Letter writing isn’t quite as popular as it was in the past, but that makes it all the more special. Whether you’re receiving or writing one, letters show time, reflection, and consideration. They can be therapeutic as well, letting someone write out complicated emotions without the pressure of an immediate reply, or any response at all if you decide not to share it.
Epistolary novels, though not limited to just letters, recognize the power of that kind of communication and use its form to create amazing and unique stories. Read on to learn about four incredible modern-day epistolary novels.
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
In On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, Little Dog, a 28-year-old Vietnamese American, writes a letter to his mother, who is unable to read, in which he recounts his deeply personal experiences growing up gay, Asian, and as the child of immigrants. Vuong is most known for his poetry, so it’s no surprise that this novel features beautiful poetic language throughout. It also touches on complex and often painful topics, such as drug use, generational trauma, war, mental illness, and internalized homophobia. Though the book is not a work of nonfiction, Vuong was heavily inspired by his personal life.
Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
Bernadette Fox, once an architect, is a stay-at-home mom who struggles with agoraphobia. Just before the family leaves for a trip to Antarctica, Bernadette goes missing. Her 15-year-old daughter, Bee, decides to unravel this mystery by collecting letters, emails, notes, and other documents that belong to her mom. Aside from being an epistolary novel, Where’d You Go, Bernadette is also quite satirical, and it invites readers to think about mental illness, trauma, family, relationships, and creativity.
This Is How You Lose The Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
In this science-fiction novella, two agents from rivaling factions form a surprising bond after they begin leaving letters for one another on the battlefield. Each time-traveling faction is fighting for a specific future for humanity. This makes their letters all the more interesting as they both write their poetic letters while traveling between time periods and cultures. This Is How You Lose The Time War explores war, love, queerness, and gender nonconformity in its pages.
Texts From Bennett by Mac Lethal
After his aunt loses his home, rapper, and now-author, Mac Lethal invites her and his 17-year-old cousin Bennett to move in with him and his girlfriend. Instead of letters, this epistolary novel chronicles texts Mac receives from Bennett, a “wannabe gangster,” in the year he and his mother live with Mac. Many of these texts were originally posted on a Tumblr blog, and its popularity led to the book’s publication. This crude but comedic novel deals with family, relationships, race, and misogyny.
Every Blade of Grass by Thomas Wharton
After meeting at an environmental conference in Iceland, James Wheeler and Martha Geddes wish to strengthen the connection they felt by sending one another letters over the years. Their friendship blooms throughout this epistolary novel, where love, loss, and an appreciation for nature take center stage. Unlike most of the others on this list, the letters in the novel are broken up by narration and even images.
Epistolary novels, especially in our modern-day world, don’t always have to use letters for its form. Texts, emails, social media posts, and even job applications are all great options writers have used. This, along with the inclusion of themes and experiences more relevant to modern readers, continues to keep this kind of novel fresh and interesting. Perhaps these great stories will inspire more contemporary epistolary publications in the future.
Check out this article to learn more about epistolary novels.
Go here to find even more recommendations from the Bookstr team on Bookshop.org.
