Sometimes it’s sweet, sometimes funny, sometimes just weird ... The book’s introduction starts by explaining, 'All writers have a peculiar devotion to strangers.' Colleen Kinder’s curated collection displays that devotion—a special kind of extroverted, artistic pull that makes even the introvert capable of fooling someone into thinking they are the most people-y of people persons. This artistic nature is evident in the latent poetry in each letter’s prose, refreshingly unique in voice from one to the next but all sharing a lyrical quality. Though it reads like the series of letters the title promises, Letter to a Stranger is akin to a travel book. Many of the writers’ impactful encounters happen while away from home and their letters are rich with culture, history, and delicious nuggets of local detail.
Writing groups looking for prompts to kick start their practice writings would be well advised to use the prompt Letter to a Stranger. This collection of writing demonstrates that through this process of short letters to passersby the writer thinks more deeply about his own life. In the process of reflecting on what a stranger meant to one, one reveals deep, perhaps hidden, truths about one’s own life ... This is a very interesting book and a great approach to thoughtful writing.
Perhaps one of the best features of this book is how the reader may discover a letter that evokes one response today and a new, different response on another day, making this a collection that can be read more than once and feel new each time. Readers looking for quiet contemplation as well as conversation starters will find equal satisfaction in these pages.
Sweet but often poignant ... Mesmerizing ... [The] letters describe memorable encounters with strangers that are sometimes charitable, comical, or romantic, and other times frightening or poignant ... This highly recommended collection of letters would appeal to many types of readers, including individuals interested in creative writing, the epistolary form, or travel literature.
Moving ... Though the prompt is the same, the premise never gets tired, with the globe-trotting writers covering the gamut from strangers who offered a sense of safety or a sense of chaos. Bright and hopeful, this anthology is sure to delight avid travelers.
Many are quite brief, and none are very long, and the thematic sections allow them to bounce off each other in interesting ways ... While many of the essays have an ephemeral quality, some will stick with even the most jaded of reader ... Good stories from writers both popular and unknown, guaranteed to fill you with wanderlust.
