Beth Golay

And when that would happen...

And if we would move from one letter to the next letter, I found that I was at a disadvantage because I didn't know who was writing the letter.

I mean, sometimes the actor's voice would give it away, but not always.

And it reminded me, in a way, of what the poet Billy Collins told me, that if you're listening to his book of poetry on the audiobook, you can't prepare for the ending because you can't see it.

Do you think there's some truth to that with letter writing or letter reading, I guess, that...

that it helps to know who the letter is from while you read it?

So of all the people who wrote to Sybil, do you have a favorite?

So my daughters are 28 and 29, and they are in an online book club with a few friends of theirs the same age.

My oldest daughter asked, do you have a copy of The Correspondent?

We're reading it in December for book club.

As I mentioned at the top of the show, booksellers and friends of all ages seem to be reading and talking about this book.

What makes it so universal in terms of readership?

Well, the book is The Correspondent.

Virginia Evans, thank you so much for joining us today.

Thank you, Beth.

It was great to talk.

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans was published by Crown.

On the next Marginalia, we will have a conversation with Patrick Ryan about his novel, Buckeye.

Marginalia was produced at KMUW Wichita and is part of the NPR Network.

Our editors and producers for this week's show are Luann Stevens and Haley Krausen.