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!