I read two books recently that really surprised me, in different ways. But first… I finished the Kate Atkinson book.
I really liked this book, but felt that it was falsely advertised as a “locked room mystery.” It was not that- but I liked the characters, the writing style, and the humor. Too bad I started with this, the most recent book in the Jackson Brodie series! I should have started at the beginning- but that’s okay, I can go back and read the earlier ones.
Next up- Meredith on the Currently Reading podcast recommended this book so highly, I immediately put a library hold on it:
When I got it, I hesitated. The entire story is told through letter writing. Sybil is a woman in her 70s. She corresponds with everyone- her children, siblings, friends, authors, and pretty much anyone who will write back to her. Wait a minute- is this book going to be… boring? Am I really going to like this? Fine… I’ll try it.
You guys… I LOVED it! The writing is beautiful. There are multiple compelling storylines that are slowly revealed, through the letters Sybil sends and receives over the course of several years. It was not boring in the slightest- I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen with Sybil’s adult daughter, her neighbor, and also wanted to know about some murky incidents from Sybil’s past (all is revealed in the end).
Seriously- I can’t recommend this book highly enough. You know me- I love mysteries and science fiction. So you know if I absolutely loved a book about an elderly woman writing letters, it has to be amazing.
Next up… I book I thought I was going to love:
I read two other Wally Lamb books years ago- She’s Come Undone and I Know This Much is True. I loved both of those and was excited to see that he has a new one. I waited a long time to get it from my library, but finally my hold came in.
Here’s the premise: Corby Ledbetter, a father of toddler twins, experiences the worst thing a person can imagine- he’s responsible for the death of his son in a DUI accident, and sentenced to three years in prison.
This book had so much potential. Corby joins AA, but having been raised by an atheist father and agnostic mother, he struggles with the spiritual aspect of the program. This could have been explored in a fascinating way, but everything in the book felt very superficial. At one point he checks out a book on Buddhism from the prison library- we hear one quote from it, but then it’s set aside.
How does a person find peace after causing such a horrific tragedy? What a great question, and you won’t find any answers in this book. Instead we hear a lot of details about prison life that just weren’t very interesting. I found myself reading on angrily, just to find out what happened at the end (although I almost didn’t care). I will say the ending was unexpected, but- I still didn’t like it.
Am I a different reader than I was 20 years ago? If I read Wally Lamb’s earlier books now, would I dislike them? I’m very curious to know if anyone else has read this book. Tell me what you think!
Up next:
My son has been bugging me to read this book, so I moved it to the top of my stack!
Top photo by Matias North on Unsplash
24 Responses
A book told through letters – it instantly reminded me of Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster. Didn’t Judy also write letters to her mysterious benefactor? Such a clever way to unfold a story.
The Correspondent sounds just as compelling – thanks for the recommendation!
Daddy Long Legs!!! Are you and I the only people on the planet alive who remember that story? I saw an old movie version of it first and later read the book. I remember that it was very sweet and moving.
I haven’t read Daddy Long Legs- but I’ll look into it. Yes, the letter writing in the book was so well done, the way it slowly let the story unfold.
I remember it! I loved that book. Liked the sequel too, but not quite as much.
Your own reading plot twist!
What a nightmare situation the Wally Lamb novel starts from! I don’t know if I could start from there…
I remember enjoying Howl when I dipped into it after I loved the movie… Can’t wait to hear about your discussions with P.
Yes, the first chapter of the Lamb book is title “The Unimaginable” and that’s truly what it is!
I’m enjoying Howl so far!
That Correspondent book does sound interesting! Maybe it’s because it’s like getting to be nosy and read someone else’s mail? LOL! And I am intrigued by this final book’s cover… a house with legs and some kind of little wizard??? Hmm! Keep us posted!
I just picked up the 4th Harry Potter book yesterday! Wowza they’re getting longer and longer… haha. Excited to dive in!
Ooh, the fourth book is a good one- they do get longer and darker, but so, so good. I’m excited for you.
Yes, I was going to say that but forgot- it’s definitely fun to read other people’s letters!
I have put The Correspondent on my list as per your comment yesterday. It looks like it would be right up my alley. It looked so up my alley that I actually checked to see if I had already read it (I haven’t).
I also enjoyed those Wally Lamb books when I read them years ago, although there is one horrific scene in She’s Come Undone that sticks in my brain, with respect to an eating binge. AHHHHH I JUST THOUGHT OF IT AGAIN. Well, as a person who frequently forgets what a book was about after reading, that probably says something positive that I remember that book from decades ago. But I haven’t read them in decades and I wonder indeed if I would like them. So much of reading is dependent on where you are in life, or so I have found. They touch us at different times.
