A Review on “How To Write A Letter” by Chelsea Shukov & Jamie Grobecker
Publisher: Clarkson Potter
Published: 19th October 2021
Length: 139 pages
Genre: How-to Book
Price: 11,99€ on Amazon
What is it about?
The go-to resource for creative ideas and helpful tips for writing thank you notes, addressing envelopes, cover letters, and everything in between, from the creators of Sugar Paper
Feeling like sending a little love in the mail but not sure how to get started? Along with letter-writing golden rules, How to Write a Letter will make it easier to:
• select the perfect stationery for any occasion
• find the best salutation and sign off
• choose the right words for any situation, from congratulations to condolences
• properly address an envelope in style
With this book, you’ll discover how hand-writing your thoughts and feelings have the magic to turn a card, letter, or even scrap of paper into a treasure.
Review:
You might think to yourself: What an odd name for a review! But as you can see, today’s review is not about me telling you how to write a letter, but reviewing a book about that topic! As someone who loves writing letters and sending cards for festive occasions, I really wanted to know what a book like that would be about exactly. If I could agree or disagree with the points mentioned and if it might help me up to my game or bore me a lot. So if you had the same thought or are like my husband and can’t get past the greeting in a card alone hoping this book might help you out, this post is for you!
It’s a fairly small book, which was what surprised me at first. I was expecting a guide of some sort and ruffling through the first few pages, I was a bit disappointed seeing every first page only being half-filled and every second page filled with an illustration. Don’t get me wrong, those Ilustartions fit the style of the book and look great, but I thought I paid for tips, not nice aesthetics. It gets somewhat better after the initial pages, but there are sections like that in the book till the end. Was that necessary or could more information have been added?
I like the topics they have chosen to talk about like “thank you” notes, professional pursuits, or loss. There is something in here for every important occasion you would want to write a letter about. They all come with example letters, that might kickstart your own ideas or help you understand what writing a letter about loss, for example, is really about. I could really see how someone like my husband, could use this to come up with ideas, especially with their section called “finding the right words”. But it does not give you much, if you need to write multiple letters about one topic, you will either have many similar ones or don’t get past the first. I would have loved some more pages, with some more examples.
The authors Chelsea Shukov & Jamie Grobecker seem to know what they are talking about since they have successfully started the company sugar paper which focuses on gifting something substantial in a digitalized world. They produce their own stationery from paper, over notebooks to their own pencils. Their company really tries to make writing letters in modern times a luxurious thing, everyone should do one in a while. And I really love that idea, but I have to say I am not so satisfied with the book they have created.
Final Verdict:
I really want to say something good about this book, but when I read it, one question was on my mind: Who is this book for? Because letter enthusiasts like me might already know about most of the things listed here, how to find the right words and what the right stationery is for you. And people who can’t find the right words on their own, only find some small prompts and less guidance than you would hope for. Actually, you would get about as many or even more by googling for free. So I would not recommend it for them either. But somehow… I guess I still enjoyed it. I liked reading about something I am passionate about and knowing who wrote it was passionate about it too. I like the design and I got it as a gift, so it might be something someone else would be happy to get gifted too. Maybe it can be an acknowledgement of their passion or can start the passion in someone else. But if you want to buy it for yourself, you might be disappointed or at least have to think about what you want it for.
Greetings and good wishes (and a happy new year!!)
The Mad Hattress