Ann Patchett: American Author Challenge

Ann Patchett was born in Los Angeles in 1963 and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. She attended Sarah Lawrence College and the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop.
She is the author of seven novels, including, The Magician's Assistant, Bel Canto, State of Wonder and Commonwealth. She has also authored several nonfiction works.
In November, 2011, she opened Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee, with Karen Hayes.

**This is part of our American Author Challenge 2017. This author will be read in October. The general discussion thread can be found right here:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/244600

I read Bel Canto about 5 years ago, and her excellent essay collection This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage the following year and nothing since, which I have no excuse for. I can say, I have visited Parnassus Books in Nashville, a few months ago and seen her host an author event there. This counts for something, right?

I will be kicking off the month with Truth & Beauty and later in the month, Commonwealth. My plan is to read all of her books at some point.

Okay, I bared my soul- What are your Patchett reads going to be and any thoughts about previous Patchett books you have read?

Has anyone read her earliest stuff?

I have read one book by Ann Patchett, Taft, which I think is one of her earlier works. I liked it quite well, but found the ending a bit of a disappointment because I couldn't suspend my disbelief over a particular critical plot point. Nevertheless, the writing was wonderful, and I'm looking forward to reading another of her books this month. I'll be checking with my library, as I don't seem to own anything of hers at the moment.

>4 laytonwoman3rd: funny, I read Truth and Beauty recently (which is excellent), and in it she mentioned Taft, her second novel, which wasn't doing as well as her first.

I've read several of her books and enjoyed them all. I have This is the Story of a Happy Marriage on my shelves, so even though I'm not "doing" the AAC on a regular basis, maybe I'll read it this month.

I've read Bel Canto and State of Wonder; loved the first and really liked the second. I'm planning on Commonwealth for the AAC!

Karen O.

State of Wonder is on my shelves. I will take it with me on my travels so hope to finish it quickly. Nothing like a long flight to help with the reading.

I have Bel Canto and would like to read it. Lots of chunksters lined up for October, so I'll see what I can get to.

I've checked out Bel Canto and State of Wonder from the library.

I have read Bel Canto, The Patron Saint of Liars, Truth and Beauty and they were all 3.5 or 4s. I am reading Comonwealth for my RL bookclub (I engineered this to coincide with your AAC thread, Mark!) and I also have State of Wonder and This is the Story of a Happy Marriage waiting for me. : )

Glad to see so many chiming in on the Patchett reads. Hope to discover some new ones, to add to the list.

>5 lauralkeet: >10 Berly: I loved This is the Story of a Happy Marriage. One of my favorite essay collections. I hope you both can bookhorn it in.

Bel Canto will be read by me. A gangbusters used-book shopping month (September) put two other Patchett books on the TBR Monolith: Run and State of Wonder. They'll probably have to wait.

I can't be the only LTer who saw Patchett on CBS Sunday Morning last week, can I? Video'ed in her Nashville bookstore, showing off her 'riting room. It has made me ready to begin.

>12 weird_O: No, I saw that. I meant to add a link to the video here. I did post it on FB. Please stand by.

EDIT: Here's the link

Ah!! Thanks for the link. It was great. : ) She is such a nice person, with a great sense of humor. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing her speak a couple of years back.

I started This is the Story of a Happy Marriage last night. Since it's a collection of essays, it will be perfect to read at bedtime, a little bit each day. And I'm loving it already.

>15 lauralkeet: I've put a hold on that one at the library, Laura. I think I'm in an essay mood.

>13 laytonwoman3rd: Ah! I could have guessed you would have seen it, Linda. I seem to be betwixt and between at this moment, so I will start Bel Canto within minutes.

I have Bel Canto and The Magician's Assistant. I'll try to fit one of them in.

I'll be reading Bel Canto, as well.

I've read:
State of Wonder (4 stars)
Truth & Beauty (4 stars)
Commonwealth (2.5 stars)

Ann Patchett is one of my favorite authors and I'm going to try to read State of Wonder this month.

I've read and loved (mostly) The Magician's Assistant, Taft (my least favorite), The Patron Saint of Liars, Truth and Beauty, This is the Story of a Happy Marriage, and Commonwealth.

>20 Copperskye: Which is your favorite? Curious about The Magician's Assistant.

I plan on starting Truth & beauty today.

