gemma short writings

Dear reader,

I’ve debated picking up The Correspondent for a while until, finally, I made the decision to listen to it as an audiobook. Oh, this doesn’t disappoint. When approached with as many perspectives and with as much nuance as Evans achieves here, then I become a real sucker for the epistolary novel— a damning side effect of studying 19th century literature during university, a time where I was also reading the most pretentious confessional works of fiction. It’s no wonder that this recently won the Women’s Prize for Fiction. Just from the first quarter of the book, I’m gripped. It is incredibly endearing just to read about the mundanity of this woman’s life told through her voracity for the lost art of writing to people.

The reason why I have decided now to write to you about it so early into the book is because I keep having moments where I need a minute to recover. I have just listened to a letter that, like a few others so far, just broke my heart. A key thread throughout the story (this should not really be a spoiler) is about Sybil having been adopted, something that doesn’t normally affect her but was inadvertently thrown in her face. She confesses to her brother about her uncertainty and embarrassment regarding her sense of self and how she is perceived. Although the events that unfolded were hardly mal-intended, I was met with the strong compulsion to hug this fictional woman (although I think she would hate such a form of compassion).

I must confess that I’m interested in letter writing. Much of my creative work during my MA had remnants of it mixed with different styles, even if I didn’t always get it right. Outside of fiction, in my life, my letter writing has been sporadic, and very rarely crafted for the right people, for people who would appreciate the sentiment. It is a fascinating device for exploring a character, which could be why I find the process of non-creative letter writing daunting, like I’m cutting into myself to bleed out for someone, entirely uncertain about how they would react or respond. It can be an incredibly intimate form of communication that requires raw vulnerability. But, perhaps if I did it more often then that weight would lessen. Nonetheless, I think that like Sybil, I find it easier to articulate myself through long-form writing than through text or talking.

I’ve gone on for long enough. I shall get back to reading the rest before I jump to more conclusions even if they were of the highest praise. I’d strongly advise you read it too. Let me know what you think.

p.s: If I have persuaded you to read, may I suggest audiobook first before a physical copy? It has a lovely cast behind it that really help you to immerse yourself into the story.