CORRESPONDENT AND LAND

Bees were buzzing, birdies were tweeting and the Western Banjo frogs were pobble-bonking on the second day of spring - which was when 7 bookclubbers landed at Margie P's place to discuss her book choice, 'The Correspondent' and McLassie's selection, 'Land'.  As we settled in we all missed Megan, wished her all the best and hoped for next time, and felt envious of Cherilyn and 2-caps because, as the rain came down outside Ferguson Ave setting off car alarms (well, something did), they were enjoying the sun in the deep north.  Both corresponded with their thoughts about the books which then set the conversation off and running - and it was 'Land' that landed first. 

McLassie led with her synopsis of 'Land', an Irish historical novel set in the latter half of the 19th century.  Chosen to follow her interest in historical novels (after Hamnet also by Maggie O'Farrell), McLassie overviewed key events in the author's biography, including being hospitalised with encephalitis at 8 years of age, which MO'F put down as leading her on the road to literature.  Later graduating from Cambridge Uni she now has a long list of awards, and considers her husband (fellow Cambridge traveller, William Sutcliffe) is her best critic.    

McLassie and MO'F took us on a journey to a remote part of western Ireland, recounting the effects and after effects of the Great Irish Famine (1845-1852) on the O'Dwyer family (Tomas, Phina and children Liam, Enda, Rose and Eugene, and of course Bran the dog). 'Memory, identity and the way the past survives into the present' were Cherilyn's words from afar summarising (both) the book/s.  

The bog, the fish and the ring ?

Our conversation started with the O'Dwyer's hard life, particularly for the women when they moved to the peninsula (including having to make soap, and don't we all look forward to McLassie delivering her production at our next meeting!), but it was the weaving of mythology into the fabric of the book that created commentary.  Some readers found it difficult to place the relevance of Irish folk mythology around the bog, the fish and the gold ring to the story.  Unhelpfully this was only scantily described by MO'F in the early and late sections of the book which was a big miss, because it seemed a central premise on which she based the story.  Some readers also thought the book tried to do too much (eg famine, diaspora, imperialism, religion, mythology, Irish independence movement, country life, cartography +); some wondered why Enda and Rose's stories were left hanging in Canada, while Liam's return to cartography and Eugene's return to the land and a hermitic life with the ring returned to the bog, was somehow symbolic and more complete; and some thought that elements of contradiction scattered throughout the text shifted confidence in the book's editor.  

Despite these criticisms, 'Land' landed with all readers as an interesting book, very readable and a good choice - which in light of the fulsome discussion, possibly required reading with feeling, more than a judgemental eye (although we thought perhaps William could be a more thoughtful critic next time).

McLassie handed the book baton on to Margie for her selection, 'The Correspondent' by Virginia Evans.  Guilt and connection were added to Cherilyn's trifecta (memory, identity and the past) by Margie about this book.  Margie's research revealed Virginia gained a bachelor degree in English literature in Virginia USA, where she met her husband Mark Evans, then after having a family went back to complete a Master in Creative Writing at Trinity College in Dublin.  'The Correspondent' was started during the Covid years and is her first published novel, wining the 2026 Women's Prize for Fiction (a prize which was interestingly started in 1996 after none of the six shortlisted books for the Booker Prize in 1991 were written by women).   

Kazuo, Joan above: Ann, Virginia below

Margie summarised the epistolary novel where protagonist, 70+ year old Sybil Van Antwerp, wrote letters and emails to a wide range of people in the morning, as her sight declined over the years.  Family members, close and not so close friends, her lovely neighbour, past colleagues and professionals, academics, her doctor, young people, a customer service representative of the genetic testing company, her acerbic garden club members, and famous authors/public figures received letters or emails from Sybil's pen/keyboard - reflecting Sybil's thoughts about current events, family, relationships, and as her sight declined, the important people and events in her past life.  

We all agreed with 2-caps' comment 'Go Sybil!', as she emerged from her writings as a very engaging character - with humour, warmth, and strength, saving her cutting wit for those who were less accommodating to her (read the Dean of the English Department at Maryland Uni who initially blocked Sybil's entry to audit literature courses).   There was consensus that this was a very affirming book, partly about the forgotten art of correspondence but mostly about the importance of relationships.  However guilt made a strong appearance towards the end with the unsent correspondence.  We reflected on the similar drowning deaths in Kathy's book (Remarkably Bright Creatures, and the fate of Tova's son Erik - accident or suicide?) and Gilbert (accident), Sybil's son - but it was only a passing comment.  The main reflections on the book were about Sybil's strength of character, and particularly her readiness to reconnect with family and friends with things had gone awry (as happens in life).  

Similar but not Margies - imagine
a blueberry crowning the tartlet 
(now sorry I didn't take a photo!).

Tea for two came out, along with Margie's fabulous home made lemon curd tartlets with blueberry, and we agreed these were two very different but rewarding books.  The tartlets rolled around the table and our mouths while we talked about the dangers of swimming in half-width marked laps, tumble turns, country life in the 1950/60's, and swimming in the river - along with the trials of cooking (or not) for one or two in our later years.

Few tartlets remained as we collected our stuff and wandered out the door - but not before next books were chosen, which after some umming and aahing are:

Julie: 'Whister' by Ann Patchett (you may want to correspond with her about it like Sybil)

Sue: 'The Picasso Ransom' by A.T. Prewett (a slightly indulgent choice for a light fluffy caper read)

See you on 11 November 2026, at 1 Fox Street Goodwood.