The provided text consists of excerpts from the memoir, Foreign Correspondence: a pen pal’s journey from Down Under to all over, by Geraldine Brooks, alongside a reader's companion and acknowledgments. The excerpts illustrate the author's Australian childhood in the conservative post-war years, contrasting it with the broader world experienced through her father's fascinating life and her correspondence with international pen pals. The narrative explains that years later, prompted by finding her childhood letters, Brooks, now a foreign correspondent, tracks down her former pen pals in places like New Jersey, Israel, and France, learning about their adult lives, which include themes of anorexia nervosa, political turmoil, and the search for stability. A summary and discussion questions confirm that the memoir explores Brooks’s journey from a sheltered life to a global career, ultimately leading her to appreciate the value of home and family.

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