A review by crafalsk264
The Griffin & Sabine Trilogy by Nick Bantock

emotional funny mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I learned about these books recently from a podcast. The description was brief and only vaguely referenced its premise that one person can see through another’s eyes. The first book in the series begins when someone named Sabine sends Griffin a postcard introducing herself and explaining that for years she had been watching his life develop through his eyes, she sees his hands draw and paint the materials he works with and sees the finished art. Griffin makes his living creating beautiful postcards and Sabine’s correspondence is often on a postcard.

Sabine is also an artist who uses her talent to create a collection of stamps representing her Pacific Island home. She has been seeing Griffin’s work since her teens and decides she must meet him.

This begins a beautiful correspondence between them that continues over several volumes. In these three books, they fall in love on paper but are always a near miss when they try to meet in person. This collection is made of three beautiful books. The paper is thick and rich, silky and bound into a volume to treasure. The story is told in postcards or through actual letters presented in their own envelopes. The art work illustrating the work of both of them is beautiful, striking and requires the reader to experience them in touch as well as in the words. I had never heard of this series before and I am so glad my introduction came is these three lovely volumes and I look forward to searching for the later volumes in this series.