Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly book blog meme now hosted by Jana over at The Artsy Reader Girl!
This week's topic is: Freebie–Epistolary Style Novels
This week's topic was a freebie, and apparently–thanks to one of those completely random and made up holidays (who comes up with these??)–today is National Letter Writing Day! Because of that, I decided to create a list of books written in epistolary/epistolary-adjacent format. In case you are wondering what the heck epistolary format is, it typically refers to stories that are written in the form of letters, but also can include books written as diary entries, records, etc. As you will see, I'm working a little loosely with the epistolary definition in order to include a nice variety of books, but I think that's okay since I've just made up this week's theme anyway. Now, let's check out some books!
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Dracula is probably the most classic of the epistolary novels on this list, as it is written in letters. I think I've heard a number of people consider this book a bit boring, but I actually think the format of journal entries, letters, newspaper clippings, etc. helps add a bit of a intrigue to the story by format alone. Also, it's a great story!
The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware
The Turn of the Key's epistolary format is what I think really helped make it as compelling as it was. The story is mainly told via the main character's desperate letters to a lawyer as she sits in prison awaiting trial. How captivating does that sound? And it was! I really enjoyed this book.
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
I Capture the Castle is not told via letters, but it is told through the diary entries of our main characters, Cassandra. This was a really enjoyable story that was so ridiculously readable that it's hard not to just keep reading. Cassandra tells her journal all about her family and life living at a castle, and sometimes it's a little weird, but it's also very fun.
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
This would be a pretty ideal Dracula follow-up, and I really adore this book. Kostova uses the epistolary style largely through letters and journals, and even the way in which the protagonist tells her narrative feels as though it is more of a journal entry.
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
The Woman in White does not have quite as many letters as some of these previous books do, but it is written in a somewhat modified style from various characters who recount their perspectives of the events of this book. I loved the way this book was written and think it really added so much to the mystery and intrigue.
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
This book isn't exactly the most epistolary, but some parts are indeed written as a letter to anther, and I think this format lends itself perfectly to the sort of creepy and mysterious atmosphere that permeates this book.
The Supernatural Enhancements by Edgar Canto
This book has a lot of mixed media elements in it, and I think the letters and other written documents really complement the more mysterious nature of this book as well. (I think I'm starting to notice a bit of a pattern with the epistolary format and the style of novel it works well in!) This is one that I read quite a number of years ago and really need/want to re-read soon, because my memory is a bit fuzzy at this point.
The Justice of Kings by Richard Swan
This one is not specifically a journal or diary entry, but the way it's written is one of those narratives where the it is apparent that the narrator is writing this story at a later date, which therefore makes it feel somewhat like a journal to me. Also, this is an awesome new fantasy that comes out next year so you can find out what I mean for yourself!
The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich
This young adult horror is told predominately from a girl's diary entries, although the diary itself seems to be from a girl who doesn't exactly exist. There are also transcribed videos, interviews, and emails that make of the rest of this book, and I think Kurtagich did a great job with this unique storytelling format.
Terrier (Beka Cooper #1) by Tamora Pierce
Terrier is told mainly through journal entries, and I think this style worked really well for this particular story, despite the fact that it can be a difficult style. Tamora Pierce did a great job with this journal style entry, even if you're someone who doesn't tend to like the style.
Have you read any of these books? What epistolary style novels do you like?
