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Sybil Van Antwerp is a judgmental, uptight old woman who is deeply seeking human connection through her written correspondence, which fills this epistolary debut novel. Her life is small and lonely, though she doesn’t realize it. As the book progresses, she moves beyond her daily routines into new experiences that expand her perspective.

“…it’s like the whole neat thing has had a good shake, and, for the first time in a long time, I have no idea what’s around the corner.”

These experiences are good for Sybil. Her hard shell softens and we learn about the tragic events and choices in her life that shaped her curmudgeonly exterior. As years pass and her vision fades, she reflects on her life and begins to seek redemption. 

The Correspondent is an uplifting book and surprise hit that many readers have loved. The author does a wonderful job telling Sybil’s life story through the letters she exchanges with family, friends, her neighbor who’s courting her, former colleagues, and even authors like Joan Didion and Larry McMurtry. Many of Sybil’s observations and musings on grief and hardship are truly gorgeous.

That said, I found it hard to buy into some of the aspects of the story. Namely, that all these people in Sybil’s life would be as consistent, articulate, and responsive letter writers as she is. That successful authors and celebrities would write back to her and even strike up a correspondence. And that so many people cared enough to keep her in their lives on her terms, despite her abrasiveness. I lost steam with her letters about two-thirds of the way in.

I did appreciate the character evolution in this book and I can genuinely see why so many readers have loved it. While the reading experience didn’t totally land for me, it’s still a very well written and moving story that I’d recommend.