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Letters Never Sent
"The story unfolds like a flower; the impact of it on each person is profound. It’s a spectacular offering of love gained, lost, and struggled with over a lifetime—a poignant tale with a marvelous reveal at the end."—Anna Furtado, Lambda Literary Review
Three women, united by love and kinship, struggle to conform to the social norms of the times in which they lived.
In 1931, Katherine Henderson leaves behind her small town in Kansas and the marriage proposal of a local boy to live on her own and work at the Sears & Roebuck glove counter in Chicago. There she meets Annie—a bold, outspoken feminist who challenges Katherine’s idea of who she thinks she is and what she thinks she wants in life.
In 1997, Katherine’s daughter, Joan, travels to Lawrence, Kansas, to clean out her estranged mother’s house. Hidden away in an old suitcase, she finds a wooden box containing trinkets and a packet of sealed letters to a person identified only by a first initial.
Joan reads the unsent letters and discovers a woman completely different from the aloof and unyielding mother of her youth–a woman who had loved deeply and lost that love to circumstances beyond her control. Now she just has to find the strength to use the healing power of empathy and forgiveness to live the life she’s always wanted to live.
Three women, united by love and kinship, struggle to conform to the social norms of the times in which they lived.
In 1931, Katherine Henderson leaves behind her small town in Kansas and the marriage proposal of a local boy to live on her own and work at the Sears & Roebuck glove counter in Chicago. There she meets Annie—a bold, outspoken feminist who challenges Katherine’s idea of who she thinks she is and what she thinks she wants in life.
In 1997, Katherine’s daughter, Joan, travels to Lawrence, Kansas, to clean out her estranged mother’s house. Hidden away in an old suitcase, she finds a wooden box containing trinkets and a packet of sealed letters to a person identified only by a first initial.
Joan reads the unsent letters and discovers a woman completely different from the aloof and unyielding mother of her youth–a woman who had loved deeply and lost that love to circumstances beyond her control. Now she just has to find the strength to use the healing power of empathy and forgiveness to live the life she’s always wanted to live.
298 pages, Paperback
First published August 6, 2013
33 people are currently reading
2264 people want to read
About the author
Sandra Moran
8 books81 followersSandra Moran was a teacher, author and international woman of intrigue.
A native Kansan, Sandra worked as a newspaper journalist, a political speech writer and an archaeological tour manager. When she was not running around Kansas City (literally) or torturing students with the fundamentals of anthropology, she was found in her lair making up stories.
Her debut novel, "Letters Never Sent" was chosen as the winner of 2014 Ann Bannon Popular Fiction Award (GCLS), 2014 General Fiction Award (GCLS), 2013 Rainbow Award for Historical Fiction, and the 2013 Rainbow Award for Lesbian Debut Novel. It was also a finalist for the prestigious Edmund White Award for Debut Fiction (Triangle Awards).
Sandra was also the author of "All We Lack," "Nudge," and "The Addendum." Her next novel, "State of Grace" will be available in August 2016.
In October 2015 Sandra was diagnosed with stage IV cancer. On November 7, 2015, less than a month after diagnosis, she was gone. All of those who knew her, or read her books, are forever changed for the better.
A native Kansan, Sandra worked as a newspaper journalist, a political speech writer and an archaeological tour manager. When she was not running around Kansas City (literally) or torturing students with the fundamentals of anthropology, she was found in her lair making up stories.
Her debut novel, "Letters Never Sent" was chosen as the winner of 2014 Ann Bannon Popular Fiction Award (GCLS), 2014 General Fiction Award (GCLS), 2013 Rainbow Award for Historical Fiction, and the 2013 Rainbow Award for Lesbian Debut Novel. It was also a finalist for the prestigious Edmund White Award for Debut Fiction (Triangle Awards).
Sandra was also the author of "All We Lack," "Nudge," and "The Addendum." Her next novel, "State of Grace" will be available in August 2016.
In October 2015 Sandra was diagnosed with stage IV cancer. On November 7, 2015, less than a month after diagnosis, she was gone. All of those who knew her, or read her books, are forever changed for the better.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
June 8, 2018
Oh My!! I am so glad I picked this book! Undeniably one of the best plots I’ve read for a while. It’s one of those books that get you so involved with the characters. At times I was so angry, and at other times I was so god damn happy! This was an unbelievable emotional roller coaster.
A very very solid 5!
A very very solid 5!
June 12, 2020
It is interesting to consider how much we take our rights and freedoms for granted in this 21st century.
*Update reread, June 2020. This book continues to impress. Seven years since I read it for the first time and many lesfic reads between, my views on some of the characters have changed. I found myself feeling more compassion for Joan and less for Kate and Annie. I listened to the audio book and with the exception of several repeated lines, Lisa Larson does a fine job of bringing the characters and the past to life.*
In Letters Never Sent, Moran pulls us into a different era where working women were looked down upon as inferior; a time when back room abortionists were as common as cold water flats. The love story between Kate and Annie begins much as their day at the Chicago World's Fair, with much hope and promise and anticipation of great things to come.
Kate struggles with her desire to conform to her family and societies expectations while knowing that what she feels for Annie is real and true. The author does a masterful job of conveying this uncertainty on Kate's part with the frustration felt by Annie. This is not an easy book to read. It makes one stop and consider how often the comments we make and the actions we take are weighed with that human desire to blend in and not be singled out.
I tend to read only contemporary romance but I found myself drawn to the story as it unfolds in the early decades of the 20th century. The modern scenes with Joan were necessary but did not leave as big an impression on me and I kept racing through those scenes to return to the past.
A bittersweet and thought provoking read. A great debut for an author I will read again.
*Update reread, June 2020. This book continues to impress. Seven years since I read it for the first time and many lesfic reads between, my views on some of the characters have changed. I found myself feeling more compassion for Joan and less for Kate and Annie. I listened to the audio book and with the exception of several repeated lines, Lisa Larson does a fine job of bringing the characters and the past to life.*
In Letters Never Sent, Moran pulls us into a different era where working women were looked down upon as inferior; a time when back room abortionists were as common as cold water flats. The love story between Kate and Annie begins much as their day at the Chicago World's Fair, with much hope and promise and anticipation of great things to come.
Kate struggles with her desire to conform to her family and societies expectations while knowing that what she feels for Annie is real and true. The author does a masterful job of conveying this uncertainty on Kate's part with the frustration felt by Annie. This is not an easy book to read. It makes one stop and consider how often the comments we make and the actions we take are weighed with that human desire to blend in and not be singled out.
I tend to read only contemporary romance but I found myself drawn to the story as it unfolds in the early decades of the 20th century. The modern scenes with Joan were necessary but did not leave as big an impression on me and I kept racing through those scenes to return to the past.
A bittersweet and thought provoking read. A great debut for an author I will read again.
April 20, 2019
The book begins with Joan heading home to a small Kansas town to put her mother’s affairs in order after her death. There’s a lingering bitterness from their shaky relationship which keeps her from being truly sorry about the loss. In addition, Joan’s feeling lost in her own life, a loveless marriage, unfulfilled dreams. Then while Joan’s cleaning out her mother’s house, she finds letters that partially reveal a part of her mother’s life that may shed light on Kate’s cold demeanor towards her daughter. The rest of the book splits between Joan’s search for the truth and the unfolding of Kate’s tale which complement and layer each other perfectly.
