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beth_books_123's review against another edition
3.0
A few formatting issues reduced the rating - 3*
A note on the Kindle edition: I read this on Kindle and will adapt the Goodreads review to suit that. Some of the letters were in their original format and not typed, which on the Kindle I found incredibly difficult to read. I felt like I was at an eye test.
The book, itself, is a fantastic idea and sounds like a labour of love. I think there were 128 different letters in this edition. These letters covered a huge range of history and some made me smile, some made me angry ad some had me close to tears. The opening letter from the Queen with the scone recipe made me chuckle. There are many letters for me to discuss but I simply don't have the time. If you're reading this review, pick up the book - you will be surprised by it.
A note on the Kindle edition: I read this on Kindle and will adapt the Goodreads review to suit that. Some of the letters were in their original format and not typed, which on the Kindle I found incredibly difficult to read. I felt like I was at an eye test.
The book, itself, is a fantastic idea and sounds like a labour of love. I think there were 128 different letters in this edition. These letters covered a huge range of history and some made me smile, some made me angry ad some had me close to tears. The opening letter from the Queen with the scone recipe made me chuckle. There are many letters for me to discuss but I simply don't have the time. If you're reading this review, pick up the book - you will be surprised by it.
sloatsj's review against another edition
3.0
Some remarkable letters here, some of which are reproduced, which is all the better. I confess to not reading every single one. I dislike Ernest Hemingway, for example; I have Hemingway over-saturation and never need to hear of him again.
My 2 favourites here were
1. "Sweetheart, Come," a profoundly sad letter from a crazy woman to her husband, especially worthwhile for being reproduced
2. "To my old master," from a former slave to his former master, which is basically an effective flipping of the bird
There were other worthwhile letters, like the one from the guy who foresaw the Challenger disaster, and the pissed-off guy who wrote to an environmental agency about a dam.
I didn't like the show-offy letters, like Eudora Welty's (though I love Eudora Welty) and Groucho Marx. They were more irritating than amusing.
All in all a nice collection. I gave it as a gift.
My 2 favourites here were
1. "Sweetheart, Come," a profoundly sad letter from a crazy woman to her husband, especially worthwhile for being reproduced
2. "To my old master," from a former slave to his former master, which is basically an effective flipping of the bird
There were other worthwhile letters, like the one from the guy who foresaw the Challenger disaster, and the pissed-off guy who wrote to an environmental agency about a dam.
I didn't like the show-offy letters, like Eudora Welty's (though I love Eudora Welty) and Groucho Marx. They were more irritating than amusing.
All in all a nice collection. I gave it as a gift.
claracafetot1's review against another edition
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
3.75
themorsecode's review against another edition
5.0
A superb collection of correspondence on a whole manner of subjects. Some are very moving (Virginia Woolf's suicide note to her husband destroyed me) and others inspiring and charming. As well as a compendium of great writing it's also a timely reminder of the value in small, thoughtful gestures and the power and truth in emotional honesty, something that's rather lost in these cynical times.
The perfect Christmas present.
The perfect Christmas present.
stefito0o's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
teri_b's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
5.0
This is an amazing collection of letters that have been written over the centuries by many different people that might or might not have changed the course of things.
Absolutely entertaining, and I hope, people keep on writing letters, it is such an amazing thing, thinking about it.
Absolutely entertaining, and I hope, people keep on writing letters, it is such an amazing thing, thinking about it.
annebennett1957's review against another edition
5.0
As the title suggests, what an eclectic collection of letters, telegrams, and correspondences. I enjoyed reading them so much and found myself looking up details on the writer's lives to expand my knowledge. The book is large and not easily held, so I opened it up on the kitchen counter and read it intermittently as I sat on a bar stool nearby.
My review: https://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/2020/03/review-and-quotes-letters-of-note.html
My review: https://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/2020/03/review-and-quotes-letters-of-note.html
anoud's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely beautiful. It’s a book I know I will go back to again and again.