Satya Robyn Boeken

Violet Ackerman has drifted through a career, four children and a divorce without ever knowing who she is or what she wants. After moving to the coast, she starts receiving a series of mysterious letters sent from a mother and baby home in 1959, written by a pregnant twenty-year-old Elizabeth to her best friend. These letters intersperse Violet's turbulent relationships with her lover, her infuriating son and the eccentric fellow members of the Village Committee. Who is sending Violet these letters, and why? What will happen to Elizabeth's baby? "The Letters" invites us see what happens when we don't run away. Will love be enough to encourage Violet to stay?

The book explores the author's awakening to the ecological and climate crisis, reflecting on the emotional turmoil of activism, including experiences of arrest. It delves into themes of grief, fear, and anger while celebrating the beauty of nature. The narrative emphasizes the struggle for systemic change and repeatedly acknowledges human imperfections, offering a perspective of forgiveness amidst the urgent call for environmental action.