Intriguing title, right?
But I just borrowed from a book I am reading at the moment that I simply could not put down. It is actually a memoir but it is a contemporary YA book.
Zimbabwe.
It’s the first time I read something about this country, formerly called Rhodesia, a land-locked country located in Southern Africa.
How one letter changed two lives is the main theme of this book. Two teens exchanging letters from two continents. They are pen pals. A Zimbabwean boy and an American girl. The former is dirt-poor, on a hand to mouth existence while the girl came from a well-off family. I cried so many times reading this book and I have only finished two-thirds of it but I can’t ignore writing about it. Besides, if I could, I promised myself to write every day until the end of September. Another challenge, I guess.
Caitlin and Martin – and the lovely narrative simply written. I almost forgot that this is a memoir.
Back in college, I had an opportunity to meet two Japanese girls and an Australian via pen pal writing. It came about when a fellow student librarian gave my name to them and they started writing to me. I could still remember their names until now – Junko Yao, Satomi Hasegawa and Suzanne Gilding. Wouldn’t it be nice if I could find them now? Junko was the more diligent writer and she sent me some packages before – Japanese green tea, chopsticks, Japanese candies, a hair accessory ( a lovely Japanese comb) and stationeries. I am just sorry I stopped corresponding with them when I started work at the bank.
I Will Always Write Back is just an awesome read.
Thanks for the review. I am intrigued.
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You’re welcome Maggie 🙂😉😊
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And the ending is even more beautiful. I love all their photos at the end of the book.
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I had pen pals when I was at school. One was in Japan, and the other in France. We exchanged letters for five years, then the Japanese girl stopped replying. I later met the French girl when I was 15, and was visiting France. She travelled a long way with her father to see me. It was such a shame we only had two hours together before I had to leave.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Good of you to have seen one of them. Around that time when I was writing to the three of them , I was overjoyed learning a little of their culture and school life.
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I had a pen pal from England many years ago, and I wish I could find her now.
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Same here Anne. In my case, I guess it might be hard to locate them since they might have married too and changed their names.
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I don’t even remember the name now. *sigh*
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sounds like a wonderful read, Arlene! 🙂
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It was Wilma. Their photos at the end of the book are lovely. Martin was considered as another son by Caitlin’s parents. Caitlin eventually married and Martin was there to support them. Lovely, lovely story.
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This sounds like a great read. Pen pals were popular when I was a teen as well. I had several and I sometimes wonder where and how they are now.
I suppose kids don’t write to pen pals via snail mail any longer. Kind of sad because it was always fun getting a letter in the mail with interesting stamps and stories of life in far-away places!
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Quite right Sabine and we learned of those places and a little of their culture. I love snail mails, sadly though, I don’t get one nowadays. It is a lovely book.
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I love snail mail too. I rarely get any these days, but always send postcards to friends. 🙂
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Even our post office here seems to be idle because most mails and business letters are usually delivered thru couriers.
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Just in case you don’t know this book, Arlene: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/84,_Charing_Cross_Road
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I heard of it Derrick but I haven’t the opportunity yet to read it. I will try to find a copy. Thanks 🙂
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Thanks. I will look for this one.
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You’re welcome Elizabeth 🙂
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