It’s interesting to learn a story through letters written by the main character and the answers that are written back to her.I think we pretty much know at least halfway through the book, if not before, to whom Sybil is writing the
continuing long letter.
There is a kind of sadness throughout the story, and having suffered the same kind of loss as Sybil, I understood it well. But the people around her also have some sad things that we discover. We find out about poor choices, regrets, and about how people with mental problems affect those around them. But these people continue on with their lives, just as Sybil has. At first we see Sybil as a little bit crotchety and a bit bitter, even with family. We soon come to find out reasons for this. We also see another side of Sybil, as she continually reaches out to people and helps some of them. She is a good woman with a long ago burden that has plagued her for decades in her life. Yet even as she has closed herself off, we get to see her taking some risks and making new friendships that turn out to be important. She also can be acerbic and funny, and some of the more lighthearted exchanges and relationships help to keep the story from being too maudlin.
I loved the performances and thought they were just perfect. I would recommend this book to thoughtful book readers. It does not have action, and what does happen, we find out after the fact through letters. But for those people who like character studies, it’s really a good read.