I loved Letters to a Stranger by Sarah Mitchell. This intriguing story completely charmed me! What a unique dual timeline masterpiece written through letters and text messages! I never once felt the letter approach affected the story telling and, in fact, I found it drew me in quite quickly. The personal style allowed me to experience in a genuine way the characters’ desires, impressions, hopes, dreams and their search for answers. We learn all about their lives through correspondence with each other. Letter writing gives the characters an active part in telling their own stories. At first, though, it felt strange reading someone else’s mail!
Ruby and Cassie are both incredibly endearing characters that come together through a letter writing scheme set up through Noah’s (Cassie’s son) school. He is too young to take up this letter writing venture (meant for the older students) so Cassie decides to take over the correspondence and a friendship develops that sends her on an unforgettable journey into the life of a fascinating woman.
Ruby is the fascinating 96 year old lady who has led both a heartbreaking and productive life. She has never married but was very devoted to her job (as she confesses herself). She shares her story with Cassie through a series of revealing letters that she has kept from the past. We learn what Ruby encountered and endured through the second world war years. Through her letters and of those Ruby corresponded with, we learn much about life in England in 1939. Such as the difficulties many Italian immigrants experienced as they became the object of suspicion when Mussolini joined forces with Hitler. This created a very negative atmosphere of distrust and for Ruby who was romantically involved with an Italian man named Edmondo, living with his family in England, things turn sour when two childhood sweethearts are ripped apart. Ruby is forced to make a decision she regrets as it cost her, her love and peace of mind. Guilt follows her for years but at the time she had no choice for that decision was necessary. Later we learn the full truth of the consequences of her action. But in the meantime, she directs her loss and passion towards study and becomes an important scientist. Her incredible scientific victories made me smile and cheer for her dedication helped a lot of sick people.
Cassie has a little boy who has had a serious illness. She is in a relationship with a man who is a dentist (so he is exposed to many people). When COVID hits, she decides to take her son to a separate location near a beach for a while to protect his health as he is immune compromised. The caravan she rents is owned by a farmer and although she has not met this man, she begins corresponding with him, first just to ask him about various details of the accommodation. But the letter writing eventually spreads into other areas such as animals, tractors and farming. It is an intriguing time of learning for both Cassie and her son. Also, during her stay in the rental, we discover more about the dentist and things are not as wonderful as hoped.
The story is written extremely well. The characters are clearly portrayed, the descriptions vivid and the plot clever with some unexpected twists. I was sympathetic to Cassie and Ruby with their challenges in each timeline. How and when these two woman come together in the present is pretty special when we learn of their connection! The art of letter writing, too, is well demonstrated on these pages and it had me pulling out some of my own old letters from past friends and family I kept! There is truly something wonderful about seeing another’s handwriting on a piece of stationary. Especially of our loved ones who have passed on. It is a tangible tender connection to another human being.
I found the parallels of WW2 and the pandemic quite interesting, too. War is war and wears many faces. The theme of friendship is another major topic that permeates these pages. But betrayal also casts it shadows on each timeline. Regardless, the discovering of romantic love, plus the importance of being true to oneself and following gut instinct are clear and shining messages.
Letters to a Stranger is a wonderful story, well designed and delivered with a proper happy ending. This novel carries substantial thought and wisdom. It contains serious episodes but also there are some beautiful, humorous and cloud enhanced moments (read it and see what I mean). This is the first book of Sarah Mitchell’s I have read and now I am dying to read more! I highly recommend Letters to a Stranger and give it 5 glowing stars.
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a review copy.
