THE AUGUST LETTERS: YEAR ONE DODECAGON QUEST - AUGUST'S THEME

This month our Dodecagon Quest leads us to seek a story woven through letters.

In The August Letters, you are asked to read a book about a love kept apart, in a time when letters were the only means of communication. The reasons for writing may be wide and varied, but could include war, societal disapproval, secrecy for safety, incarceration, family circumstance, collapse of order, work or even time travel. The words must be exchanged between those romantically linked and written because no other option was truly possible.

In these circumstances, letters may serve as lifelines, full of longing and confession, or as declarations of devotion and the desperate wish to be together.

As you choose your book, look for times when modern technology, or even the use of a telephone, would not have been realistic. This need not always be dictated by the historical period; it could be that location, circumstance, or events make letter-writing the only channel for communication. Every word is inked carefully on paper, sealed and entrusted to others, or to fate itself, for delivery.

Book ideas for 'The August Letters' theme

Your task? To choose a book where letters carry the story of love across distance and time. Here are some ideas across genres to spark your imagination. If you discover a treasure of your own, send it my way through the button below and I’ll be delighted to add it to the Circle’s recommendations!

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

Dear John is a contemporary romance novel that follows John, a soldier on leave, and Savannah, a college student, who fall in love one summer in North Carolina. Their relationship is sustained through heartfelt letters when John is deployed overseas. Long separations and life’s challenges test their bond. The story explores themes of love, sacrifice and the difficulty of balancing life's decisions. It’s a poignant, emotionally charged read, ideal for fans of heartfelt, bittersweet love stories.

“Dear John, tell me everything. Write it all down, that way, we’ll be with each other all the time, even if we’re not with each other at all.” - Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone & Amal El-Mohtar

You could choose this science fiction romance told through secret letters exchanged between two rival agents, who are battling on opposite sides of a war across time. What begins as taunting correspondence becomes a love story. An inventive tale for fans of both speculative fiction and slow-burn romance.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows

An epistolary historical novel told through letters between writer Juliet and the residents of Guernsey in the aftermath of WWII. Through their correspondence, friendships blossom, secrets are revealed and Juliet finds love. Warm, witty and deeply moving, perfect for the theme!

Love Letters by Virginia Woolf & Vita Sackville-West

In this real-life collection of letters exchanged between Virginia Woolf and Vita Sackville-West, the letters chart their relationship and enduring friendship. Their words reveal intimacy, wit and creativity, offering an extraordinary glimpse into the hearts of two influential women.

The Letters of John & Abigail Adams 

If you're a lover of biographies and true love stories, this historical collection of over a thousand letters exchanged between John and Abigail Adams during the American Revolution and John’s presidency is the perfect choice! The correspondence reveals their deep partnership, mutual respect and affection, alongside insightful commentary on politics, daily life and American history in the making. A rich blend of romance and historical record.

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

In this fantasy romance set against a brutal war between gods, two rival journalists unknowingly begin a letter correspondence through a magical typewriter. As they share words across the battlefield, will their professional rivalry transform into a powerful connection?

How Do I Match Books to ‘The August Letters’ and the Year One Challenge Prompts?

The Dodecagon Quest runs alongside the main prompt challenge, it does not require extra reading - in fact, it’s explicitly forbidden! With a little clever planning, you can choose books each month that tie into the Quest’s theme and match them with your Year Group’s challenge prompts.

The Year One prompts that could pair beautifully with the August theme include:

2. A Heavy Read

3. Set During a Conflict

5. Second Chances

8. A Touch of the Green-Eyed Monster

14. A Debt to Repay

17. Rock, Paper, Scissors

23. Leaders in Literacy

24. Set During the 1800s

27. Make a Wish

30. Dress to Impress

31. An Ancient Character

33. A Family in Turmoil

43. Fierce Females

51. Smooth Criminal

This month is all about discovering how love endures the toughest of times and how words can bridge impossible distances and challenges. Have fun with it! And if you stumble upon any books that fit the August Letters theme, send them my way, I’ll make sure they’re added to our recommendations.

Yours in print,

Seraphina