Kind Regards: The Lost Art of Letter-Writing

I picked up this book as part of a letter writing book buying spree. I won't deny that the cover really caught my eye. Those silhouettes, the pillar box, the stamp edges; it's all very lovely and speaks to me. Kind Regards: The Lost Art of Letter-Writing by Liz Williams is a pretty basic book. It's really elementary stuff. There's little bits of trivia, a historical letter or two, and some guidelines. I wish the design sense of the cover continued inside, but it's mainly clip art repeats and rough newsprint pages. It's sustainable paper though, according to the cover.

This is not a book for me. I suspect it's not really a book for the readers of this blog either. This is a book for someone who has no clue about letter writing, and there are those people out there. There are people who truly have no idea where to put the address on the envelope. I've seen them. This is a great book for them. If you know someone who might be in to writing letters, someone probably between the ages of 10 and 20, then I think that a copy of this book (plus maybe a membership to the Letter Writers Alliance)(eh?) would be an excellent gift. 

So, here's a little contest. Leave a comment telling me about who you would give the book and a free membership to as a gift. I'll pick one at random and send you the copy and a membership. It's open to all L.W.A. members. Do not leave your member number in the comment; I'll ask for it when you claim your prize. This is open to International members, but you'll have to pay for shipping which will be $24.00. Good luck!  The contest is now closed!

 

Comments

[Holly Rabalais]

I'd give this book to my niece, Gracie. She loves getting letters and packages from me, and I'm trying desperately to teach her to joy of letter writing. She's almost 10...so the age when I first became interesting in sending and receiving mail.

[Maureen]

I would add the book to the collection of the library where I work. I'd give the free membership to my pen pal of three years that lives in New York, Von, who always sends me letters that remind me I am loved, and other people in the world are always thinking about each other, and it's not really such a bad place all the time.

And he sends me lots of stickers.

[Deborah]

I would send it to my daughter's best friend, Kayla. Kayla is 22 and just got married. Her husband is a Marine and is currently away for 6 weeks. This is the first time they have been apart. Shortly after he returns home, he will be deployed for who knows how long. They, of course keep in touch via cell and all things technology, but I can see her writing him long letters, too. I would bundle the book with some paper, pens and stamps to get her started. Thank you!

[Matt Thompson]

This is a capital idea.

I would give the book and the accompanying membership to my good friends' daughter, Amelia. She is only ~3 years old, but I think it would be neat for her to have these resources on hand as she gets older and starts to learn about and appreciate the value of written communication (in addition to being a real-life friend, Amelia's mom is one of my most reliable penpals, so I am confident she would be a great influence too). I might even include a pen and some Forever stamps (that will of course be out of print and unique by the time Amelia is using them).

[As an aside, I am currently reading a book by Simon Garfield, "To the Letter: A Celebration of the Lost Art of Letter Writing" {Gotham, 2013) that might be many of the things you were hoping to find in "Kind Regards". It includes a comprehensive (and often witty) history of the form and its influence on other aspects of society, past and present.]

[Vickie]

I just checked and my local library has a copy of this book. I think it would be great to have on hand if I ever get around to having a letter social there. That and Parcel Ghost's guide, and maybe a couple of other collections of famous letters for inspiration.

[Lisa Vi]

I would give it to my 7-year-old son. He loves to send and receive mail. I would like to encourage that and hope it continue as he gets older.

[Oriana]

I would give it to my co-worker’s daughter. I remember a story he told me about when his daughter asking him what a letter was. He then explained to her its like sending a paper version of an email, and that the message was delivered by hand to the other person. His daughter decided that she wanted to send a letter to her family in Mexico, so they sat down together to write a letter to her family. About a week or so later, they got a letter in the mail from Mexico! The extended family replied saying how excited they were to receive the letter and that it was very special to them.

[Amy]

I would give it to my three youngest kids, ages 11, 9 and 7 year old, who all love mail :) The hard part would be choosing who would get the membership. Maybe they would draw straws!

[Donovan Beeson]

I bought that one on my spree too, Matt!

[Andrea]

I would give this book to my children 12 and 10. My daughter loves to write and receive letters and my son is very interested in stamps. I hope the book would be a tool that they appreciate, learn from and use.

[Laura Katherine]

I would give the book to my boyfriend as he is one of the people who would especially need it!

[Dejah]

I would like to give this to my cousin Jessica. She just started writing me and I'm trying to encourage her. I just sent her a pack of kawaii stationery in my first reply and I think she would make an excellent member. She is the only person I'm related to that I actually feel close to despite our barely knowing each other because we've always been in different areas of the country. And after the loss of my parents and with the blessing I'm sure our Great-Grandmother would give us (a looong writer who included TONS of clippings when we wrote regularly in the 1990s) I'm going to continue writing her in hopes that we are as similar as I think we are. :)

[Deidra]

How thrilling that you are widening the circle of letter-writers! I would give this to the library in the high-school where I had previously been employed, one that is very strong on encouraging excellence in writing and reading skills, for pleasure as well as for academics. And then I would buy one myself to give to my two grandkids, and hope a tradition will be continued. Many thanks to you.

[Leah]

I would give this to my friend Priyanka. We just started our clinical years of medical school, and will be traveling around for the next two years. There is also a likelihood we will be in different places for residency. I write her every once in a while, but she does not write back. She travels to visit family in India, and I would love her to send me a letter from abroad. This would be a fun way to get her more involved with letter writing, and I think she would enjoy it if she took the time.

[Joan]

I would give this book/membership to my daughter who seldom sends so much as a card! We need to keep the art of letter writing alive and well. The thought of no surprise letters in my mailbox makes me shudder. What a bleak thought, eh?

I do love the cover of the book, too bad the inside doesn't carry forward to the inside. :(

[Melissa H]

I would give this book and membership to my mom. She is an avid reader and finishes books quickly. She also shares all the books she reads. She signed up in my postable account for LetterMo, and I saved all "known" contacts to the end. I haven't mailed her a letter yet, but I've been gathering materials to make it a fun mail day for her! I would include this book, and persuade her to write more letters.