The Unforgettable Mailman
In the fall of 1966, the Chicago post office shuts down for three weeks. Overwhelmed by the growing volume of mail and an outdated facility, ten million pieces of mail are waiting to be delivered. Local resident, 81-year-old Henry Walton’s memory is failing, but he can’t stop thinking about the backlog of letters lying around, undelivered. Those aren’t just sheets of paper tucked into envelopes; they are human connections being halted. Unable to bear the thought of all of that languishing correspondence, he wonders, could he help by delivering the mail himself? He isn’t as spry as he used to be, and he has a limp from an injury sustained in WWI, but he does have a car and the passion to set things right. Soon, he devises a plan to break into the post office and grab as many letters as he can. But not all of them are addressed to those living in Chicago; some of the intended recipients live far away. With unshakeable determination, Henry loads up the mail and sets out on the journey of a lifetime.
Howells packs her book with interesting characters brought together by Henry’s creative scheme. Especially endearing is the unlikely friendship that forms between Henry and Roger, a bright but adrift teen struggling with his relationship with his estranged father. Cleverly interspersed between the chapters are letters, providing a sweet touch that shows the range of news relayed from trivial to heartbreaking to joyous. Like the letters, some parts of the story are funny, and others are sad, but it is always entertaining. A heartfelt, cozy read.
