Gift of a Letter
Author: Alexandra Stoddard
List Price: $12.00
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ISBN: 0380714647
Publisher: Avon (01 November, 1991)
Sales Rank: 94,349
Average Customer Rating: 4.67 out of 5
Customer Reviews
Rating: 5 out of 5
The art of letter writing.
Gift of a Letter was recommened to me by a couple of online friends. I have been a letter writer all my life, and couldn't resist buying the book. And my, I'm so glad I did. The book is such a pleasure to read, from start to end, about the pure joy of writing and recieving letters.
I took the book with me on one of my business travels, started to read it on the plane, could hardly put it down during the meetings I had to attend to, and read again at the hotel. The first thing I did next morning was to find a stationary shop where I could buy paper, envelopes, cards, new pens and so on, then (after more meetings) I sat down in the nearest coffeeshop to write letters.The art of letter writing is almost forgotten today, it seems so much easier to make a call, or write an SMS or an e-mail. But nothing can be compared to the joy and pleasue of finding a real letter in your mail box.
For Alexandra Stoddard letterwriting is not just letters to your mother when you are away, letters to your boyfriend or letters to oversea friends. What about a thank you letter to a good friend after a nice party, or a letter to an old teacher, or an old friend. The book has given me so many new ideas of whom to write, and what to write about. The only negative thing I can think of is that the book talks about letters as something you can write in a few minutes, so lack of time is no excuse. This is only partly true. For me letters are also the letters you spend hours to write, hours because there are so many things to tell a close friend, hours because you just want to spend of your time with your penpal.
Though I have been an avid letter writer since I was a little girl, this book has opened up a new world for me when it comes to.....yes, you're right ....letter writing. I have to book on my desk and know I will read it again and again, and I will write letters as long as my hands and my eyes allow me. And I will keep on writing letters every day, spending all my extra money on stamps.
Britt Arnhild Lindland
Rating: 4 out of 5
Inspiring and encouraging
I read this book several years ago, shortly after its release in hardcover. Always an avid letterwriter, I found in this book several reasons to remain one in the electronic age. I recently gave a copy of the paperback version to a friend, and it changed his way of looking at letterwriting. He sent me a letter to thank me for it - something he could more easily have done in person or over the phone, as he only lives across town from me. The only complaint I have is the myriad of references to sources for letterwriting accessories and stationery which either sell exorbitantly priced goods or are in far-flung locations the average reader will not likely visit. Even this would have been all right if it had been balanced with more references to mainstream sources. Overall, however, a marvelous read.
Rating: 5 out of 5
A book to inspire the forgotten art of letter writing.
This book was a great inspiration for me to return to letter writing in the era of email. Nothing brightens a persons day more than a hand written letter that can be read over and over again. I highly recommend this book Similar Products
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