Orsolya's Reviews > Letters of Note: An Eclectic Collection of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience

I am a member of what feels like a very limited group of people who still favor “snail mail” and the written word. There is an element of romance involved which can’t be found in a text message or email. Although self described as a “poor letter-writer”; Shaun Usher equally sees the beauty of letters and compiles 125 of them in, “Letter of Note: An Eclectic Collection of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience”.

“Letters of Note” follows a simple concept: a compilation of 125 letters presented in a glossy-paged, coffee-table book format. These letters scan centuries of time while their authors and recipients include various famous personalities (Elvis Presley, FDR, Einstein, Martin Luther King JR, Mary, Queen of Scots, Nick Cave, and Emily Dickinson to name a few) and also every-day folk like you and me. The actual text of the letters are accompanied by brief descriptions of the correspondence, date, and photos/scans of the letters or of the individuals involved.

Usher notably presents these letters in a very cohesive way forming an even pace and a unified strain even though each page features a different letter. “Letters of Note” is in no way a jumbled mess and instead creates a spark of excitement, encouraging page-turning. Not to mention, the accompanying photos of the letters are highly pleasing as they bring the authors to life.

Although the letters featured on the pages of “Letters of Note” are interesting enough on their own merit by showcasing a sort of ‘behind the scenes’ look at famous people and/or events; there is a prevalent deeper tone and message. “Letters of Note” brings to the forefront emotions of mankind, relatable experiences, the beauty of memories, and even the art of penmanship and grammar which has been fading away so quickly in an era of computer screens. The fact that “Letters of Note” can evoke so many emotions merely as a compilation book (versus of that with a narrative plot); makes it quite a success indeed.

One of the worries of a compilation book is that similar to a book of short stories where some shorter-length tales aren’t as strong; shorter letters wouldn’t be as powerful as longer ones. Yet, despite the length of text or even the author, each letter is moving and tells stories far deeper than the literal words. “Letters of Note” is quite compelling.

The biggest qualm concerning “Letters of Note” is the inclusion of repeated letters authors and recipients. Yes, the letters are unique and meaningful, but at times, it becomes tedious to see the same famous names repeated.

A small detail worth noting (no pun intended) is the beautiful presentation of including an attached ribbon page-holder to “Letter of Note” which adds sentiment and an element of elegance.

“Letters of Note” is a truly gratifying compilation exhibiting creativity on its surface while the true nature of human kind is offered in its deep unraveling. Whether one is searching for a quirky coffee table book or for some inspiration and faith; “Letters of Note” is suggested for all readers who still hold love for a traditional letter/note.