I first read the trilogy of Griffin & Sabine in my early teens when the books first were released in 1991. I was obsessed with mail art, and Griffin & Sabine: An Extraordinary Correspondence by Nick Bantock was like experiencing mail art through someone else’s correspondence. I didn’t understand romance in any way back then, but I understood (and loved) letter writing and keeping in touch with friends that way.
Nick Bantock wrote this trilogy about two people that have never met in real life, but find each other through a magical connection. The books are simply their correspondence with one another in the forms of postcards and interactive letters and envelopes where you remove the letter to read. The production of the books is so unique and beautiful. Bantock draws every postcard and handwrites the messages and letters. It’s like no book experience you’ve had before and every detail is so thoughtfully crafted and executed. The story itself is magical and whimsical and leaves you cheering on Griffin and Sabine to find happiness together.
And even all these years later, I have kept them because they are so unique and special. So in my newest installment of Oh Joy! Reads, I’m recommending this amazing trilogy: Griffin & Sabine: An Extraordinary Correspondence, Sabine’s Notebook: In Which The Extraordinary Correspondence of Griffin & Sabine Continues, and The Golden Mean: In Which The Extraordinary Correspondence of Griffin & Sabine Concludes. The 25th anniversary of these books means there has been a reprint! I recommend getting all three – but if you want, just start with the first. I know you’ll be back for the next two 😉
P.S. Bantock currently sells his art on Etsy!
I loved these books when I was young! Oh how I wanted to be Sabine! Thank you for reminding me of them and I will find my old copy to reread. ✨
Yay! I’m so glad that someone else loved these books as much as I did. I hope you find your copy 🙂
These too were a favorite of mine in the nineties. I still have the books on my shelf today. I even contemplated naming my children (a boy and a girl) either name, but was vetoed. I wound up naming my cat Shebeen which was a mix of my love for Sabine and my love of Ireland (an illegal drinking establishment is a shebeen, haha). Thanks for the reminder, this is an escape I need. -Katie
Katie – absolutely love this! Sorry you were vetoed, but love that the cat received the love. Thanks for sharing!
I had totally forgotten about these books but I loved them and had the trilogy in college. What a blast from the past!
Totally Karen! My mother just sent me my copies for home and it reminded me how great these are!
All three books are sitting on my bookshelf! What a great reminder to pull them out and appreciate the design and unique bookmaking!
All three books are sitting on my bookshelf! What a great reminder to pull them out and appreciate the design and unique bookmaking!
Love to hear that others liked these books as much as I did. Glad you’re re-reading, they’re so magical!
Me too ! I have them and will pass on to my kids!
My sister and I loved these books, too! I bought the whole series back in the ’90s and still have them. I like to look at them every now and then. Thanks for the reminder!
I love connecting with so many people that grew up with and love Griffin and Sabine. Glad to add you and your sister to that list 🙂
I too read these books as a young teenager and actually met a pen pal in the Prodigy chat rooms talking about the books. We wrote each other dozens of letters over a decade, by hand, which I still have. He bought me the last book in the series as a gift – an autographed French version very rare. These books are still a prized possession.
This is an amazing story! I miss pen pals and the anticipation of a letter in the mail. Thank you for sharing – so jealous of your French version!
Hello from rural Alaska.
Today I just ‘came across’ these wonderful books by Nick Bantock, Griffin and Sabine. Immediately I thought of my 17-year-old granddaughter, who is very artistic, thinking she will love these because of the creative and beautiful pictures. When I got home and started perusing the books, and then sitting down to read them, I was taken away with the storyline and artwork.
I am THRILLED that I found a treasure on the discount book shelves at our local library.
I hope she’s excited to receive these as a Christmas gift as I am to give them.
Affectionately called Amma by my grandchildren.🥰
So lovely, Randi! Yes, they are true treasures!
I had picked up Sabine’ Notebook at a garage sale because it looked intriguing (still not sure why it was in the sale). So lucky to have found it! It left me wanting more and, until i was thinking about xmas presents (yes, i shop early. Prevents me from using the cards as the holiday looms ahead. Lol) and wanted to find out if it was a book that a 15 year old would appreciate It was then that i learned there were 2 more books in the series…with Sabine’s Notebook being the creme in the cookies. 🍪!! It was then that i immediately ordered the other 2. Not to be disappointed!
It is going to be hard to gift them but were it not for my dah’lin granddaughter’s love for books , they would stay on my bookshelves. I can’t help but believe she will love them.
One of the best parts is that i will be able to share how we communicated back in the day. Kids these day don’t have a clue as to what a rotary dial phone is, much less the USPS. It seems like it was yesterday when recalling the delight of receiving mail from that post person. Hopefully it will spawn a new (and old) way for her to keep in touch with others. One can only hope.
Bottom line is that these belong on the bookshelf with classics like the Giving Tree, Siddhartha, the Prophet and Illusions to name but a few. Im going to tell her that i am helping to start her own list of favorites.
And, as i said, if she doesn’t fall in love, i plan to recall them. And please, please forgive my ramblings. I just couldn’t say this in a line or two!
Yes, I discovered them along time ago in my early teens and fell in love!