These Precious Days - by Ann Patchett

Book Synopsis

The beloved New York Times bestselling author reflects on home, family, friendships and writing in this deeply personal collection of essays.

"The elegance of Patchett's prose is seductive and inviting: with Patchett as a guide, readers will really get to grips with the power of struggles, failures, and triumphs alike." --Publisher's Weekly

"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 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.

Review Quotes

"To read this collection is to be invited into that sacred space where a writer steps out from behind the page to say Hello; let's really get to know each other. Stoic, kindhearted, fierce, funny, brainy, Patchett's essays honor what matters most 'in this precarious and precious life.'" -- Oprah Daily

"The elegance of Patchett's prose is seductive and inviting: with Patchett as a guide, readers will really get to grips with the power of struggles, failures, and triumphs alike." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Patchett's heart, smarts and 40 years of craft create an economy that delivers her perfectly understated stories emotionally whole. Her writing style is most gloriously her own." -- New York Times Book Review

"Generous in spirit, animated by a positive outlook and someone who obviously relishes life." -- People

"Ann Patchett is, above all, marvelous company." -- San Francisco Chronicle

"Patchett's voice, equal parts, warm, wry and insightful, reels you in. There's a freshness, an openness that never gets near over-sharing--and a humanity that never gets near sanctimony." -- Wall Street Journal

"A beautiful reminder of what's important. . . . There's a generosity in the way she not only looks at the world but invites the reader in to stay for a while." -- Washington Post

"An enviable life shared with candor, emotion, and knockout storytelling power." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Witty and warm, the essays succeed because of Patchett's inimitable, endearing voice. Simplistic, generous without being cloying, accessible rather than anodyne, These Precious Days feels at once bracing and comforting." -- Boston Globe

"A moving and memorable account of a brief but incandescent friendship." -- USA Today (four stars)

"A catalogue of all the unexpected ways love can look, if you're imaginative and brave enough to try it -- even while knowing that love and grief are two sides of the same coin." -- NPR.org

"The mission of memoir is to bring back, at least on the page, lost loved ones, times past and places left behind, and Patchett brings to this reclamation project the abundant literary gifts that light up her nine novels. To that artisanship is added the electricity that only true stories have, the hot current of personal revelation and intimacy." -- Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Splendid. . . . These Precious Days overflows with life. . . . It's warm and funny and smart and full of unexpected insights." -- Tampa Bay Times

"Essential reading. . . . These Precious Days is a book to treasure." -- Toronto Star

"To immerse oneself in her book is to see the world as she does, in all its wonder and beauty. Read it, cherish it, buy a copy for your best friend, then read it once more." -- Inews

"An illuminating, engaging collection. . . . These essays are at once a timely reminder that the days are precious--and a how-to guide for making them so." -- Irish Times

"In this collection, readers will find humor, optimism, abundant joy and acceptance of loss, along with moments of laughter sprinkled with tears. Death is inevitable for all, so celebrate the precious moments with a sense of adventure, good books and great conversations with family and friends." -- Booktrib