The letters in the title of Cammie McGovern’s novel, The Last Letters of Sally and Walter, refer to Scrabble letters, not correspondence. It’s a quiet story, with mature characters who are actually mature in age, unlike some novels that refer to seniors as elderly when they’re in their fifties.
Sally Reynolds is 73 when she moves into Golden Groves, an independent senior living facility. She’s upbeat, but struggles to find a place in her new residence. She tries various clubs until she goes to a meeting of the Scrabble club, and finds one man there, Walter Kretzer. She’s been warned that he’s “intense”.
Walter’s been there two years, and he’s a little off putting to some people. He’s a stickler to rules when it comes to Scrabble, and other residents aren’t as keen about sticking to rules as he is. But, he’s found a match in Sally. She seems easy-going, but she’s a whiz when it comes to playing Scrabble. With his coaching, she’s even ready to enter a tournament. But, she’s not prepared for the intensity of the flair up of her Parkinson’s disease.
The Last Letters of Sally and Walter is a courageous story, showing seniors in their seventies facing a diminishing future while regretting some of their past. It shows people learning to cope with the struggles of failing health, and it’s honest about coping with some diseases, and recovering from others. But, it’s also a novel of growth. Even in their later years, Sally and Walter find themselves growing emotionally, and facing their own failures in their relationships with deceased spouses and grown children. Despite the loss of some abilities, it’s also a story of hope as Sally and Walter build a deep friendship that might not have been possible in younger years.
Scrabble provides the framework for this poignant story. That was a little too in depth for me, because I don’t play the game, and it went into scoring and placement of the tiles. However, the friendship of Sally and Walter, along with the personalities of those who play the game, made up for my lack of knowledge. It’s still a character-driven novel, a gentle story of adults still growing as they face their last years with quiet courage.
Cammie McGovern’s website is https://www.cammiemcgovern.com/
The Last Letters of Sally and Walter by Cammie McGovern. Sourcebooks Landmark, 2026. 384p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I read a galley supplied by the publisher through NetGalley with no promise of a positive review.
This book intrigues me Lesa. Onto my wish list it goes!
Not my usual type, Lindy, however, I really liked both characters, Sally and Walter.
This sounds realistic and touching. As Lindy says, it goes on the list!
It is, Kim. It doesn’t pull any punches as to the difficulties with Parkinson’s disease and aging.
I have this on hold at the library but I’m not sure if I’ll wind up reading it since my mom is in assisted living and it may hit too close to home.
I understand, Sandy. As I told, Kim, it’s realistic and honest.
I enjoyed this book and think your review is spot on Lesa. It was a gentle story with very likable characters.
Thank you, Susan. I’m always curious as to what other readers think.
It sounds like a good book, Lesa. Not sure I’ll put this one my TBR though since it’s already so full. I had to laugh when you pointed out that it’s really about seniors and not supposed seniors! The book I am currently reading has a daughter who wants to put her recently widowed mother into an assisted living home and she’s only 61!
Those are the kind of books I object to, Mary. Sometimes, authors think people in their fifties and sixties are older physically and mentally than they really are.
I want to read that so much, I entered for it but didn’t win.
It’s very good, Carol. I hope you can get it someday.
As someone well into his seventies, I’m always curious to compare the reality I see every day with the literary version of aging, so I’ll be taking a look at this one. I recently had the pleasure of attending my 60th high school reunion, and I was pleasantly surprised to learn that so many of my class are still doing so well physically and mentally. Novels don’t always get it right, but that can be part of the fun.
Sam, I’d love to know what you think of the book after you read it. I know I’ve objected to books when they get women in their fifties and sixties wrong. I’m curious as to what you think about this book.