The writing is lyrical and intricate. Good dialogue and secondary characters. LNS also holds a deeper story about women and the pressures to conform to age old “norms”, about being vulnerable to female targeted violence, and the laws that govern only women’s bodies.
In many ways, we find out the aftermath right at the beginning so I felt sad even then but it’s the hunger for details that drives the narrative with an ever pounding momentum. Interwoven in this unraveling mystery is the beautifully passionate love story between Kate and Annie which though not explicit, leaves you aching.
And as the story wound down to its inevitable conclusion, all the pieces slipping into place, I read on but my heart wasn’t in it. But it was okay because this wasn’t just any old writer. This was Sandra Moran who took us home to a heart soothing conclusion.
The writing is lyrical and intricate. Good dialogue and secondary characters. LNS also holds a deeper story about women and the pressures to conform to age old “norms”, about being vulnerable to female targeted violence, and the laws that govern only women’s bodies.
In many ways, we find out the aftermath right at the beginning so I felt sad even then but it’s the hunger for details that drives the narrative with an ever pounding momentum. Interwoven in this unraveling mystery is the beautifully passionate love story between Kate and Annie which though not explicit, leaves you aching.
And as the story wound down to its inevitable conclusion, all the pieces slipping into place, I read on but my heart wasn’t in it. But it was okay because this wasn’t just any old writer. This was Sandra Moran who took us home to a heart soothing conclusion.
June 6, 2020
There are some books that, no matter how long ago you’ve read them, will stay in your memory as if it was just yesterday. For me, this is the case of ‘Letters Never Sent’ by Sandra Moran. I’ve read it in 2014 and it made such an impact on me that if someone asked me to choose a single lesfic book to recommend, it would be this one.
The story – set in 1997 – revolves around Joan who discovers some mysterious letters written in the 1950s by Katherine, Joan’s recently deceased mother. These letters reveal a surprising side of Katherine that makes Joan wonder about her mother’s past. The novel takes the reader back and forth between the 1930s-1960s to the late 1990s. It’s a story of the older woman’s forbidden love and the younger woman’s search for her identity.
‘Letters Never Sent’ is those types of books that are hard to put into a category, it’s partly historical fiction, lesfic, general fiction, drama, mystery, even feminist literature. The novel goes smoothly from the early 1930s to 1997 though not in chronological order, in very cleverly presented flashbacks that slowly reveal the story behind the puzzling letters.
Both Joan and her deceased mother Katherine are hard to like characters but the beauty of this novel is how, as the story unfolds, the reader understands their actions and why they act as they do. Every single character is perfectly written as well as each dialogue and scene. The fact that this is Ms. Moran’s debut makes this book even more impressive.
This is not an easy read but it’s hopeful and the twist at the end is epic. It’s a story of hardships and suffering but also of love and devotion. Sandra Moran was a gifted writer and her too early passing is a devastating loss for lesbian and women’s literature. I had the audiobook in my player for a good while but I was hesitant to hear it fearing that somehow it could be a letdown. Now I wished I listened to it earlier.
The audiobook is narrated by Lisa Larsen who hasn’t read much lesfic. I have to say that her performance is fantastic and honours the beauty of the written text. Ms. Larsen’s voices are all distinctive, perfect for age, and gender. As I said before, this is an emotional book with some very difficult scenes but Ms. Larsen’s performance is outstanding. There are a couple of technical errors (sentences that are repeated) but I’m happy to overlook them as the whole result is magnificent. This is a fantastic lesbian debut audiobook. I couldn’t recommend it more. 5+ stars.
Trigger warning: short but explicit non-consensual sex scene.
Duration: 13 hrs and 14 mins
The story – set in 1997 – revolves around Joan who discovers some mysterious letters written in the 1950s by Katherine, Joan’s recently deceased mother. These letters reveal a surprising side of Katherine that makes Joan wonder about her mother’s past. The novel takes the reader back and forth between the 1930s-1960s to the late 1990s. It’s a story of the older woman’s forbidden love and the younger woman’s search for her identity.
‘Letters Never Sent’ is those types of books that are hard to put into a category, it’s partly historical fiction, lesfic, general fiction, drama, mystery, even feminist literature. The novel goes smoothly from the early 1930s to 1997 though not in chronological order, in very cleverly presented flashbacks that slowly reveal the story behind the puzzling letters.
Both Joan and her deceased mother Katherine are hard to like characters but the beauty of this novel is how, as the story unfolds, the reader understands their actions and why they act as they do. Every single character is perfectly written as well as each dialogue and scene. The fact that this is Ms. Moran’s debut makes this book even more impressive.
This is not an easy read but it’s hopeful and the twist at the end is epic. It’s a story of hardships and suffering but also of love and devotion. Sandra Moran was a gifted writer and her too early passing is a devastating loss for lesbian and women’s literature. I had the audiobook in my player for a good while but I was hesitant to hear it fearing that somehow it could be a letdown. Now I wished I listened to it earlier.
The audiobook is narrated by Lisa Larsen who hasn’t read much lesfic. I have to say that her performance is fantastic and honours the beauty of the written text. Ms. Larsen’s voices are all distinctive, perfect for age, and gender. As I said before, this is an emotional book with some very difficult scenes but Ms. Larsen’s performance is outstanding. There are a couple of technical errors (sentences that are repeated) but I’m happy to overlook them as the whole result is magnificent. This is a fantastic lesbian debut audiobook. I couldn’t recommend it more. 5+ stars.
Trigger warning: short but explicit non-consensual sex scene.
Duration: 13 hrs and 14 mins
June 21, 2020
Letters Never Sent is the debut novel by Sandra Moran, and I have to say I’m impressed. I’m sure I will read more from this author.
Set in 1997 we accompany Joan as she discovered the real story about her mother Katherine. After her mother's death, she had to clean out her house and belongings. Thereby she finds a wooden box with a few sealed letters, her mother had written in the 1950s to a person just called A. The letters revealed just enough to made Joan curious enough to try to find out more about her alienated mother. Maybe her mother's elderly neighbor Mrs. Yoccum could help.
This story has me captured from the first page, I really loved the complex structure of the story. It’s told on three different levels, first in the letters, second during Katherine’s time in Chicago between 1931 and the late ’50s, and third with Joan in 1997. The author intertwined the three threads perfectly.
The characters are very well developed and I very much loved the writing style. The author did a very good job of laying out how difficult the situation was and how high the pressure and expectations from families have been for their children. God forbid me to be a lesbian. How much bravery it needed to stand up for being your real self and do what you like to do. The uncertainty Katherine felt and the struggles she went through were tangible. And on the other side, the frustration Annie had felt was real and I felt so sad for her. I connected really fast with Annie but couldn’t get really warm with Katherine, but it does no harm to the story. I rooted for the two of them to finally find their happy End.
It isn’t an easy read, but it goes straight to your heart.
