“My father’s escape was the yellow-painted metal mailbox on a post by the privet hedge. Almost every day it contained a letter for him from somewhere else — flimsy aerograms or heavy bond paper with official-looking seals. At the age of ten I learned that it was possible for me, too, to write to strangers and have them write back to me. Suddenly, I could see a way to widen my world by writing away to all the places where I imagined history happened and culture came from.”
A young Geraldine Brooks sees her life in a suburb of Sydney, Australia as lacking in adventure. She assumes that any place far away must be more exciting than her house on Bland street (yes, she really lived on a street named Bland) and when by chance her father encourages her to write to a girl in Australia, Geraldine finally gets a chance to “get out” of her small world.
Having the one pen pal though just sparks more interest for Geraldine in wanting to know what youths in other parts of the world are going through. As the memoir unfolds she recounts the changes in culture and atmosphere that are taking place Australia during the 60s and 70s and as she sets out to write letters seeking pen pals from the Middle East, France, and America she finds their differences are sometimes not all that great.
As the years pass by some of the letters become more infrequent and others simply stop, even Geraldine herself is increasingly becoming busier with her schoolwork and early career as a journalist, but for her these relationships meant something. Before she knows it, she is leading a fascinating career as a globe-trotting reporter and she finally gets to visit some of the faraway and dangerous places she often dreamt about. Her memories of her pen pals are with her as she sees some of these places and she decides to find her pen pals.
Of all her pen pals, it is a girl from America, Joannie, whose story was the most bittersweet to read about. Their friendship started over a love of Star Trek and was fueled by their idealism and rails against social injustices. Over the years though, Joannie transforms from a vibrant young woman to one suffering from depression and an eating disorder. I can’t help but think that although she enjoyed reconnecting with her friends it is this relationship that left a more lasting impression on Brooks.
It was lovely to see how some of her pen pals to whom she had stopped corresponding with for many years and finally tracked down where shocked to hear from their pen pal, not surprisingly, but though years had passed by they still seemed just like the boys and girls she communicated with so long ago. After the initial shock most of them were happy to share where life had taken them and reconnect with an old friend.
When I started the book I was expecting a lot of excerpts from letters to her pen pals but instead I got small but fascinating glimpse into an Australian childhood. Brooks is funny, charming and inquisitive. For anyone who loves travel, armchair or otherwise, and loves checking the mailbox for letters this is one not to miss.
Source: Library Copy
Great review, Iliana!
I remember my first pen pal was a girl from Vienna, Austria. We lost touch as the years passed by, but oh what fond memories! This book sounds like a great read. I’ll have to check it out. 🙂
I recently read March and fell in love with Brook’s writing, so I’d definitely like to try some of her non-fiction sometime. This sounds so good! I never had any penpals, but I did started having online friends at 14. I wonder what some of them are doing these days.
What a brilliant idea for a book. I really want to read this now. I didn’t realise it dealt with the author’s penpals. I used to have loads of penpals when I was a teenager, now I speak to everyone via Facebook.
Oh yummy! This is now on my TBR list. I sometimes wonder what happended to the pen pals I had as a kid especially the girl from India who wanted to become a doctor. I always hope she did.
Melody – Thank you! I think my first pen pal was to The Netherlands. I miss the days when I used to write letters on a regular basis. Hope you’ll enjoy this when you get a chance to check it out 🙂
Nymeth – I’ve only read her book Year of Wonders which I thought was fabulous so it was a treat to read this one. Actually I think she may have written this one before some of her fiction. I definitely want to read some of her other books.
vivienne – Isn’t it cool? It is a memoir but the slant is quite different and it was so nice to read a memoir that isn’t all depressing and tragic so that’s another big plus. There were some sad things but overall you weren’t feel overhwelmed by the sadness.
Stefanie – Wouldn’t it be cool to reconnect with some pen pals? I loved having pen pals and certainly with this book I thought I should start writing again. Ah, to get letters from faraway. So much fun!
The loss of letter-writing is a sorrow.
When I was young I had loads of penpals–I even visited several of them when I traveled to Europe. I do miss getting letters in the mail–it’s too bad letter writing has all but disappeared. I really do need to read this I think.
I really need to read one of Geraldine Brook’s novels.. This sounds wonderful. I have a pen pal who I began writing to when we met at summer camp when I was 9. I am almost 47 and we are still writing letters and emails to each other!
Shelley – It is! I still have so many letters from friends and family from when I was younger. I treasure those.
Danielle – That is so great that you got to visit them! I had hoped to visit one of my pen pals when I started traveling to Europe on a regular basis but somehow our correspondence fizzled and well that was that. I hope you do get a chance to read this one.
Kathleen – I’ve only read Year of Wonders but highly recommend it! That is so wonderful that you still write to your pen pal. So have you met?
This does sound good! I never had an international penpal but I have recently reconnected with a friend from grade school who was a penpal for many years – through college and not much beyond that.
Year of Wonders was a great book.
This sounds interesting! I’ve saved my letters from friends and family throughout the years.
Care – Oh that is so cool. I wonder what happened to a lot of my pen pals. Now after reading this book I sort of want to start the whole pen pal thing again.
bookworm – I have all of my letters too! 🙂
Echoing Stefanie this sounds yummy. Letters and Geraldine Brooks – what could be better?