To all ships everywhere, to all ports of call, to my family, to all friends and to all strangers...On a winter's day in 2002, a bottle washed up on the shores of Kent. It contained a lock of hair, a letter in French and a mystery. All that could be known for certain were the name of the writer's son and the fact that he was dead. Moved by the unknown woman's grief, acclaimed author Karen Liebreich sets out to find the mother and solve the riddle of her letter in the bottle. Her book is the story of one mother's search for another, and a tender meditation on love, loss and motherhood.
The Letter in the Bottle: A Mother's Story
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About the Author
Karen Liebriech has a doctorate in history from Cambridge University and a research diploma from the European University Institute in Florence. She has worked as a cultural assistant for the French Institute in London, and has been a television documentary researcher and producer. Her previous book, Fallen Order: Intrigue, Heresy and Scandal in the Rome of Galileo and Caravaggio was published by Atlantic Books in 2004.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 32 people found the following review helpful
By Kaz's Angel
Format:Paperback
I loved this book from the moment I started it, I just couldn't put it down I was so hooked and was really sorry when it ended.
As a mother myself I can only imagine what the letter writer's life must have been like after she lost her son. All through the book I followed Karen Liebreich's amazing efforts to track the writer down. Her enthusiam was infectious and I was willingly her along on each part of her journey.
Some of the 'detective' methods Karen used in her search also hit another nerve as I am tracing my family tree and Karen uses some of the techniques to try to find the letter writer in a way a genealogist does when researching family members.
Highly recommended? You bet! And does she eventually find the letter writer? Well you'll have to read the book to find out.
As a mother myself I can only imagine what the letter writer's life must have been like after she lost her son. All through the book I followed Karen Liebreich's amazing efforts to track the writer down. Her enthusiam was infectious and I was willingly her along on each part of her journey.
Some of the 'detective' methods Karen used in her search also hit another nerve as I am tracing my family tree and Karen uses some of the techniques to try to find the letter writer in a way a genealogist does when researching family members.
Highly recommended? You bet! And does she eventually find the letter writer? Well you'll have to read the book to find out.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Compelled
Format:Paperback
Perhaps I expected too much, but this book was a terrible disappointment. The only redeeming feature is in fact the anonymous letter in the bottle, which remains anonymous. I feel that the author of the letter had a genuine reason for writing her message, but the message Mrs. Liebreich sends in return, in the final lines of the book, ring hollow, especially in the light of what she has written about her. The wild goose chase of an investigation that she pursues seems to be an excuse to get herself published, it is padded out with gratuitous flannel and it is extremely insensitive to publish some of the outlandish analysis made of the letter and its author.
The letter itself is beautiful and I am pleased to have read it. This is the only part you need to read. A publication and television appeal would have been less intrusive than some of the judgemental gibberish written about this poor mother. She could still have remained anonymous if she so wished, and perhaps taken comfort in the fact that the message to her son had made someone cherish each day they had with their children.
To Mrs. Liebreich, Thank you for bringing this letter to my attention, although I wish your story had been more respectful.
To Maurice's mother, Thank you for reminding me that I am blessed.
The letter itself is beautiful and I am pleased to have read it. This is the only part you need to read. A publication and television appeal would have been less intrusive than some of the judgemental gibberish written about this poor mother. She could still have remained anonymous if she so wished, and perhaps taken comfort in the fact that the message to her son had made someone cherish each day they had with their children.
To Mrs. Liebreich, Thank you for bringing this letter to my attention, although I wish your story had been more respectful.
To Maurice's mother, Thank you for reminding me that I am blessed.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By tomtom
Format:Paperback
this book is really very very good. it's moving in places, funny in others. I wouldn't normally read this sort of book, but i heard about it on the radio, bought it for my wife, and myself gave it a try, and was actually surprised to find that I enjoyed it. i'd definitely recommend to everyone, not just for mothers...
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I enjoyed reading this book. It flows along well and the subject matter is engaging. But some how the main story is missing. The author goes on a quest to discover who wrote the letter found in a bottle. But this quest is clearly hopeless from the beginning because she simply doesn't have enought information. She is told this again and again but doesn't listen. Clearly the only solution is to go to the press but the author doesn't want to do this. Instead she seems intent on endlessly pursuing an impossibly difficult task. And she spends eight years searching! Why did she do this? Why did she make it so much more difficult than it needed to be? It seems to me that some how the author wanted a part of some other woman's drama, some other woman's grief. But why? None of this is ever explained. The book would be so much more interesting if the author examined and explained her own motives but she never does.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By E. Mckee
Format:Paperback
Having first read a synopsis of this book, I wept when reading the mother's heart-broken letter to her Son, Maurice and was intrigued to read more. I resented any interruptions for I urgently needed to know the outcome of Liebreich's awesome research. As I reached the final two chapters, I was again overcome by emotions - and in finishing the book,felt I had joined both the Author and the 'writer of the letter' in a roller coaster ride of varied emotions. An inspirational 'must read' book, especially for women.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By David
Format:Paperback
I was completely caught up in the author's quest. It is beautifully written and wonderfully evocative. The ending is quite beautiful.
I heartily recommend this book!
I heartily recommend this book!
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By doggerman
Format:Paperback
This is a great read - moving, sad and surprisingly funny (given the subject matter). To anyone who says it shouldn't have been written, please read it to the end before you judge, and bear in mind the number of people who have found in it a great source of inspiration. Plus remember, the woman who wrote the letter addressed it to the whole world...
By pjm1825
Format:Paperback
A great true story, just couldn't put it down until finished ... I haven't read a book for a long while so this one comes recommended!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
I'll never get that time back!
What a waste of paper. For 3/4 of the book the author runs around on a wild goose chase! She goes to the most ludicrous places to try and find the author of a letter her friend... Read more
Published on 10 April 2011 by Denisebrum
5.0 out of 5 stars
Karen Liebreich
Having recently become aquainted with the author I was intrigued about her book, not knowing her style, approach, or bias to the topic at hand. Read more
Published on 4 Mar 2011 by Mr. F. Franklin
1.0 out of 5 stars
Self-indulgent investigation
I really wondered why the author felt compelled to write this book and I'm afraid my conclusion is that she was an author desperate to find material, including every minutiae of... Read more
Published on 14 Oct 2010 by Margaret of Clitherow
5.0 out of 5 stars
A beautiful story!
I heard about this book when the author was being interviewed on Radio 2. Having seen the Kevin Costner movie 'Message in a Bottle' the first thing it brought to mind was it... Read more
Published on 27 Sep 2010 by Pink31
4.0 out of 5 stars
Book Review
I found the 'Letter in a Bottle' book riveting. Lots of technical information which I found went over my head, but the ending was worth waiting for.
Published on 11 Sep 2010 by Mrs. S. E. Armitage
4.0 out of 5 stars
touching story
I read a review in the newspaper and had to read the whole story. A heart wrenching story. I can't imagine how the writer or the mother would have felt.
Published on 31 Aug 2010 by dt teacher
5.0 out of 5 stars
Book Review
Compelling read, not too "raw" as it deals with a sensitive subject. So glad to hear of the outcome. Read more
Published on 30 Aug 2010 by Mrs. S. Wilsher
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