My rating 4.5 stars for this beautiful written debut novel
Set in 1997 we accompany Joan as she discovered the real story about her mother Katherine. After her mother's death, she had to clean out her house and belongings. Thereby she finds a wooden box with a few sealed letters, her mother had written in the 1950s to a person just called A. The letters revealed just enough to made Joan curious enough to try to find out more about her alienated mother. Maybe her mother's elderly neighbor Mrs. Yoccum could help.
This story has me captured from the first page, I really loved the complex structure of the story. It’s told on three different levels, first in the letters, second during Katherine’s time in Chicago between 1931 and the late ’50s, and third with Joan in 1997. The author intertwined the three threads perfectly.
The characters are very well developed and I very much loved the writing style. The author did a very good job of laying out how difficult the situation was and how high the pressure and expectations from families have been for their children. God forbid me to be a lesbian. How much bravery it needed to stand up for being your real self and do what you like to do. The uncertainty Katherine felt and the struggles she went through were tangible. And on the other side, the frustration Annie had felt was real and I felt so sad for her. I connected really fast with Annie but couldn’t get really warm with Katherine, but it does no harm to the story. I rooted for the two of them to finally find their happy End.
It isn’t an easy read, but it goes straight to your heart.
My rating 4.5 stars for this beautiful written debut novel
June 23, 2020
I’m not the book club type. I read a lot but for the longest time, I didn’t enjoy talking about the books I read. They’re private, and so are my feelings about them, they’re something that is all and only mine. Then I began reviewing as a way to get stuff out of my head. I also forget a lot, which doesn’t make discussing easy. But I am friends with other reviewers and when one of them suggested we talk about books (gasp!), I wanted to do that with this specific group of people. Letters Never Sent is the book we chose for our first book club.
I’ve had this novel on my list of books to read for a while but kept steering clear. I wasn’t feeling strong enough to read it. Not right now. Never right now but yeah, someday, sure. The book club brought that day closer, and suddenly it felt like the right time. I’ll be honest (am I ever not honest here?), part of why I’ve been reluctant to read it is that I try to avoid what makes me sad. Many of us have been feeling particularly vulnerable lately, with the pandemic and everything else happening, and I have too. It’s easier for me to read about kickass women fighting deadly viruses than about lost love.
And I was right. Letters Never Sent is beautifully written, with great, realistic characters, but it’s awfully sad.
After her mother Katherine’s death, Joan comes to Lawrence, Kansas, to take care of her belongings and sell the house. There’s a lot going on in her own life, but right now, she’s here to deal with the end of another life. In doing so, she finds out that Katherine wasn’t the cold, unloving woman she thought she was but rather a woman who had known passion and love and had lost them in tragedy.
Once again, there’s a lot more to the story than what I can share without spoiling. There are a couple of very clever twists, and contrary to appearances and despite what I wrote above, the feeling I was left with after I finished reading was definitely not one of sadness. I wouldn’t say hope exactly, but something positive, and warm. The journey to get there however, like Katherine’s and Joan’s, was harrowing.
Letters Never Sent is Sandra Moran’s debut novel and my first by her. The author died a few years ago, which is one of the reasons I was reluctant to read this book. It’s very impressive for a debut novel, especially the way Moran navigates the back and forth in time, the language. There are some inconsistencies in the characters’ behaviour, which bothered me a little, but all in all, it’s a pretty good book.
I’ve had this novel on my list of books to read for a while but kept steering clear. I wasn’t feeling strong enough to read it. Not right now. Never right now but yeah, someday, sure. The book club brought that day closer, and suddenly it felt like the right time. I’ll be honest (am I ever not honest here?), part of why I’ve been reluctant to read it is that I try to avoid what makes me sad. Many of us have been feeling particularly vulnerable lately, with the pandemic and everything else happening, and I have too. It’s easier for me to read about kickass women fighting deadly viruses than about lost love.
And I was right. Letters Never Sent is beautifully written, with great, realistic characters, but it’s awfully sad.
After her mother Katherine’s death, Joan comes to Lawrence, Kansas, to take care of her belongings and sell the house. There’s a lot going on in her own life, but right now, she’s here to deal with the end of another life. In doing so, she finds out that Katherine wasn’t the cold, unloving woman she thought she was but rather a woman who had known passion and love and had lost them in tragedy.
Once again, there’s a lot more to the story than what I can share without spoiling. There are a couple of very clever twists, and contrary to appearances and despite what I wrote above, the feeling I was left with after I finished reading was definitely not one of sadness. I wouldn’t say hope exactly, but something positive, and warm. The journey to get there however, like Katherine’s and Joan’s, was harrowing.
Letters Never Sent is Sandra Moran’s debut novel and my first by her. The author died a few years ago, which is one of the reasons I was reluctant to read this book. It’s very impressive for a debut novel, especially the way Moran navigates the back and forth in time, the language. There are some inconsistencies in the characters’ behaviour, which bothered me a little, but all in all, it’s a pretty good book.
December 7, 2015
I loved this book. I haven't been moved by a book in a while. This one did it. I love books that interplay the past with the present. This one does that in a grand way. The characters are rich and intriguing. I could not put it down. I don't usually like my books to bring me to tears, but this one did in more than one point. Just reinforced yet again, how very very fortunate we are to be living our lives now!
June 6, 2015
Undeniably excellent writing. i felt like i was right there with these characters, on their long painful journey. Which is why it was so painful to listen to. so much heartbreak... and some graphic trauma.
Thank God i finished and got the skilfully written closure at the end. but while this book has 5 star writing, it was just too depressing and true to life for my tastes.
Thank God i finished and got the skilfully written closure at the end. but while this book has 5 star writing, it was just too depressing and true to life for my tastes.
June 22, 2020
Do you ever get that feeling where you loved the emotional toll a books takes on you but you really don’t like the characters? This is where I am now. Joan returns to Lawrence, Kansas to pack up her childhood home after her mother dies. Her memories of her mother are not ones of warmth and love. At the same time she’s having difficulty with her own marriage and what she wants from her life. While packing she finds a box with a few letters and reads them. They provide an insight into her mother, Katherine, that she never imagined.
The story unfolds in multiple timelines which always appeals to me, even when it’s historical and I know nothing good can come of it. I found it hard to warm to Katherine, Joan and Annie but I was engrossed by their story. I read this as a book club read and discussing a book with a group of people changes one’s perception of a book. I didn’t change my experience of reading it but I loved getting others’ take on the characters and plot.
I found it an angst-filled, emotional read that I can easily recommend to others.
The story unfolds in multiple timelines which always appeals to me, even when it’s historical and I know nothing good can come of it. I found it hard to warm to Katherine, Joan and Annie but I was engrossed by their story. I read this as a book club read and discussing a book with a group of people changes one’s perception of a book. I didn’t change my experience of reading it but I loved getting others’ take on the characters and plot.
I found it an angst-filled, emotional read that I can easily recommend to others.
September 2, 2015
Despite all the excellent reviews, I ignored this book for months because I thought it would be too depressing for my taste, after reading the top 2 reviews on Amazon. I'm glad I finally took a chance on it. Let me say first, if you don't mind the minor spoiler, that this isn't tragic at all--very angsty, yes but it ends on a positive note.
