An Ode to Ann Patchett

+ books and other delights

In January, I met my husband for a few days at the end of a work trip in Nashville. I had most of one day to myself, so I did the obvious and researched independent bookstores in the city. I read about Parnassus Books, co-owned by the author Ann Patchett and made plans to visit. I knew of her work, having read some of her short stories and essays in The Atlantic and other publications over the years, but I had not yet read any of her books.

In preparation for my visit, I downloaded — These Precious Days — and immediately devoured it. I loved reading about her days at Sarah Lawerence, her choice to not have children, and her beautiful outlook on life and aging.

While Brian worked, I made my way to Parnassus. It felt so indulgent to be alone in a bookstore. I took in the covers slowly and read recommendations from the booksellers. I flipped through books of poems and read notes local authors had tucked inside their books. I was completely enamored by Patchett and the world of books she and her colleagues created. After several hours, I carried out a large stack of books to find some tea and a quiet place to read. (Not once considering that I had flown to Nashville!)

In her book, These Precious Days, Ann Patchett writes this:

As every reader knows, the social contract between you and a book you love is not complete until you can hand that book to someone else and say, Here, you’re going to love this.

So this is my attempt to hand you some of the books I’ve read so far this year (as I’ve mentioned before, I’m only listing the books I recommend):

Memoir / Personal Essay

• These Precious Days - Ann Patchett ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

• Living Resistance - Kaitlin B. Curtice ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

• All My Knotted Up Life (audio) - Beth Moore ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

• I’m Glad My Mom Died (audio) - Jenette McCurdy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

• The Last Black Unicorn (audio) - Tiffany Haddish ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

• Finding Me (audio) - Viola Davis ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

• Between Two Kingdoms (audio) - Suleika Jaouad ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

• This Too Shall Last - KJ Ramsey ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

• A Heart That Works - Rob Delaney ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

• The Light We Carry (audio) - Michelle Obama ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

• Outlove (audio) - Julie Rodgers ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Non-Fiction

• The Sacred Art of Listening - Kay Lindahl ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

• Embracing Rhythms of Work & Rest - Ruth Haley Barton ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

• In The Sanctuary Of Women - Jan Richardson ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

• My Grandmother’s Hands - Resmaa Menakem ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Fiction

• Pachinko - Min Jin Less ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

• The Patron Saint of Liars - Ann Patchett ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

• Lessons in Chemistry - Bonnie Garms ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

• Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow - Gabrielle Zevin ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Watching, Listening, and Delight:

• After re-subscribing to Apple TV+ to watch the new Ted Lasso season, we decided to watch Bad Sisters between episodes and could not get enough! I loved Derry Girls last summer too, so I’m wondering — what other Irish television do I need to watch!?

• Old news, I’m sure, but we’ve been enjoying Lego Masters and The Great British Baking Show: Juniors with the big kids.

• Each spring, I take my kids to pick strawberries at a farm in the hill country. My favorite part is the drive, as the fields are full of bluebonnets. The experience has varied over the years, but we usually have a great time together. Most years, we make this strawberry bundt cake with our pickings (store-bought strawberries also work great). We’ve learned that it’s best eaten the day it’s baked, so this year, we served it up for dinner!

• I talk a lot about books here, but I love music too, so I want to give it a little space. Lately, I’ve been listening to — Second Nature by Lucius, Sir Woman’s self-titled album, and Music from Big Pink by The Band.

• Recently, my daughter and I met friends Taquero Mucho, a restaurant decorated fully in PINK (including pink tortillas and pink margaritas). Afterward, we went roller skating, and I’m happy to announce that the music has not changed since the 90s. Here’s to more delight this Eastertide!