I have had a soft spot in my heart for Ann Patchett since I was a freshman at Clemson University in 2006, where she was protested by horrible people who clearly had not done the assigned reading.

I have read:
Truth & Beauty - I didn't enjoy it much at the time but appreciate it much more after reading Lucy Grealy's Autobiography of a Face
Bel Canto
Run - my favorite, I think.
The Magician's Assistant
and the short story This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage (not the collection of essays of the same name)

I own but have not read State of Wonder, The Patron Saint of Liars, and Taft so I will try to get to one of those this month.

>21 msf59: Mark, I loved The Magician's Assistant and it, along with Commonwealth, are probably my favorites.

I read her early books when they were first published and so my memories of them are sketchy. I know I loved The Patron Saint of Liars, too, and it was the first book I read by her.

Oddly, Bel Canto is her most praised and, apparently, popular and although I've started it once or twice, I just can't seem to stick with it. I'm not keen on hostage situations and that may have something to do with it.

"Sleep was a country for which he could not obtain a visa."

Ann Patchett's apt expression of the plight of Gen Watanabe, Japanese interpreter, caught in a risible terrorist attempt to kidnap a South American country's president that instead ensnares 200+ hostages—from France, Germany, Russia, Japan, the U. S. Endless calls for him to translate have run him ragged.

Bel Canto. Never read AP before. This book is excellent. And may drag me into the pages of Run and State of Wonder, both of which are staring at me from the books ranked beside my computer screen.

I'm late to the party, but I'm a Patchett fan. Surprised to realize I've only read two... Bel Canto is a favorite, and I also enjoyed State of Wonder. I have all of her other books on shelf/Kindle, so it's just a matter of deciding on one. And that will have to wait until I am back home :)

Another Patchett fan here! I think Commonwealth is my favorite. I loved The Magician's Assistant when I first read it, years ago, so plan to re-read for this challenge, but I have to find it. I think I might have lent it to my daughter.

>25 katiekrug: You left home without your Kindle?! WHAT WERE Y0U THINKING, KATIE ??!! :)

I'm really enjoying The is the Story of a Happy Marriage. It's perfect to dip in and out of.

>27 lauralkeet: - No, no, no. I have my Kindle with me, but my reading time is so limited and sporadic, I don't want to start my Patchett read until I have better quality reading time :)

Whew. All is right with the LT world again.

^ I started the audio of Truth & Beauty. I think it begins very well. It is an amazing story of a friendship. I first heard about this relationship, in an essay, in This is the Story of a Happy Marriage and knew I had to read it and with Patchett doing her own narration, it would be a Win Win.

The only puzzling thing is, is some of the reviews have been mixed, with some sharp criticism directed toward Patchett, about describing her relationship with Lucy Grealy as unfair and unbalanced. Grealy died in 2002, before this book was released. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

>29 lauralkeet: Dodged a bullet there, Laura. Grins...

I am so glad there is so much interest in Ms. Patchett. I find it compelling, how different readers feel about each of her books. Some will say one is her favorite and the next will say it is her least favorite. Hmmmmm....

I'm done. Bel Canto. Finished it 10/4/17. Moving on, but I may be back. Ms. Patchett is masterful.

>30 msf59: I haven't read those reviews, Mark, but I know Lucy's family was unhappy with the book. As I understand it, Patchett wrote it as a tribute to a dear friend who died far too young. The family felt she intruded upon their grief by telling Lucy's story her way. So that may be contributing to the harsh criticism you've seen.

>30 msf59: Hi, Mark. You mentioned the harsh criticism that Ann Patchett's book, Truth & Beauty has gotten, wondering where it has come from. What"s behind it? As you say: some sharp criticism directed toward Patchett, about describing her relationship with Lucy Grealy as unfair and unbalanced.

Here's a link to an article by Suellen Grealy, Lucy Grealy's older sister, that was published 10 years ago in The Guardian.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2004/aug/07/biography.features

I was struck by this statement in the article: "My sister Lucy was a uniquely gifted writer. Ann, not so gifted, is lucky to be able to hitch her wagon to my sister's star. I wish Lucy's work had been left to stand on its own."

>34 weird_O: Ooh, that's harsh. Lots of bad feeling there, I think. I might have to locate a copy of Truth & Beauty, to try and counteract it.

>31 msf59: I was struck by what you noted, the widely different reactions to Patchett's work. But it's probably not just Patchett; some writers just seem to generate strong feelings in their readers, maybe.

Karen O.

I picked up a copy of Bel Canto because I was scheduled to attend the Lyric Opera's Bel Canto opera. Well, I didn't read it and I also didn't make it to the opera, due to illness. I know that it was presented on PBS Great Performances so I do hope to read the book and then try to track down a copy of the PBS performance from the Lyric.

As with most books I read for the AAC, I had never read anything by this author before. I didn't know what to expect with Ann Patchett's State of Wonder but found a book with engaging characters dealing with interesting dilemmas. It was hard to know which way they would act or how the dilemmas would be solved. It was a good introduction to Patchett's work.

>34 weird_O: I believe there was also a lot of backlash when Clemson University assigned Truth and Beauty to incoming freshman to read, and some of their parents felt it was describing an "unnatural relationship" between the two women, and that it encouraged the students to "find themselves sexually". According to the most vocal opponent, requiring the innocent tykes to read this sort of rot amounted to sexual harrassment. Patchett wrote about that brouhaha in The Atlantic. I'll go find myself a copy of Truth and Beauty post haste. I'm currently reading the essay collection This is the Story of a Happy Marriage, and it's pretty fine stuff, in my perverted opinion.

>38 laytonwoman3rd: I'm guessing you just haven't reached it yet, but the Clemson brouhaha essay from The Atlantic appears in the book. It's followed by the Convocation speech she delivered to the incoming first-year class, which is absolutely outstanding.

Truth & Beauty: A Friendship by Ann Patchett 4.3 stars

I first learned about the friendship of Ann Patchett and Lucy Grealy, in Patchett's excellent essay collection, This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage, so I knew I wanted to read the full story in this moving and unflinching memoir.
Ann and Lucy met in college. Lucy had a bout of childhood cancer, leaving her with a serious facial disfigurement, that wasted away her lower jaw. She ended up having nearly 40 surgeries, up until her premature death at age 39. Lucy dealt with self-esteem issues her entire life, which led her to substance abuse problems and suicidal tendencies.
This is the story of their unique friendship, which had plenty of bumps along the way, as Ann tried to help Lucy deal with her multitude of issues. The prose is strong, all along the way, with a staunch sense of honesty, that is sometimes hard to bear. Now, I want to read, Autobiography of a Face, which is Lucy's own story. Highly recommended.

>40 msf59: I've had the same reaction to reading This is the Story of a Happy Marriage (which is not, contrary to some assumptions, a story about a "marriage" between Lucy and Ann), Mark. Not only do I want to read both Truth & Beauty and Autobiography of a Face, but I've already purchased a collection of Grace Paley's short stories (hitherto unknown to me) and the 2006 edition of Best American Short Fiction, which Patchett edited.

Patchett's account of her 7th grade self meeting Eudora Welty at a book signing made me hug the book with tears in my eyes. "For the sheer force of its heart-stopping, life-changing wonder, I will put this experience up against anyone who ever saw the Beatles."

>41 laytonwoman3rd: Grace Paley! Hooray!

>41 laytonwoman3rd: I am so glad you are enjoying the essay collection, Linda. I also loved it. She narrated the audio too, which really made it feel conversational.

^ I am starting Commonwealth, my second Patchett of the month. Like most of her work, there is mixed opinions about it, but people that liked it- really liked it. Looking forward to seeing for myself.

How is everyone else coming along?

I loved this book!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


This is the Story of a Happy Marriage ()

These days, Ann Patchett is best known for her novels, but she began her writing career as a journalist, mastering the art of short non-fiction. This collection of essays, originally published in the New York Times, Atlantic Monthly, and other major media outlets, represents some of her finest work in the genre.

These essays are highly personal, and collectively describe a life with all of its ups and downs. Patchett discusses her writing career, her romantic and family relationships, her dog, the decision to open a bookstore, and her friendship with Lucy Grealy (covered in depth in Patchett's memoir, Truth and Beauty).