Joan, a forty year old married paralegal with two kids, goes home to her recently deceased mother's house to settle her affairs. While cleaning out her house, she discovers a hidden stash of letters written by her mother but which were never sent out. The emotional and passionate contents of the letters come as a shock to Joan, as all her life, her mother Kate had never been anything but cold and distant.
Her interest piqued, Joan proceeds to investigate the hidden identity of her mother's lover and the circumstances of their love affair. The story goes back and forth in time from the present 1997 to the past (1930s to 1960). The alternating timelines sync perfectly as Joan slowly uncovers the mystery in the present while the author takes us back in time to the beautiful but ill-fated love developing between Kate and her lover. All the while, Joan has to contemplate her own very serious predicament, where any decision can have far-reaching consequences not just for herself, but for her family as well.
This book truly deserves the over a hundred five star reviews it got on Amazon. The characterizations are spot-on, from the brash feminist Annie, to the headstrong but ultimately conformist Kate, to the very conflicted Joan. Their stories are compelling and reflective of the times in which they occurred. The period settings feel authentic. But none of that will make an entertaining book without the ingenious plotting that holds everything together.
A perfect 5 stars!
P.S. Good books like these always make me think too much. And mulling over things sometimes throws up plot holes or some other incongruities. I can usually ignore them but in this book, a couple of important things bothered me a bit. Do not read if you haven't read the book, as these spoil the ending.
Joan, a forty year old married paralegal with two kids, goes home to her recently deceased mother's house to settle her affairs. While cleaning out her house, she discovers a hidden stash of letters written by her mother but which were never sent out. The emotional and passionate contents of the letters come as a shock to Joan, as all her life, her mother Kate had never been anything but cold and distant.
Her interest piqued, Joan proceeds to investigate the hidden identity of her mother's lover and the circumstances of their love affair. The story goes back and forth in time from the present 1997 to the past (1930s to 1960). The alternating timelines sync perfectly as Joan slowly uncovers the mystery in the present while the author takes us back in time to the beautiful but ill-fated love developing between Kate and her lover. All the while, Joan has to contemplate her own very serious predicament, where any decision can have far-reaching consequences not just for herself, but for her family as well.
This book truly deserves the over a hundred five star reviews it got on Amazon. The characterizations are spot-on, from the brash feminist Annie, to the headstrong but ultimately conformist Kate, to the very conflicted Joan. Their stories are compelling and reflective of the times in which they occurred. The period settings feel authentic. But none of that will make an entertaining book without the ingenious plotting that holds everything together.
A perfect 5 stars!
P.S. Good books like these always make me think too much. And mulling over things sometimes throws up plot holes or some other incongruities. I can usually ignore them but in this book, a couple of important things bothered me a bit. Do not read if you haven't read the book, as these spoil the ending.
October 24, 2020
I have considered this my favorite lesfic ever since I first read it years ago. I suggested this as a book club read with my group of friends because I was curious if it would still hold up now that there are so many high quality lesbian romances out there.
I'm happy to confirm that this is still as good as I remembered and continues to hold that all important top spot on my virtual favorites shelf.
This spans a lot of time and that gives it an epic love story feel to it.
It is not an easy book to read. There are really heavy situations that these ladies have to deal with. So if you are easily triggered, this might not be the book for you. But that would be a shame as you would miss out on a really poignant story.
One thing I realized on the second read was that there was an abundance of back and forth between the main characters. It is realistic for the time, I suppose, but it kind of bothered me this time around.
If you haven't read this for some reason, you really need to make time to do that by moving this up your to-read list.
I'm happy to confirm that this is still as good as I remembered and continues to hold that all important top spot on my virtual favorites shelf.
This spans a lot of time and that gives it an epic love story feel to it.
It is not an easy book to read. There are really heavy situations that these ladies have to deal with. So if you are easily triggered, this might not be the book for you. But that would be a shame as you would miss out on a really poignant story.
One thing I realized on the second read was that there was an abundance of back and forth between the main characters. It is realistic for the time, I suppose, but it kind of bothered me this time around.
If you haven't read this for some reason, you really need to make time to do that by moving this up your to-read list.
May 30, 2018
This book is in my list of recommended books of the month:
https://lezreviewbooks.wordpress.com/...
Award winning debut novel by the late author Sandra Moran. The
story – set in 1997 – revolves around Joan who discovers some
mysterious letters written by her recently deceased mother.
The novel takes the reader back and forth between the 1930s-
1960s to the late 1990s. Perfect character development and
plot building including a surprising twist at the end.
https://lezreviewbooks.wordpress.com/...
Award winning debut novel by the late author Sandra Moran. The
story – set in 1997 – revolves around Joan who discovers some
mysterious letters written by her recently deceased mother.
The novel takes the reader back and forth between the 1930s-
1960s to the late 1990s. Perfect character development and
plot building including a surprising twist at the end.
November 4, 2019
This is going to be my shortest and probably least concise review ever, but I read this book on vacation a few months ago and it completely slipped my mind to make notes. So I can't remember everything I liked/disliked, but I do remember being gripped by the story, so much so that I would actually want to go back to my air bnb in Amsterdam early to get a few pages in. Lame or awesome, folks...you decide. :p
I was not really being drawn into Joan's story or her character, who is Katherine's daughter and is struggling to come to terms with her mother's death and how cold she was towards her throughout her life. But I found Katherine and Annie's story incredibly rich and heart-breaking. I'd highly recommend this read.
I was not really being drawn into Joan's story or her character, who is Katherine's daughter and is struggling to come to terms with her mother's death and how cold she was towards her throughout her life. But I found Katherine and Annie's story incredibly rich and heart-breaking. I'd highly recommend this read.
May 13, 2023
this was…beautiful.
the whole time i was reading this i was cursing myself for my poor decision making skills when it comes to picking books that wouldn’t heighten my stress and anxiety during already stressful times (exam season). and yet, by the last chapter i was sobbing with joy at a twist i really should’ve seen coming but was so pleasantly surprised to encounter anyway.
this book weaves 2 timelines, alternating between the past (Katherine’s POV) and the present (Joan’s POV). with katherine having just passed away, joan is tasked with the responsibility of clearing out the house of a mother, she was convinced, resented her. as she (somewhat grudgingly) sets to work, she stumbles upon a suitcase, tucked away, with a curious combination of items, the most important of which are (drumroll………..) letters never sent. here is where she discovers the source of her mothers brokenness. a right person, wrong time love affair that ended in the worst possible way you can ever imagine.
i think i fell a little in love with katherine over the course of this book. occasionally, you encounter characters so remarkably well written that you almost feel an ache inside of you to just HOLD them. katherine had that effect on me. she was so complex and far, far from perfect, and yet so painfully human. so real and raw.
my only criticism of this book is that i found joan to be slightly insufferable in her constant, almost chronic comparing of her issues with her mother’s pain. 2 things that are not even remotely comparable, so joan came off as somewhat selfish and conceited in a way that, to me, was wildly irritating.
if you have read the blurb of this book and are confronted with a should you/should you not dilemma, take it from the quite possibly the most sensitive person in the world, it’s so worth it. you may find the angst so unbearable at times that you’ll consider dnf-ing it but TRUST me when i say the last few chapters tie up the book beautifully, with the most satisfying conclusion that you may or may not see coming!
