Reviews

Air Mail: Letters of Politics, Pandemics and Place by Amy Irvine, Pam Houston

decaturtrailreads's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring fast-paced

5.0

arielamandah's review against another edition

4.0

4.5 stars. This was a blood-rousing delight. The kind of book that “gets your mettle up” (so to speak). Houston and Irvine exchange letters - not having previously met - during the beginning of the pandemic. It’s fierce, it’s thoughtful, it’s full of beauty and fear and worry. I wish I’d had these letters in 2020. I’m glad I got to read them now. Cheers to tough, brave women who feel deeply.

the_cheesiest_slytherin's review against another edition

3.0

A book about fear essentially. Writing was great, just not a fan overall.

raehink's review

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

cvergobbi's review against another edition

5.0

If you are feeling lonely and unmoored and afraid, these letters will ground you. The interactions between Houston and Irvine (who live across the continental divide from each other in Colorado and have never met in person) tackle everything from the pandemic and current politics to motherhood, misogyny, the meaning of community, ancient cave paintings, the ugly history of the United States, horseback riding, humanity's place in nature, and the fine line between realism and hope. While there are certainly moments of privilege and tone-deafness, they are often acknowledged and challenged in ways you don't always see with white, western nature writing. Overall, this book gave me hope, made me feel better about the world around me, and reminded me of the purpose and power we all have, even when the world and our lives spin out of our control.

paigelchristie's review against another edition

5.0

Powerful, intimate, and timely. Worth reading!

coric's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad

5.0

 

Reading Amy Irvine and Pam Houston’s deeply personal correspondence almost feels like an invasion of privacy until you remind yourself that historians have always relied upon letters and journals to explore and understand our past. Instead, we should be grateful for this rare invitation to follow the development of a genuine friendship in the 21st century developed through mailed letters sent back and forth across the Continental Divide. Despite all our technology and options for connections, it is a lovely reminder that putting pen to paper allows for deeper thought and reflection while still providing an unscripted and unfiltered authenticity you don’t often get today. It was enchanting to watch the formation of what will be a long and powerful friendship, and I want to be part of their women warrior battalion. A year later, their poignant observations about the early days of the coronavirus pandemic and quarantine seems both distant and present. We’ve been provided with a gift that marks and reflects on the state of our world and politics alongside the events of our most recent history. This small but powerful publication is a bright light in a horrific year and proof that some good things resulted from our Great Pause.

 

katiebee's review

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

These letters perfectly capture all of the feelings and emotions that I was having at the beginning of the pandemic. They are hopeful, thoughtful, and wise.