I just finished a book that was disappointing in that I WANTED to like it but found it was too difficult to follow the plot, such as it was. In fact I literally forgot what the whole point of the book was while reading, and then I’d get reminded. I found I couldn’t care about any of the characters. I needed more depth, I guess, and there were just so many characters. Now I’m reading a book of essays Elisabeth had mentioned, by the creator of the Cathy comics, and I find I am relating to it a lot. I AM RELATING TO CATHY. That feels like a punchline.
Ha ha… I think I would like that Cathy book. I LOVED the cartoons when I was younger.
I hope you like The Correspondent! I’ll be interested to hear what you think about it. And- maybe I was just expecting too much from this Wally Lamb book, or I wanted it to be a different book from what it was. He just didn’t do it for me this time.
I’m a little bit obsessed with how my impression of a book lasts over time. On the one hand you have the Nevil Shutes and Joyce Porters, that I’ve been rereading since I was 12. On the other hand you have Theodore Dreiser and Ayn Rand.
I see parts of the Lamb book that look so intriguing from your description, and I’m irked that it fell flat. Sigh.
Oh yes- Arn Rand. LOVED her when I was in my late teens- I’m pretty sure I couldn’t get through those books now. And yes- the Wally Lamb could have been so good! Oh well- I guess he’s not the author for me anymore.
I also read The River Is Waiting and thought it was a disappointment. Such good potential and the author actually worked in a prison for years…but it was so formulaic and just every stereotype about prison. The ending also ….whattt!!! Unexpected but didn’t redeem the rest of the book.
We are in complete agreement! I didn’t know Wally Lamb worked in a prison- I was wondering where he got his information from. And the ending- whatttt!!! is a good way to describe it.
I have The Correspondent checked out and can’t wait to get to it. Right now I am reading a non-fiction book about climbing Everest and how guiding people has changed the conquest/state of the mountain. I loved the book ‘into thin air’ which is discussed in this book, too. It’s kind of a random topic to be interested in and yet I am (but would NEVER try to summit Everest!!).
That is a bummer about the Lamb book. I tried she’s come undone and couldn’t get into it many years ago. I have debated trying again but it’s soooo long!
Hmm, i wouldn’t try again if I were you! There are too many other great books out there. I’m listening to an older Currently Reading podcast episode (I’m making my way through season 6 right now) and it’s an episode with Roxanna. She mentions a book called In the Shadow of the Mountain, which it again about climbing the Seven Summits. She said it was excellent- you might like that one.
I’ve requested The Correspondent from the library, thank you for the rec. I think I may have read Howl’s Moving Castle after first seeing the movie, but that was so long ago, I’m not positive. I know I never read Wally Lamb, as he hit big when I was working at a bookstore, and all the fuss about the Oprah’s Book Club books turned me off so much I never read them!
OMG Jenny – guess what my 2 Broward lib holds were that i picked up last week? THE CORRESPONDENT and that same Wally Lamb!! I am only 50 pg into the Correspondent but I agree – delightful! Too funny.
What a shame about the Lamb – I read those two older ones too and would have been attracted to this one because of that, so thank you for the clearsighted review!
I have not heard of the Correspondent, but it sounds really good. So many good books, and so little time. I usually read so much more in the summer months, but I’ve not gone to the pool as often this summer so I’m not exactly tearing through books and my daycare starts up in a few weeks and there are so many things to organize before school starts. AHHHH! It’s fine. Everything will be fine. I’m reading Remarkably Bright Creatures right now.
I read Wally Lamb yeas ago and maybe I wouldn’t like him now?
I have a Kate Atkinson one on my book shelf..
So many good books out there and if only I had more time. Do I add The Correspondent to my list?
I just finished Blonde Dust and Griffin sisters’ greatest hits. I didn’t expect to like either but I enjoyed them.
I’ve just gone to put The Correspondent on my library holds list! There are 41 holds on…1 copy…so it’s going to take a while 🙁
The Correspondent is definitely on my list, and your rave review makes me more confident I need to read it!
I’m sorry the Wally Lamb book didn’t do it for you. It’s so hard when an author you love writes a book that doesn’t resonate. I feel almost… betrayed, I guess. You are probably right that our tastes change over the years, but that can be sad when it means you no longer enjoy something you used to!
I must have glossed over when Meredith talked about The Correspondents. Adding it to my TBR!
That Wally Lamb book is NOT for me. I just can’t do books about prison. They affect my mental health so much!