4.5 ⭐️
[TW: homophobia (katherine’s pov spans the 30’s-60s so there’s a lot of internalised homophobia as well as themes of abandonment and disowning etc), mentions and mild description (chapter 24) of rape, mentions of murder of a loved one, don’t know how necessary a TW this is but; failed abortion procedure that really, really broke me]
[unserious TW: mostly fade to black sex😔😔😔😔😔😔]
the whole time i was reading this i was cursing myself for my poor decision making skills when it comes to picking books that wouldn’t heighten my stress and anxiety during already stressful times (exam season). and yet, by the last chapter i was sobbing with joy at a twist i really should’ve seen coming but was so pleasantly surprised to encounter anyway.
this book weaves 2 timelines, alternating between the past (Katherine’s POV) and the present (Joan’s POV). with katherine having just passed away, joan is tasked with the responsibility of clearing out the house of a mother, she was convinced, resented her. as she (somewhat grudgingly) sets to work, she stumbles upon a suitcase, tucked away, with a curious combination of items, the most important of which are (drumroll………..) letters never sent. here is where she discovers the source of her mothers brokenness. a right person, wrong time love affair that ended in the worst possible way you can ever imagine.
i think i fell a little in love with katherine over the course of this book. occasionally, you encounter characters so remarkably well written that you almost feel an ache inside of you to just HOLD them. katherine had that effect on me. she was so complex and far, far from perfect, and yet so painfully human. so real and raw.
my only criticism of this book is that i found joan to be slightly insufferable in her constant, almost chronic comparing of her issues with her mother’s pain. 2 things that are not even remotely comparable, so joan came off as somewhat selfish and conceited in a way that, to me, was wildly irritating.
if you have read the blurb of this book and are confronted with a should you/should you not dilemma, take it from the quite possibly the most sensitive person in the world, it’s so worth it. you may find the angst so unbearable at times that you’ll consider dnf-ing it but TRUST me when i say the last few chapters tie up the book beautifully, with the most satisfying conclusion that you may or may not see coming!
4.5 ⭐️
[TW: homophobia (katherine’s pov spans the 30’s-60s so there’s a lot of internalised homophobia as well as themes of abandonment and disowning etc), mentions and mild description (chapter 24) of rape, mentions of murder of a loved one, don’t know how necessary a TW this is but; failed abortion procedure that really, really broke me]
[unserious TW: mostly fade to black sex😔😔😔😔😔😔]
November 18, 2020
“Mrs. Yoccum looked startled. “Letters?”“Yes,” Joan said quickly. “Love letters. Addressed to a man she only identifies with his first initial. ‘A.’ ”Mrs. Yoccum sat slowly back in her chair.”
Letters Never Sent by Sandra Moran was a book club summer read and we had a lot of fun dissecting this one. I think for a debut this was a very impressive novel, with an ambitious plot. Tying two separate storylines together in such a way takes meticulous planning. It’s sad we did not see Moran grow into her full potential.
I won’t go into a detailed account at this point. The nuances of the story have slipped my mind by now (this is why I write my reviews right after finishing the book). I was not very enamored with Kate’s waffling to give in to Annie and own her sexuality. I know it was a different time then, but she was freaking out one time too many and it got old. Poor Annie had way more patience with her than I did.
Joan was a bit of a cold fish, but then again, you cannot escape that kind of upbringing unscathed.
I think this 7-year old novel can still stand up to today’s tastes although the gay angst and homophobic drama might be dating it a bit.
f/f
4 Stars
Letters Never Sent by Sandra Moran was a book club summer read and we had a lot of fun dissecting this one. I think for a debut this was a very impressive novel, with an ambitious plot. Tying two separate storylines together in such a way takes meticulous planning. It’s sad we did not see Moran grow into her full potential.
I won’t go into a detailed account at this point. The nuances of the story have slipped my mind by now (this is why I write my reviews right after finishing the book). I was not very enamored with Kate’s waffling to give in to Annie and own her sexuality. I know it was a different time then, but she was freaking out one time too many and it got old. Poor Annie had way more patience with her than I did.
Joan was a bit of a cold fish, but then again, you cannot escape that kind of upbringing unscathed.
I think this 7-year old novel can still stand up to today’s tastes although the gay angst and homophobic drama might be dating it a bit.
f/f
4 Stars
October 4, 2018
This book was beyond amazing. The romance between Annie and Katherine was so real. They are the type of characters that make you believe in true love. They went through so much. It makes me appreciate how free we can be now, but during those days it used to be hard, not saying it is easy now, but am just saying it is better. This novel really touched me, maybe it is because I can relate so much to Katherine, as I am still in the closet and I really wish I could be as brave as Annie.
Sandra Moran wrote a fantastic books that is full of drama and twists (my fav).
Sandra Moran wrote a fantastic books that is full of drama and twists (my fav).
December 8, 2014
I really enjoyed this story. It centers around Joan in 1997 while she is cleaning out her recently deceased mother's house only to come across a suitcase with 6 unsent letters from her mother. Through the letters, she begins learning more about the woman that never treated her daughter with the warmth she deserved. You also hear more about Joan's unsatisfying life, although more attention is paid to the flashbacks showing a growing relationship between the mother (Kate) and someone she meets while working in Chicago.
There are a lot of things I loved about this book. I became very invested in the characters and their journeys, and it has some excellent angst and emotional goodies. There are things you find out early on in the book (that I won't spoil) but you still want to keep reading to find out how everything unfolds. There are also some surprises, and you never quite know everything until the very end.
That's not to say it's without problems. I felt there was an over usage of commas at the beginning, but I stopped noticing it (or it disappeared) when I got sucked into the story. I also felt I only had access to the most volatile parts of main characters' relationship for the most part, but once I finished the book, I better understood why that was necessary. They also seemed to have the same argument over and over, but then I believe that happens in every relationship, so that shouldn't make you put it down (it certainly didn't make me!).
Overall I had a very emotional response to the story, and it kept me invested to the very end. I'm not going to give anything away, but I will say that the book in it's entirety left me thinking that there is hope for us all, and I left the book with a smile on my face that's still there. Anyway, you should definitely pick this one up. I will be re-reading it at least once, for sure.
There are a lot of things I loved about this book. I became very invested in the characters and their journeys, and it has some excellent angst and emotional goodies. There are things you find out early on in the book (that I won't spoil) but you still want to keep reading to find out how everything unfolds. There are also some surprises, and you never quite know everything until the very end.
That's not to say it's without problems. I felt there was an over usage of commas at the beginning, but I stopped noticing it (or it disappeared) when I got sucked into the story. I also felt I only had access to the most volatile parts of main characters' relationship for the most part, but once I finished the book, I better understood why that was necessary. They also seemed to have the same argument over and over, but then I believe that happens in every relationship, so that shouldn't make you put it down (it certainly didn't make me!).
