"I like that library books have secret lives. All those hands that have held them. All those eyes that have read them." - Meena Joshi in Same Sun Here by Silas House & Neela Vaswani
Written in an epistolary structure, this new novel intrigued me on the shelf, and I was fortunate to get it from the library this week. Two authors. Two voices. Two genders. Two cities. Two ethnic backgrounds. I loved how Meena (living in NYC after growing up in India) and River (her chosen penpal who lives in Kentucky) feel free to share details of their lives and secret thoughts in their handwritten letters that they would certainly keep safe had they interacted in person. The ways they come to understand each other through honest comments and thoughtful questions occur naturally through their correspondence. They discover similar tastes and interests, suggest ways for handling tough situations, and demonstrate empathy through their comments to each other. They also share book ideas!
I've added it to my epistolary book list and already can think of readers to whom I will suggest it in the fall.
Have you posted your epistolary book list online? I enjoyed, Ella Minnow Pea & Griffin & Sabine. For young readers PS. Longer Letter Later...Dear Mr. Henshaw...and for really younger kids, Letters From Felix, A Little Rabbit on a World Tour. Thank you for sharing this book.
ReplyDeleteAnother goal is read more of these epistolary books.
ReplyDeletewill you share your epistolary book list with us?
ReplyDeleteI will post the list somehow, but I need to update it from a few months ago.
ReplyDeleteIs this book for young readers...or young-at-heart readers?
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