Book Review: Syme’s Letter Writer by Rachel Symes

A must-have treasure for every letter-writing enthusiast

Syme’s Letter Writer: A Guide to Modern Correspondence
by Rachel Syme
Published 2024 by Clarkson Potter|Publishers

This book is enchanting, educational, and entertaining! It is a work of art and still enormously practical and useful.

This is a marvelous addition to the bookshelf of anyone who:

• loves getting lost in the history and magic of letters and letter writing.
• swoons over peeks into the private words and lives of famous people.
• wonders what to say in tricky or unusual writing situations.
• believes pens, typewriters, and stamps make letter writing even more fun.
• craves a slower, more thoughtful way to savor life.
• appreciates ready-to-use wording tips that make their writing sing.
• enjoys the kind of writing that makes you think, “Why isn’t everyone talking about this author?”
• likes books that are easy to nibble one small bite at a time—or devour in a sitting.
• smiles at little design touches and surprise treats tucked into the pages.
• has a soft spot for quirky takes on timeless traditions.
  

Hidden gems inside

I was drawn in by the delightful cover, which achieved the impossible: it evoked the Victorian era of didactic instruction manuals while still feeling fresh and contemporary. I found myself flipping to the Table of Contents (TOC) to uncover the treasures within. Here are the first two (of four) pages.

The magic welcome…

But before I even got to the TOC, there was something for which I would have immediately whipped out my wallet: a real glued-to-the page envelope (decorated with wonderful flowers) that had these words written on the flap:

Open me!

Inside was a pull-out letter to the reader from the author. And not just any predictable message…this was a lovely, intimate, cozy, warm, and “Oh, come over for coffee at my kitchen table” kind of message. The kind you wish you could get in the mail more often.

This is a book that can be savored on so many different levels. Certainly, as a reference book, it is chock-full of very specific and implementable ideas, tips, and wording. As delightful entertainment, you can turn to almost any page and savor the illustrations, the excerpts from famous letters, or the special “Sincerely Consider…” sections that made me want to take immediate action or gave me exquisite insights.

I’m sorry to gush, but…

Syme’s Letter Writer has me more excited about the future of note and letter writing than I’ve been in ages. By every measure, I should be wildly envious that New York Times journalist Rachel Syme has created a worthy competitor to my Heartspoken: How to Write Notes that Connect, Comfort, Encourage, and Inspire, but I’m too thrilled to find a kindred spirit to worry about such trivialities. The world needs all of us to be advocates for the #HeartspokenMovement.

If you love letter writing—or even just the idea of it—this book will inspire, entertain, and equip you to write more often and with more joy and fun.

Order your copy today:

Syme’s Letter Writer: A Guide to Modern Correspondence
by Rachel Syme

• Heartspoken Bookshop – Buying here supports Heartspoken and independent bookstores!
• Amazon – At the time of this writing, Amazon offers a discounted price, and as an affiliate, I may earn a small commission.

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