Overall I had a very emotional response to the story, and it kept me invested to the very end. I'm not going to give anything away, but I will say that the book in it's entirety left me thinking that there is hope for us all, and I left the book with a smile on my face that's still there. Anyway, you should definitely pick this one up. I will be re-reading it at least once, for sure.
September 12, 2013
A review you say? This book shoulds not only, in my opinion, be on all the best seller list, But have a movie endorsement. There is not enough pens in the world to put in scribe the feelings and thought I have to say about Ms. Morans book." Letters Never Sent."
That being said, I am not one for all pomp and circumstance , But with this read, I loved this book." I truely LOVED this book."
For the most part on books. I start , skip to the center, skip to the end without reading straight through and get bored. "Not with this read." It totally capivated my attention to read from the beginning straight through till the end. I never wanted to put it down. Also, this book left me not wanting to just speed read through like most reads, At the very beginning, this book had me wanting to read slow, takeing in every little detail.
How Ms. Moran, Makes the charaters come alive, in such a beautiful love story, brought to life, leaving you feel it is far from a fiction.
The captivating twist and turns , will have you laughing out loud," literally", or saying ," Oh, i didnt see that one coming". It will bring you to tears with some of the sad truths of the time. Brilliant. Want to read several times over. And will
" I tip a glass of whiskey and a tap of the jelly jar to you, Ms. Sandra Moran." And i look forward to more excellent reads to come.
Sincerely . Marion Dutton
That being said, I am not one for all pomp and circumstance , But with this read, I loved this book." I truely LOVED this book."
For the most part on books. I start , skip to the center, skip to the end without reading straight through and get bored. "Not with this read." It totally capivated my attention to read from the beginning straight through till the end. I never wanted to put it down. Also, this book left me not wanting to just speed read through like most reads, At the very beginning, this book had me wanting to read slow, takeing in every little detail.
How Ms. Moran, Makes the charaters come alive, in such a beautiful love story, brought to life, leaving you feel it is far from a fiction.
The captivating twist and turns , will have you laughing out loud," literally", or saying ," Oh, i didnt see that one coming". It will bring you to tears with some of the sad truths of the time. Brilliant. Want to read several times over. And will
" I tip a glass of whiskey and a tap of the jelly jar to you, Ms. Sandra Moran." And i look forward to more excellent reads to come.
Sincerely . Marion Dutton
September 23, 2013
All the great reviews made me expect something exceptional, but still I was quite surprised by the high quality of this novel.
If you're after a "woman meets woman, there's some real energy between them, they fall in love, jump into bed and live happily ever after" kind of novel, this is NOT for you!
It's about women, yes. Quite a few of them, and their loves and lives from the 1930's, 1940's, 1950's and finally, 1990'.
It's a beautifully written novel dealing with very important issues. And no, it's not in the least bit boring, quite the contrary!!
Read it!!!
If you're after a "woman meets woman, there's some real energy between them, they fall in love, jump into bed and live happily ever after" kind of novel, this is NOT for you!
It's about women, yes. Quite a few of them, and their loves and lives from the 1930's, 1940's, 1950's and finally, 1990'.
It's a beautifully written novel dealing with very important issues. And no, it's not in the least bit boring, quite the contrary!!
Read it!!!
October 9, 2017
Sandra Moran does a masterful job with all of the characters in Letters Never Sent, from the leads to all of the side characters, no matter how little time they spend on the page. We join Katherine as she leaves Kansas as Katie and spend the bulk of our time with her in Chicago in the 1930s, seeing how the experiences and choices she makes there affect the whole rest of her life.
Joan, on the other hand, we meet at a moment of supreme possibility. Much like her mother before her, Joan is married to someone she doesn’t love and she has the perfect opportunity to decide whether to stay or to go. While Joan may not have ever truly known who her mother was during her life, Kate’s death helps her learn more about not only her mother, but herself.
http://www.thelesbianreview.com/lette...
Joan, on the other hand, we meet at a moment of supreme possibility. Much like her mother before her, Joan is married to someone she doesn’t love and she has the perfect opportunity to decide whether to stay or to go. While Joan may not have ever truly known who her mother was during her life, Kate’s death helps her learn more about not only her mother, but herself.
http://www.thelesbianreview.com/lette...
September 3, 2013
I've only made it to chapter 5 a short few hours after opening up the sample. But it's already had such a huge impact on me. I've laughed, cried, cursed and had to pick my jaw up off the floor a few times. I cannot put it down. It has become glued to my hands like the story will be glued to my memory. Absolutely amazing.
November 12, 2024
I loved reading this wonderful novel, and just as much enjoyed listening to the audiobook. Lisa Larsen's narration was just about PERFECT!!!
August 10, 2013
Like the 4 Stars say, I really liked it.
August 3, 2013
Wow, this was a really good book. I am not going to give it away, but twists and turns to keep you engaged. I was hooked from the first page until the last. I also learned something from this book, never give up. Great book, Sandra. When is the next on? Until then, I will definitely re-read this one.
September 30, 2013
I have mentioned before that one of my favorite things about attending the annual Golden Crown Literary Society Conference is meeting and discovering new authors. The conference this year was held in Dallas, TX back in June. Political crap aside, I love Texas. I lived there for 6 years while attending TCU and earning my B.S. and M.S. degrees. I was sad to leave after that 2nd graduation.
A highlight of the conference this year was meeting Sandra Moran. She’s friendly, she’s charming, and she’s a Moran. My great-great-grandmother was a Moran, so I feel a connection to anyone with that name. (Realizing, of course, that it is a very common Irish name and there is very likely no true ancestral connection…but still.) It was quite a pleasure talking with Sandra and learning about her debut novel, Letters Never Sent. She had some advance copies at the conference so, of course, I had to buy one. More conversation ensued when I read the back cover to discover that much of the novel takes place in 1930s Chicago. My grandmother grew up in Chicago during that time. Now I knew I’d have to read it.
Letters Never Sent (Bedazzled Ink) tells the story of three women - Katherine and Annie, and Katherine's daughter, Joan. From the back cover:
Three women, united by love and kinship, struggle to conform to the social norms of the times in which they lived.
In 1931, Katherine Henderson leaves behind her small town in Kansas and the marriage proposal of a local boy to live on her own and work at the Sears & Roebuck glove counter in Chicago. There she meets Annie—a bold, outspoken feminist who challenges Katherine’s idea of who she thinks she is and what she thinks she wants in life.
In 1997, Katherine’s daughter, Joan, travels to Lawrence, Kansas, to clean out her estranged mother’s house. Hidden away in an old suitcase, she finds a wooden box containing trinkets and a packet of sealed letters to a person identified only by a first initial.
Joan reads the unsent letters and discovers a woman completely different from the aloof and unyielding mother of her youth–a woman who had loved deeply and lost that love to circumstances beyond her control. Now she just has to find the strength to use the healing power of empathy and forgiveness to live the life she’s always wanted to live.
