The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

Rating: 3 of 5 stars 

Pages: 304 pages
Published: April 2025

I picked up an electronic copy of The Correspondent by Virginia Evans to read on my Kindle app as it was the monthly selection for the Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club this October. The novel, a debut for Evans, is a slow burn that is told through the letters of the primary character, a 70-something retired lawyer named Sybil Van Antwerp. As she writes to family, friends, and authors, Evans creates a portrait of a woman reckoning with aging, regret, and grief. 

The entire novel, written in epistolary format and structured entirely through letters and emails, is both a strength and limitation. I typically enjoy this format because it provides the reader introspection you might not get in dialogue. However, Sybil writes to a lot of people, and the sprawling cast of characters that include neighbors, former colleagues, family, and friends add a level of logistical complexity for the reader. This made discernment of character importance a challenge. I really struggled during the first part of the book, so much so I had to make a list of characters with short descriptions to keep track. 

Having said that, the story is a beautiful ache. The heart of Sybil’s conflict surrounds the death of her son. Throughout the story, we learn more about her grief and how it has affected her relationships. Parallel to that story, the reader learns that Sybil is losing her sight slowly and how that is affecting her. As the character develops and gains insight into her flaws and shortcomings, conversely we, as the reader, watch her lose her physical sight. I found this plot device to be very clever in helping create a pace in the plot. 

Evans’ writing is elegant and profound. She captures the reality of aging with grace, learning at any age, and extending and receiving forgiveness very well. Her creation of Sybil speaks to the humanity in us all (none of us are getting out of here alive!), and the letters she crafts through this character and her relationships are a testament to the enduring power of the written word, which I very much appreciated. 

Recommendation: I enjoyed the premise and what the author was trying to do with the process of grief. After completing the novel, I read several recommendations that the book is more easily understood in audio format as each character is voiced by a different actor. I think I would have enjoyed this book more by listening. It is currently offered on Spotify with a premium membership, and perhaps I will go back and reread the novel by listening. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.