I don’t know about you, but I did not see the popularity of the epistolary debut The Correspondent by Virginia Evans coming. First novels, let alone novels written entirely in letters, are not necessarily burning up the bestseller lists these days. Book trends can follow predictable arcs at times, so it can be refreshing when a book or author makes it big by not hewing to one mold or moment.
Evans captured what readers are also yearning for—a complex character who makes mistakes, even reflects and apologizes, and tries to be better the next day than the day before. Sometimes we want to see a character that feels real somehow, flawed but not cruel, headstrong and confident but still open to learning. To some degree this was what made Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ove so popular. Sybil Stone Van Antwerp makes an impression through her letters—she feels like a fully realized character.
Here are some books with similar qualities and characters. Not all are epistolary in nature, but all delve into the better nature or deeper truths of complex people and aspects of their inner lives:
The last time an epistolary novel became a surprise bestseller was in 2008 with The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. It starts with a correspondence between writer Julite Ashton, who is looking for a new subject for her next project, and a farmer on the British island of Guernsey after WWII. Juliet begins receiving letters from other Guernsey residents who were a part of a mysterious society during the German occupation and what she learns from them does more than just spark enthusiasm for her writing, it also introduces her to a charming community whose sneaky acts of subversion during wartime prove awe-inspiring.
“The point of living in the world is just to stay interested.” Kathleen Rooney’s novel Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk introduces 85-year-old Lillian on New Year’s Eve in 1984, as she walks through New York City on foot. She recounts her days as an advertising writer for a well-reputed department store in the 1930s, as well as her bestselling poetry. Lillian’s voice crackles with wit and cutting observations, such as details of the sexism she experienced, including from a female work nemesis. Throughout her walk and ruminations of the past, we see New York through the eyes of a woman who deeply loves the city and its messy peculiarities, even its potential dangers. Her zest for life and revelry in small interactions is infectious. Inspired by the life of ad woman Margaret Fishback, the novel delivers an unforgettable character who carved a path for herself with sheer grit and gumption.
In Must I Go by Yiyun Li, 81-year-old Lilia Liska starts reflecting on her life and writing it down for her favorite granddaughter, Katherine. Now in a nursing home, Lilia has been married three times, had five children and 17 grandchildren, and is finally ready to share the story of a lover who fathered her first child and face her grief. Tough and withholding, Lilia is a character reminiscent of Elizabeth Strout’s Olive Kitteridge, but sometimes a tough exterior hides wounds and depths that others do not realize.
The Sentence by Louise Erdrich is a novel about the power of stories and connection in people’s lives. Set in a bookstore in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, the community uprisings, and the pandemic in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this novel explores themes of grief, rage, loss, and redemption while it weaves in robust and loving depictions of books and their resonance during challenging times. Tookie, a formerly incarcerated bookseller, narrates and breathes life into the community that seeks solace and respite in their community bookstore. A recently departed customer also haunts Tookie’s store and memory in this book that celebrates community in turbulent times.
Dear Committee Members by Julie Schumacher is an epistolary novel with a less-than-emotionally-attuned main character whose disgruntlement with academia is on full display. In this humorous short novel, Professor Fitger is a creative writing teacher at Payne University who is anticipating the publication of a prized student’s novel. In the meantime he has agreed to write recommendation letters for other students, but only if he can be brazenly honest. Blistering, uproarious, and incisive, Schumacher shows just how lively letters can be in this academic satire.
Emailing and texting come up more frequently in contemporary novels than letters, and the email exchange at the heart of this novel steals the show. Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld is a love story that is also deeply funny—which makes sense, because it happens to feature a sketch comedy writer. Sally loves working on The Night Owls (aka TNO, a renowned sketch comedy show not unlike SNL), where she and her colleagues make comedy gold every week with their guest stars. Hobnobbing with her castmates and fellow writers and getting to know famous people week to week is just part of the deal for Sally. But when pop star Noah Brewster comes on set to play the dual role of host and musical guest, Sally is surprised that there is something beneath his good looks and catchy pop hits. Noah may actually be kind…and funny! But their meet cute gets derailed by a weird moment, and then the pandemic, in this sweet, slow burn romance with plenty of laughs.
~ posted by Misha S.