The first thing to draw me to this book - besides getting to meet Moran - was the cover. It's beautiful. The images reminded me of some of the pictures I have of my grandmother and her cousins during that time period. The faded letter to "Dearest A" provides a poignant background for the images. It's wonderfully balanced. It's evocative. So wonderful.
The novel begins rather conventionally - Joan is at her mother's house in 1997 following Katherine's death. We learn about snippets of Joan's relationship with her mother via Joan's own reflection and Joan's conversations with Mrs. Yoccum, Katherine's next door neighbor. This opening chapter helps to set the stage for the ensuing interwoven stories. Katherine was not a happy woman - hard, harsh, haggard. Her relationship with her daughter was just as harsh. Not wanting to be in her mother's house, but knowing that affairs need to be set in order, Joan takes on the difficult task of getting the house and its contents ready for sale. During her search for her mother's photos, Joan comes across a suitcase at the back of Katherine's closet - a suitcase she hadn't seen since she was a very small girl. Curiosity piqued, she picks the lock to discover pieces from her mother's life - a life she never realized Katherine had lived. Rather than finding answers to her questions, Joan is presented with shocking glimpses into the part of the mother she never knew and, of course, even more questions. Now, the real story begins.
Since I have a strict "no spoilers" rule, I will not delve more deeply into the story. That does not, however, mean there isn't a lot to say about Letters Never Sent.
Let me start by discussing the structure of the novel. The story moves back and forth through time as we get to learn more about Katherine, Annie, and Joan. Joan's part of the story is rooted firmly in 1997 as she reads the letters her mother wrote - but never sent - and learns more about her mother's life through conversations with Mrs. Yoccum. Katherine's and Annie's story, however, spans the 30s, 40s, and 50s. Having read many novels (and seeing many movies) that move back and forth between storylines and time periods, I'm aware of the traps and pitfalls that can occur. Moran avoids each trap and every pitfall. She guides us seamlessly through the decades and unravels the conjoined stories smoothly and subtly. At no point did I have to backtrack to determine just where I was in the story - I always instinctively knew, even without reading the "timestamps" at the beginning of each chapter. That, my friends, is talent.
Letters Never Sent is about 300 pages long. That's a pretty hefty novel. But I will tell you this: Not a single word of this novel needs to be cut. We've all read books that seem to go on and on; often we think, "Well, there's a scene that just wasn't necessary." As we continue reading, we find the places to skim through because we just don't find them essential to the story. Such is not the case with Letters Never Sent. Every word is there for a reason; every scene is essential to the story.
Let's talk a little about those words and scenes. Moran's writing lends itself so wonderfully to descriptive narrative. She sets the scene beautifully. Having lived in the Chicago suburbs for a good number of years - and having heard my grandmother and mother talk about Chicago in the 20s through the 60s - I'm always a little leery when stories are set here. Invariably, the author gets something wrong. Not so here. Moran clearly did her research! Aahh...how refreshing. The descriptions of the streets, trolleys, trains, buildings, etc. throughout Chicago were delightfully vivid and accurate. Having seen pictures of the 1933 Chicago World's Fair (my grandmother still had her program), I was able to clearly picture everything as Katherine, Annie, and Claire wandered through the exhibits. Katherine's mother's reaction to the smells of the city had me chuckling. Sometimes, I think the same thing whenever I go into the Loop.
If you've ever read one of my reviews, you know I'm a sucker for well-developed, three-dimensional characters. Moran's characters don't disappoint. Each is distinct - there's never a chance of getting the characters "mixed up" while reading. (I hate it when that happens - the characters are so similar, or so one-dimensional, that it's difficult to keep track of who is who.) What's even more delightful is how Moran's characters change and grow throughout the story. It's very clear how each and every choice made by these women is delicately folded into who they are and how they've changed. Like a good meringue, if the ingredients are not blended together properly, the end result is flat. These characters are anything but flat.
This is a story of struggle and heartbreak. It's a story of love and loss. This story is "real" - it's not fancified or glorified in any way. The characters are not bigger than life nor are they leading exceptional, unexpected lives. These women could have been our mothers, our grandmothers, our great-grandmothers, our aunts. It's a story of three women making their way through life, dealing with cultural and social mores - sometimes raging against them, other times reluctantly confirming to them. While these women are not our contemporaries, we can still relate to them on so many levels. Therein lies so much of the beauty of Letters Never Sent. It's so much more than a novel about three women, their lives, their choices, their loves, and their losses. It's also a study - historical, anthropological, ethnographic - of society and gender. Personally, I firmly believe this should be required reading in college course on Gender and Society.
So, here's what it comes down to: Get this book. Read this book. Savor this book. Open yourself to the joys and heartbreak found between the book's covers. Let them get deep inside you. Trust me, you won't regret it.
A highlight of the conference this year was meeting Sandra Moran. She’s friendly, she’s charming, and she’s a Moran. My great-great-grandmother was a Moran, so I feel a connection to anyone with that name. (Realizing, of course, that it is a very common Irish name and there is very likely no true ancestral connection…but still.) It was quite a pleasure talking with Sandra and learning about her debut novel, Letters Never Sent. She had some advance copies at the conference so, of course, I had to buy one. More conversation ensued when I read the back cover to discover that much of the novel takes place in 1930s Chicago. My grandmother grew up in Chicago during that time. Now I knew I’d have to read it.
Letters Never Sent (Bedazzled Ink) tells the story of three women - Katherine and Annie, and Katherine's daughter, Joan. From the back cover:
Three women, united by love and kinship, struggle to conform to the social norms of the times in which they lived.
In 1931, Katherine Henderson leaves behind her small town in Kansas and the marriage proposal of a local boy to live on her own and work at the Sears & Roebuck glove counter in Chicago. There she meets Annie—a bold, outspoken feminist who challenges Katherine’s idea of who she thinks she is and what she thinks she wants in life.
In 1997, Katherine’s daughter, Joan, travels to Lawrence, Kansas, to clean out her estranged mother’s house. Hidden away in an old suitcase, she finds a wooden box containing trinkets and a packet of sealed letters to a person identified only by a first initial.
Joan reads the unsent letters and discovers a woman completely different from the aloof and unyielding mother of her youth–a woman who had loved deeply and lost that love to circumstances beyond her control. Now she just has to find the strength to use the healing power of empathy and forgiveness to live the life she’s always wanted to live.
The first thing to draw me to this book - besides getting to meet Moran - was the cover. It's beautiful. The images reminded me of some of the pictures I have of my grandmother and her cousins during that time period. The faded letter to "Dearest A" provides a poignant background for the images. It's wonderfully balanced. It's evocative. So wonderful.
The novel begins rather conventionally - Joan is at her mother's house in 1997 following Katherine's death. We learn about snippets of Joan's relationship with her mother via Joan's own reflection and Joan's conversations with Mrs. Yoccum, Katherine's next door neighbor. This opening chapter helps to set the stage for the ensuing interwoven stories. Katherine was not a happy woman - hard, harsh, haggard. Her relationship with her daughter was just as harsh. Not wanting to be in her mother's house, but knowing that affairs need to be set in order, Joan takes on the difficult task of getting the house and its contents ready for sale. During her search for her mother's photos, Joan comes across a suitcase at the back of Katherine's closet - a suitcase she hadn't seen since she was a very small girl. Curiosity piqued, she picks the lock to discover pieces from her mother's life - a life she never realized Katherine had lived. Rather than finding answers to her questions, Joan is presented with shocking glimpses into the part of the mother she never knew and, of course, even more questions. Now, the real story begins.
