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These precious days: Essays
By Ann Patchett. 2021
The beloved New York Times bestselling author reflects on home, family, friendships and writing in this deeply personal collection of…
essays. "Any story that starts will also end." As a writer, Ann Patchett knows what the outcome of her fiction will be. Life, however, often takes turns we do not see coming. Patchett ponders this truth in these wise essays that afford a fresh and intimate look into her mind and heart. At the center of These Precious Days is the title essay, a surprising and moving meditation on an unexpected friendship that explores "what it means to be seen, to find someone with whom you can be your best and most complete self." When Patchett chose an early galley of actor and producer Tom Hanks' short story collection to read one night before bed, she had no idea that this single choice would be life changing. It would introduce her to a remarkable woman—Tom's brilliant assistant Sooki—with whom she would form a profound bond that held monumental consequences for them both. A literary alchemist, Patchett plumbs the depths of her experiences to create gold: engaging and moving pieces that are both self-portrait and landscape, each vibrant with emotion and rich in insight. Turning her writer's eye on her own experiences, she transforms the private into the universal, providing us all a way to look at our own worlds anew, and reminds how fleeting and enigmatic life can be. From the enchantments of Kate DiCamillo's children's books (author of the upcoming The Beatryce Prophecy) to youthful memories of Paris; the cherished life gifts given by her three fathers to the unexpected influence of Charles Schultz's Snoopy; the expansive vision of Eudora Welty to the importance of knitting, Patchett connects life and art as she illuminates what matters most. Infused with the author's grace, wit, and warmth, the pieces in These Precious Days resonate deep in the soul, leaving an indelible mark—and demonstrate why Ann Patchett is one of the most celebrated writers of our time
This is the story of a happy marriage
By Ann Patchett. 2013
Twenty-two essays by the author of Bel Canto (DB 54190) explore the commitments one chooses throughout life. Topics include friendship,…
career, pets, and marriage. "The Bookstore Strikes Back" reflects on Patchett's experiences as co-owner of a bookstore. Bestseller. 2013
What now?
By Ann Patchett. 2008
An inspirational primer based on the author's 2006 commencement address at Sarah Lawrence College. Ann Patchett offers hope and inspiration…
for anyone at a crossroads, whether graduating, changing careers, or transitioning from one life stage to another. With wit and candour, she tells her story of attending college, graduating, and struggling with the inevitable question, What now? c2008.
This is the story of a happy marriage
By Ann Patchett. 2013
Ann Patchett shares stories of the people, places, ideals, and art to which she has remained indelibly committed, bringing into…
focus the large experiences and small moments that have shaped her as a daughter, wife, and writer. Stretching from her childhood to the present day, from a disastrous early marriage to a later happy one, Patchett covers a multitude of topics, including relationships with family and friends, and charts the hard work and joy of writing, and the unexpected thrill of opening a bookstore. 2013.
Truth & beauty: a friendship
By Ann Patchett. 2005
Author reminisces about her long-term friendship with Lucy Grealy, whom she met in college at Sarah Lawrence and who wrote…
"Autobiography of a Face", describing her battle with facial cancer. Patchett describes their relationship until Grealy's 2002 death from a heroin overdose. 2004.