"For The Love Of Letters:" A Guide and So Much More

Samara O'Shea bills "For the Love of Letters " as a 21st=century guide to the art of letter writing. I personally have believe letter writing should rank with the Monets and the Picassos of the world. Letters should be relegated to closets, but should be displayed as artwork in MOMA and even the High in Atlanta.

In the interest of complete disclosure, I love letters. I had 70 pen pals as a child. (Here's a quick shout-out if any of you happen to be reading this...I was a very prolific writer in East Tennessee, so drop me a line if you are one of those 70. I'd love to hear from you.) Even in today's age of e-mail, nothing is so moving as a when someone takes pen to paper and writes their feelings. Don't tell hubby - I still have a stash of love letters from former beaus that I just can't part with. They're going to make it big as novelists and those letters are going straight to Christie's.

And, there are so many things you can do with a personal letter than you can't do with an e-mail or even a post card. Ever tried to seal an e-mail with a kiss. Goodluck in getting that strawberry rosee off your monitor. And Obsession isn't going to carry over the Internet to your intented victim. More than that, it's something about holding a letter in your hand and reading it over and over. Touching it over and over. Sharing it.

 I expected O'Shea to share all of these familiar feelings and she does to an extent. But this book is much more. Whether you choose to deliver e-mail messages via e-mail or on pen and ink (and perhaps even text messages), she has the right protocol. I'm passing this book on to my niece. She still owes me thank you notes for graduation, wedding and baby gifts. Perhaps she'll take a hint.

 The table of contents alone is worth the $19.95 price. Listen to these chapters: Love Letters, Erotic Letters, Good Bye Letters, Flaming Tongue Letters (my personal favorite), breakup letters, unauthorized love letters, thank you letters, apology letters, sympahty letters, and letters for action: calls for amnesty and letters to the editor, for example. 

Regardless of whether you're writing traditional pen and ink or via the e-mail, O'Shea tells you how to do that and still keep you reputation in mind.  And she does it with a very unusual sense of humor. You'll never think you're reading Miss Manners anad you'll find yourself laughing out loud!

One of my favorite sections of the book is O'Shea's advice to responding to unauthozed love letters that you might receive. (Yeah, like I receive a lot of them.) Rahter you're single or attached or even not the remote bit interested, O'Shea guides you through your response in a civil manner. Is this response classy or what:

    "I'll admit I'm embarrassed by all the kindness you wrote to me. It took a lot of courage for you to say     those things and I want you to know I recognize that. The fact is though, I am very much in love with     my boyfriend. I am certain you will share an extraordinary love with someone one deal." 

This book will stay on your shelf for many years as a reference, but you'll really enjoy it if you take it to the bathtub tonight. You'll laugh and perhaps even cry when you remember some letters you sent or received in your past.

When i was asked to review this book, I must admit I questioned the relevancy of a book on letter writing today. O'Shea's secret is that she concentrates on the letters, not the media used to deliver the letter. I do truly wish that I had this letter when my MIL picked out some ugly wall paper for my first house!