Since I have a strict "no spoilers" rule, I will not delve more deeply into the story. That does not, however, mean there isn't a lot to say about Letters Never Sent.
Let me start by discussing the structure of the novel. The story moves back and forth through time as we get to learn more about Katherine, Annie, and Joan. Joan's part of the story is rooted firmly in 1997 as she reads the letters her mother wrote - but never sent - and learns more about her mother's life through conversations with Mrs. Yoccum. Katherine's and Annie's story, however, spans the 30s, 40s, and 50s. Having read many novels (and seeing many movies) that move back and forth between storylines and time periods, I'm aware of the traps and pitfalls that can occur. Moran avoids each trap and every pitfall. She guides us seamlessly through the decades and unravels the conjoined stories smoothly and subtly. At no point did I have to backtrack to determine just where I was in the story - I always instinctively knew, even without reading the "timestamps" at the beginning of each chapter. That, my friends, is talent.
Letters Never Sent is about 300 pages long. That's a pretty hefty novel. But I will tell you this: Not a single word of this novel needs to be cut. We've all read books that seem to go on and on; often we think, "Well, there's a scene that just wasn't necessary." As we continue reading, we find the places to skim through because we just don't find them essential to the story. Such is not the case with Letters Never Sent. Every word is there for a reason; every scene is essential to the story.
Let's talk a little about those words and scenes. Moran's writing lends itself so wonderfully to descriptive narrative. She sets the scene beautifully. Having lived in the Chicago suburbs for a good number of years - and having heard my grandmother and mother talk about Chicago in the 20s through the 60s - I'm always a little leery when stories are set here. Invariably, the author gets something wrong. Not so here. Moran clearly did her research! Aahh...how refreshing. The descriptions of the streets, trolleys, trains, buildings, etc. throughout Chicago were delightfully vivid and accurate. Having seen pictures of the 1933 Chicago World's Fair (my grandmother still had her program), I was able to clearly picture everything as Katherine, Annie, and Claire wandered through the exhibits. Katherine's mother's reaction to the smells of the city had me chuckling. Sometimes, I think the same thing whenever I go into the Loop.
If you've ever read one of my reviews, you know I'm a sucker for well-developed, three-dimensional characters. Moran's characters don't disappoint. Each is distinct - there's never a chance of getting the characters "mixed up" while reading. (I hate it when that happens - the characters are so similar, or so one-dimensional, that it's difficult to keep track of who is who.) What's even more delightful is how Moran's characters change and grow throughout the story. It's very clear how each and every choice made by these women is delicately folded into who they are and how they've changed. Like a good meringue, if the ingredients are not blended together properly, the end result is flat. These characters are anything but flat.
This is a story of struggle and heartbreak. It's a story of love and loss. This story is "real" - it's not fancified or glorified in any way. The characters are not bigger than life nor are they leading exceptional, unexpected lives. These women could have been our mothers, our grandmothers, our great-grandmothers, our aunts. It's a story of three women making their way through life, dealing with cultural and social mores - sometimes raging against them, other times reluctantly confirming to them. While these women are not our contemporaries, we can still relate to them on so many levels. Therein lies so much of the beauty of Letters Never Sent. It's so much more than a novel about three women, their lives, their choices, their loves, and their losses. It's also a study - historical, anthropological, ethnographic - of society and gender. Personally, I firmly believe this should be required reading in college course on Gender and Society.
So, here's what it comes down to: Get this book. Read this book. Savor this book. Open yourself to the joys and heartbreak found between the book's covers. Let them get deep inside you. Trust me, you won't regret it.
August 19, 2025
(rounded down from 4.25)
Another solid historical fiction story. The dual narrative was a little weak for me here, mostly because there's a compelling narrative happening in the past with Katherine and not a lot happens in the present-day narrative until it ties together. The past is not revealed as Joan learns of it, which further weakens things for me, since the letters aren't really informative.
That said, the story was sad and will tug at the heartstrings of most gay women, so this was a compelling read. The dual narrative, unfortunately, dragged it down a bit for me.
Another solid historical fiction story. The dual narrative was a little weak for me here, mostly because there's a compelling narrative happening in the past with Katherine and not a lot happens in the present-day narrative until it ties together. The past is not revealed as Joan learns of it, which further weakens things for me, since the letters aren't really informative.
That said, the story was sad and will tug at the heartstrings of most gay women, so this was a compelling read. The dual narrative, unfortunately, dragged it down a bit for me.
October 27, 2014
Letters Never Sent tells the stories of a mother and daughter who struggle with their roles and responsibilities as women and mothers. The story begins with Joan, who has returned to Lawrence, Kansas, after the death of her mother. Joan was never close to her mother, Katherine. Growing up, her mother and father hardly tolerated each other, and Katherine was often angry, distant, and cold to her daughter. Joan finds herself living a life that she feels disconnected from, with a man she doesn't love.
Through letters and flashbacks, we gradually learn Katherine's story, and so does Joan. Katherine never wanted to marry and have a family, though her family expected her to "come around." She came of age in the depression, and fought feelings of shame and guilt after she falling in love with another woman. Though she found the love of her life, she still married and had Joan.
The story pulled me in immediately, and established some big mysteries that weren't resolved until the end of the book. The alternating stories of the past and modern day worked well to contrast women's roles in the 1930's with those of today--showing that while times have changed, gender roles and societal norms still shape the way that we live our lives. the author even sneaks in some historical reading recommendations.
Katherine's love story was beautiful and passionate, as well as agonizing. Letters Never Sent is a thought-provoking and thoroughly satisfying read.
Through letters and flashbacks, we gradually learn Katherine's story, and so does Joan. Katherine never wanted to marry and have a family, though her family expected her to "come around." She came of age in the depression, and fought feelings of shame and guilt after she falling in love with another woman. Though she found the love of her life, she still married and had Joan.
The story pulled me in immediately, and established some big mysteries that weren't resolved until the end of the book. The alternating stories of the past and modern day worked well to contrast women's roles in the 1930's with those of today--showing that while times have changed, gender roles and societal norms still shape the way that we live our lives. the author even sneaks in some historical reading recommendations.
Katherine's love story was beautiful and passionate, as well as agonizing. Letters Never Sent is a thought-provoking and thoroughly satisfying read.
September 20, 2013
I loved this book. This author has a great way of spinning this story from a variety of angles, and it made the book hard to put down. I read the book in one night, stayed up until 3:00am just to get it finished. Then I found myself wondering how the characters were doing a couple of weeks later - they became that real to me! Great book, great new author, and I am definitely looking forward to more of her work in the future!
January 17, 2022
It was recommended to me. Sentimental rollercoaster. But the end is worth it. It s painful like every wlw stories happening in the 30'-60'...
October 13, 2021
Ouch.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews