Dear Readers,
I have a special post lined up for today. After reading and reviewing The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith I was deeply moved and fascinated by the use of Postcards as a way of keeping up in touch with each other. It’s such an original and refreshing concept that I had to ask Jennifer about it. In this post you will see how Postcards was an inspiration for me and my childhood til now and how it made this novel into a Global Love Story.
Wish you were here
Hope you Enjoy.
Emma x
“He flicked the light over the dishwasher, then the oven, and finally up to the refrigerator, which was covered in postcards, each one pinned by a brightly colored magnet. he sat up to take a closer look, focusing the light so he could read the names scrawled over them: Florence, Cape Town, Prague, Barcelona, Cannes, Saint Petersburg.
“Wow,” he said. “Have you been to all these places?”
Lucy laughed. “Do you think I’m sending myself postcards?”
“No,” he said, his face burning. “I just figured-“
“They’re from my parents. They go to amazing places, and I get a piece of cardboard,” she explained with a shrug. “They always bring one of my brothers a magnet and the other a snow globe. It’s kind of a tradition. Apparently I asked for a postcard once I was little, and I guess it sort of stuck.”
He glanced again at the mosaic of photographs. “Postcards are overrated anyway.”
“Oh yeah?” she asked, raising her eyebrows.
“Yeah, I mean, what’s the worst thing you can say to someone who isn’t on some beautiful beach with?”
Lucy shrugged.
” ‘Wish you were here’ ” He rapped his knuckles against the scene of Greece, which was hanging near the bottom. “I mean, come on. If they really wished you were there, they’d have invited you in the first place, right? It’s kind of mean, if you really think about it. It should say: ‘Greece: Where nobody’s all the upset you’re not here.'”
… But to his relief, she began to laugh. ” ‘Rome: Where it is beautiful, we’ve pretty much forgotten about you,’ ” she said, sitting up. Her arms were looped around her bare legs, and her mouth was twisted in humour. ” ‘Sydney: Where you’re really missing out.’ “
*Taken from my e-galley version. This may not be same in the final publication.
“As a kid, one of the highlights of our family vacations was getting to send postcards back home to my friends. And I was thinking recently about how rarely that happens now. I live in New York City, so I walk by tourist shops all the time, and I see the racks filled with glittering pictures of Manhattan at night or at sunset, and they seem to sort of represent the best of the place. So in sending one, it feels like you’re giving the person who can’t be there a little piece of the moment, and there’s something incredibly romantic about that — though there’s also something really practical about it too. Because there’s only so much space on the back, you have to get right to the point. You have to say the thing that matters most, whether it’s “I love you” or “I miss you” or “Wish you were here.” A postcards is much more succinct than a letter, much more deliberate than an email, much more visually beautiful than either one. So for the book, I just really loved the idea of these two characters trading postcards across the distance, and how — in spite of the length of time it took, and in spite of the amount of space they had to express themselves — it still meant the world to them.”
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| Only a portion of my postcard collection, received around the whole world. |
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| Postcards inspired by The Geography of You and Me |
So the next time your abroad, on holiday or in a different place than your family or friends. why don’t you send a postcard rather than a text or email… I think it gives a very personal touch with pen to paper.
Hi Emma! I haven't read this one but I loved Jennifer's previous two novels, especially This is what happy looks like. This post was so interesting for me to read and it made me wish that I'd received more postcards (not that I've been anywhere to send them). Can't wait to read this 🙂
This is What Happy Looks Like was what started my love for this author and I haven't been disappointed with her work since. I'm glad you like the post. It something I don't share very often. Thanks for stopping by Sunny! 🙂
Ooh, this is so neat! I love receiving postcards from friends and family, so though I don't get a lot, even a few are special. Thanks for sharing, Emma!
Thank you Keertana! There's something about them isn't there?! 🙂
I don't think anyone in my family, near or distant, even bought a postcard for anyone. But you know what, I'm definitely going to start that after reading this book. And you're right, it's more than just a card 🙂
Thanks Aman! 🙂 I think there is definitely a something special about a postcard… Thanks for stopping by!
LOVE IT EMMA!!! I always buy postcards whenever I travel, but I never send them, I just hoard them and plan to hopefully do some sort of cool piece of artwork with them all eventually. I should probably buy a second set and actually send them home to friends and family:) I'm sure your postcard collection is amazing, I'm being completely nosy at the moment and wishing I could go through them all!
Sometimes I collect and sometimes, I send. But I've always had them sent to me. Which I just love. I always have a huge smile on my face when I receive them. 🙂 Haha! I could have posted my pics but there was soooo many! Hehe. Thanks Jenny! 🙂
Wow you have such an awesome postcard collection Emma! I remember I used to collect them too when I was younger, but then afterwards sending a receiving postcards sort of became less popular. I will definitely have to check the stores out for postcards next time I am away. Thanks for sharing a great post with us! 🙂
Thank you, Jasprit! I think it is a dying art but I love it all the same. It will be a tradition for me always. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Woha your collection is so amazing!! 🙂 I had no idea that postcard are inserted into this story and now I'm looking forward to it more than ever! I have received postcard before and still keep them but sadly people don't do that anymore. Needless so say if you by any chance need a postcard from Bosnia for your collection just send me an email and we'll make it happen 😉
Great post, Emma 🙂
Thank you so much Tanja. I would have never thought that this post would inspire or even offer for you to send me a postcard from Bosina! That would be lovely and I can't wait for you to receive mine, for good ol London! 🙂