of this book. I was reminded of Remarkably Bright Creatures and A Man Called Ove where you get to meet these older people who have hidden or rough exteriors but have the best stories to tell. Sybil’s story was no different. 

So, I listened to this through audiobook, but the formatting still came across clearly. This is told from the perspective of those writing to Sybil, and from Sybil’s perspective as she writes back, so the whole book is emails and letters. Sybil’s innermost and deepest thoughts are told through letters that she never sends to an unnamed person. So, you still get a lot of depth in her character even through just the letter-writing. 

I think what I liked about this book the most (besides the fact that the characters are all amazing), is that it shows what being human truly means sometimes. It means that we’re screw ups. It means that we make mistakes and can’t forgive ourselves. But it also means that we help others, we learn from our mistakes, and we grow. There was SO much growth in The Correspondent for every character that you encountered and it was just beautiful to witness. 

As far as plot and stakes go, Sybil is losing her eyesight, she has an unknown stalker, and she writes to an unnamed person about everything going on in her life. While I guessed who she was writing letters to very early on, the other plot points really didn’t feel as pressing as you’d think they would. It was more of a languid “come along for the ride” kind of book. 

Overall, while not a very long review, I really hope the beauty and depth of this novel came through in these short paragraphs. If you love grumpy (but mostly lovable) septua- and octogenarians, you’ll love The Correspondent. Honestly, if you just love stories about the simplicities, intricacies, and beauty of life, you’ll love this book. Highly recommend. 

Source: Audiobook from Libby Public Library

(P.S. You can read tons of books—including ones written by me—by trying a free trial of Kindle Unlimited!)