Have an epistolary experience

Are you looking for something different to read? Did you love “Ella

Minnow Pea,” “The Color Purple” and “Bridget Jones’s Diary”? All of

these books are quite different, yet all three share a common element

-- they are novels told in epistolary, or diary, format.

Popular in the latter part of the 18th century in Europe with such

books as Samuel Richardson’s “Pamela,” the novel in journal or letter

format has made a recent comeback. With its intimate point of view

and immediate involvement of the narrator in the events, the journal

format makes for an involving reading experience. Young adult authors

have embraced this format as well and books of this type can also be

found in the teen and children’s area.

Alice Walker’s “The Color Purple” tells the story of two sisters,

one living in the South and one a missionary in Africa in the 1920s.

Their support for each other is recorded throughout the novel, which

went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1983 in addition to being

nominated for 11 Academy Awards in Steven Spielberg’s 1985 film

adaptation.

“Ella Minnow Pea,” by Mark Dunn, has the intriguing subtitle, “A

Progressively Lipogrammatic Epistolary Fable.” A lipogram is a piece

of writing that eliminates the use of one letter of the alphabet.

Dunn’s book is a progressive lipogram that tells the story of the

dictatorial council on the island of Nollop (named for the originator

of the familiar pangram “the quick brown fox jumped over the lazy

dog”) who misinterpret a “sign” from Nollop and gradually begin

banning letters one by one (A pangram is a sentence that uses all the

letters of the alphabet). The “epistles” between family members and

their cohorts in bringing down this nonsense are hilarious and give a

picture of totalitarianism at its most absurd.

“Bridget Jones’s Diary” by Helen Fielding describes the life of a

30-something British woman in journal format. She is convinced her

life would be wonderful if she could just stop smoking, lose weight

and develop “inner poise.” Like “The Color Purple,” it went on to

become a popular motion picture and its sequel, “Bridget Jones’s

Diary: The Edge of Reason” will be coming out as a feature film

shortly.

MTV developed a line of cutting-edge books for young adults, and

the second novel they published, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,”

by Stephen Chbosky, relates the story of its narrator, Charlie,

through a series of letters to an unknown friend. Touching and funny,

this novel captures the angst of a freshman encountering the

struggles of high school with the intimate feelings of a diary. Other

titles for teens include “Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging” by

Louise Rennison and its many sequels. Like “Bridget Jones’s Diary,”

its British slang and humor make it an enjoyable read for girls.

“Truth or Dairy” by Catherine Clark, the “Gossip Girl” series by

Cecily Von Zeigesar and John Marsden’s “Letters from the Inside” are

other popular books, which can be found in the Teen Center.

In Beverly Cleary’s “Dear Mr. Henshaw,” 10-year-old Leigh reveals

his problems with his parents’ divorce, being the new boy in school

and finding his place in the world through a series of letters. Paula

Danziger has written “P.S. Longer Letter Later” and its sequel,

“Snail Mail No More,” featuring two best friends who no longer live

in the same city but continue their friendship via e-mail. Kate

Klise’s “Regarding the Fountain: A Tale in Letters, of Liars and

Leaks” is a humorous account of a fifth-grade class’ attempt to buy a

new drinking fountain for its school.

Like a journal, this type of book can be read by any age. Next

time you’re at the library, pick one up and try your first epistolary

novel.

* CHECK IT OUT is written by the staff of the Newport Beach Public

Library. This week’s column is by Andrea Jason. All titles may be

reserved from home or office computers by accessing the catalog at

https://www.newport beachlibrary.org For more information on the

Central Library of any of the branch locations, please contact the

Newport Beach Public Library at (949) 717-3800, option 2.