Many times, an essay took hold of me, prompting anything from nodding in agreement to outrage to tears. I couldn't possibly mention every one of these moments. One that stood out was her 2007 piece about her 2006 appearance at Clemson University. Truth and Beauty was assigned reading for the incoming freshman class, to the outrage of many parents and alumni who wrongly deemed it pornographic. Patchett endured their public shaming, and to its credit the university did not cancel their invitation for her to address the class. Her powerful address, "The Right to Read," follows her essay about these events. The final essay in this collection, "The Mercies," is about an aging nun and at first seemed out of place. But as I turned the final page, I realized it was a perfect way to end this book while leaving room for more books like this in the future.

Just finished This is the Story of a Happy Marriage, and loved it. No time for detailed remarks now, but I'll be back. And I'll be reading more of her work!

I'm just over halfway through Taft, and I am really enjoying it. In a way, it reminds me of Stewart O'Nan's books - decent people trying to do what is right despite difficult and/or constrained circumstances. It's gritty and prosaic but with a touch of softness. I'm not quite sure where she is going with it, but I'm okay with that.

>13 laytonwoman3rd: Thanks for adding the link to her interview! What a sweetie!

I've just started Bel Canto.

The only other book that I've read is State of Wonder. The bad science in that one threw me off so badly that I only rated it 2.5 stars. (Yup, I'm one of *those* people.)

>49 streamsong: bad science
One of Patchett's essays discusses how she will get an idea for a book, often pertaining to subjects she knows nothing about, and then immerse herself in research. I can imagine the research is no substitute for the depth of knowledge held by "real" scientists. I can see how that would affect your reading experience.

I finished Taft just now. I really liked it - 4.5 stars. In the back of my copy is a short essay Patchett wrote about "The Curse of the Second Novel" and how few people seemed to have read this one. I hope more people will pick it up, as it's a really good read.

I finished The Magician's Assistant, which I had read before, but I had completely forgotten the plot, so it was a new book to me and I liked it just as well the second time. The protagonist, Sabine, is a magician's assistant, and has spent the last 20 years in love with Parsifal, the magician. As Parsifal was gay, the love was unrequited, although he was good to Sabine, and married her so that she would have his considerable fortune after he died. (the book was published in 1997, so written at the height of the AIDS crisis). The fortune did not come from the magic act, which didn't pay well, but he also had a successful rug business. Parsifal had always told Sabine he was an orphan with no family, but after his death, she finds out that the truth was otherwise. Most of the book involves her finding out more about his family and history, and this aids in her processing her grief.

Patchett tends to a positive view of the world, and people, and this book is no exception. There is a lot of trauma in the past; but most of the people in the book are kind and try to help each other.

And also, one of the characters in the book is a rabbit, named Rabbit!

I was meh on Commonwealth. How are you liking it, Mark?

>51 katiekrug: >52 banjo123: It looks like I NEED to read Taft & The Magician's Assistant.

>53 Berly: I am really enjoying Commonwealth, Kim. It feels like linked stories, which I am a big fan of. What didn't you like about it?

>51 katiekrug: Didja buy the ending, though? I loved Taft right up to the point where I thought she jumped the shark with a bit of hard-to-swallow action. I've been waiting for someone else to read it and give me their take on that.

>55 laytonwoman3rd: - You mean Carl shooting him? I didn't think it was totally out there, since he was messed up on drugs. And there had to be something that happened to provide Nickel with some clarity and perspective. I think I reacted so positively to the book, though, because I loved Nickel so much, even as I was frustrated with him. And frustrated with some of the plot/story.

>56 katiekrug: Not that he did it, but the whole way it played out seemed unrealistic to me. I don't exactly remember the details now, I just know it felt too "action-movie" to me, and I found it a bit unbelievable.

>57 laytonwoman3rd: - I see what you're saying. He refused to go to the hospital because he didn't want the kid to get in trouble, and his son's mother - a nurse - just happened to be on good enough terms with a doctor who could fix him up in his office... A bit far-fetched for sure.

>50 lauralkeet: My main gripe with the science in State of Wonder is that Patchett identifies malaria as a disease that is not worked on because there would not be enough money produced in sales of the vaccine and hence poor children in malarial countries die.

That is true for many diseases. I'm sure she even found websites saying that about malaria.

But malaria is of interest to the military of the US and other countries. The US military has been working on a vaccine for decades. And where there is military interest, research grant money is available. And vaccine sales to military personnel would be highly profitable.

I've thought it would make an interesting biomedical novel (spy vs spy! stolen bugs!) to have one of the factions in a warring country have a malaria vaccine and trying to keep it out of the hands of the other side.

It will be interesting to see if the Gates foundation is more successful with a vaccine, which may not be possible. They may well have to look at other vector control (maybe genetically modified mosquitos??) rather than a human vaccine.

>59 streamsong: that's interesting! Thanks for sharing, I learned something new today (and it's not even 7am yet lol!).

Bel Canto

Okay, I had put off reading this novel for years, partly based on the unlikely and odd premise: a Japanese businessman visiting an unnamed South(?) American country is invited to celebrate his 53rd birthday at the home of the vice president; as a gift, a famous American soprano is booked to sing half a dozen arias for the guest of honor. In the midst of the evening, a group of terrorists break their way into the VP's home, taking the entire party hostage. The novel takes place in the confines of this luxurious home as the hostages and police negotiators reach and languish at a stalemate. And so the terrorists and hostages settle in for what turns out to be a months-long opportunity to get to know one another, for relationships to develop, dreams to consolidate, and identities to shift ever so slightly. I loved this novel. At once a celebration of art and an affirmation of the human striving for both beauty and connection, it is a moving and funny and deeply satisfying read.

I only gave Commonwealth 2.5 stars when I read it last year. This earlier novel is SO much better!

I did give 4 stars each to Truth & Beauty and State of Wonder but neither is in the same league as Bel Canto. I'm so glad I finally got around to reading this one!

>61 EBT1002: Yes, see, all that stuff is why I keep saying "Whaaaa?" about Bel Canto, and have been putting it off for years myself. (Well, actually, until I readThis is the Story of a Happy Marriage I wasn't putting it off, so much as putting it OUT of the running for my reading time.) And now, I guess I'm going to try it. It still doesn't sound like something I want to read about, but my curiosity to see what Patchett does with that set-up is getting the best of me.

>62 laytonwoman3rd: Yes, putting it OUT of the running for my precious reading time is a more accurate description of what I had done, too. And for the first 20 pages or so, I was still in "I'm supposed to care about this?" territory. Then the characters begin to develop and that is what this book is all about.

That, and: Food, Shelter, Clothing, and Art.

>61 EBT1002: Totally agree with the lack of love for Commonwealth and the absolute love of Bel Canto!

>64 Berly: :-) and xo

I have just started Bel Canto. Great to read all the positive reviews.

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett 4.8 stars

“Did you ever want to be a writer?” “No,” she said, and she would have told him. “I only wanted to be a reader.”

“Half the things in this life I wish I could remember and the other half I wish I could forget.”

A christening party, one Sunday afternoon, in southern California. Copious amounts of gin are consumed, leading to an illicit kiss. This brief encounter, in the kitchen, sets off a chain-reaction, breaking apart two families, and bringing them together again, with pieces missing or askew.
Loosely, based on Patchett's own tumultous childhood, the novel spans five deacades, looking closely at the lives of all six children and the parents. Yes, some are dysfunctional, groping their way to an uncertain future and others are more sure-footed. Unlikely friendships evolve among the siblings and some end up, hopelessly out of reach.
This book caught me by surprise, with it's depth, sense of humor and uncanny insight, into the human condition. And of course, the prose is delicious.
Patchett's work seems to be divisive, among readers, including this one but that leaves me somewhat baffled, because I think she is one of the best American writers working today.

I had planned to listen to the audio of State of Wonder, but I gave up after 45 minutes because I was experiencing an almost uncontrollable urge to throttle the main character. I wound up reading What Now?, a commencement speech Patchett gave at Sarah Lawrence. It read fine, but I probably would have spent my time playing with my phone if I'd had to listen to it.

Just starting on This is the Story of a Happy Marriage after Laura and Linda’s rave reviews.

>69 Caroline_McElwee: woo hoo!!!

Go Caroline! Go Caroline!

>67 msf59:. Good to read a positive review of Commonwealth. I like the sound of it. I think our local library has it.
I have just finished Bel Canto and thought it a very satisfying read with great character development.

Loved This is the Story of a Happy Marriage. I don’t think I had known about Patchett’s essays before, and the title would have put me off, but I own I even enjoyed that essay. I don’t think there was a dud among them, though probably the longest, ‘The Getaway Car’ was my favourite, but I’m a sucker for writing about writing or reading.