Synopses & Reviews
The
New York Times bestselling author of
State of Wonder,
Run, and
Bel Canto creates a resonant portrait of a life in this collection of writings on love, friendship, work, and art.
"The tricky thing about being a writer, or about being any kind of artist, is that in addition to making art you also have to make a living."
So begins This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage, an examination of the things Ann Patchett is fully committed to — the art and craft of writing, the depths of friendship, an elderly dog, and one spectacular nun. Writing nonfiction, which started off as a means of keeping her insufficiently lucrative fiction afloat, evolved over time to be its own kind of art, the art of telling the truth as opposed to the art of making things up. Bringing her narrative gifts to bear on her own life, Patchett uses insight and compassion to turn very personal experiences into stories that will resonate with every reader.
These essays twine to create both a portrait of life and a philosophy of life. Obstacles that at first appear insurmountable — scaling a six-foot wall in order to join the Los Angeles Police Department, opening an independent bookstore, and sitting down to write a novel — are eventually mastered with quiet tenacity and sheer force of will. The actual happy marriage, which was the one thing she felt she wasn't capable of, ultimately proves to be a metaphor as well as a fact: Patchett has devoted her life to the people and ideals she loves the most. An irresistible blend of literature and memoir, This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage is a unique examination of the heart, mind, and soul of one of our most revered and gifted writers.
Review
“I had been so engaged by Ann Patchett's multifaceted story, so lured in by her confiding voice, that I forgot I was on the job....As the best personal essays often do, Patchett's is a two-way mirror, reflecting both the author and her readers.” New York Times Book Review
Review
“Patchett's mastery of nonfiction [is] every bit the equal of her skill as a novelist.” Shelf Awareness
Review
“All the essays were a joy to read....No matter your interest, you'll find words in this book that speak to you.” Real Simple
Review
“Each of the essays is its own delight and resonates with warmth and humor.…If read straight through, the book presents a lovely and lyrical look at a life well lived.” Library Journal
Review
“Readable and candid, Patchett's collection is a joyful celebration of life, love and the written word.” Kirkus Reviews
Review
“Reading Patchett is like spending time with a deeply perceptive longtime pal, or a new friend that one instantly connects with.” USA Today
Review
“[A] sparkling collection.” The New Yorker
Review
“Happy marriage, compelling writing and all worthy endeavor requires hard work. That's Patchett's strength. And she does a fine job.” Miami Herald
Review
“Patchett…is one of our best contemporary novelists. This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage reminds us that she is an exceptional writer of nonfiction, too. Her prose is a pleasure to read, regardless of genre.” Dallas Morning News
Review
“Novelist Ann Patchett's excellent essay collection ranges from dogs to writing to white-knuckled air travel.” Christian Science Monitor
Review
“In this heartfelt collection of autobiographical essays, the novelist opens up about love, friendship, and family, exhibiting the compassionate voice that is a hallmark of her fiction.” O, the Oprah Magazine
Review
“It is a feat that Ann Patchett remains so lovable as a narrator, and so engaging as a storyteller, when writing about her excellent career, personal life, dog, and husband.” Newsday
Review
“Patchett's is a no-nonsense voice: clear, sane, companionable.…[T]he funny, frank and nervy ‘The Getaway Car' (possibly worth the book's price) plunges readers, roller-coaster style, into the story of Patchett's writing life essentially, this collections real subject.” San Francisco Chronicle
Review
“[I]n this terrific, wide-ranging collection, Patchett demonstrates how a pro does it.” NPR's Fresh Air
Review
“All of the essays, which have been collected from her magazine work over two decades, are excellent. Patchett writes enviable prose fluid, simple, direct, clear, and fearless…” Esquire.com
Review
“Ann Patchett most definitely has something to say, in her fully realized and beautiful voice.” Huffington Post
Review
“Writing of loss and of the complications of love, Patchett lets down her guard…and opens both her sense of humor and her heart.” Columbus Dispatch
Review
“Wit-filled and elegantly executed” Entertainment Weekly
Review
“The best advertisement for Ann Patchett's new collection of nonfiction is anything else Ms. Patchett has written....Ms. Patchett's style is not overly confessional, but it is beguiling in ways that make her sound like someone you'd want to know.” New York Times
Synopsis
Blending literature and memoir, Ann Patchett, author ofState of Wonder, Run, andBel Canto, examines her deepest commitments to writing, family, friends, dogs, books, and her husband creating a resonant portrait of a life inThis is the Story of a Happy Marriage.
This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage takes us into the very real world of Ann Patchett s life. Stretching from her childhood to the present day, from a disastrous early marriage to a later happy one, it 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.
As she shares stories of the people, places, ideals, and art to which she has remained indelibly committed, Ann Patchett brings into focus the large experiences and small moments that have shaped her as a daughter, wife, and writer.
"
Synopsis
Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
Blending literature and memoir, Ann Patchett, author of State of Wonder, Run, and Bel Canto, examines her deepest commitments--to writing, family, friends, dogs, books, and her husband--creating a resonant portrait of a life in This is the Story of a Happy Marriage.
This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage takes us into the very real world of Ann Patchett's life. Stretching from her childhood to the present day, from a disastrous early marriage to a later happy one, it 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.
As she shares stories of the people, places, ideals, and art to which she has remained indelibly committed, Ann Patchett brings into focus the large experiences and small moments that have shaped her as a daughter, wife, and writer.
Synopsis
A Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
Blending literature and memoir, New York Times bestselling author Ann Patchett, author of State of Wonder, Run, and Bel Canto, examines her deepest commitments--to writing, family, friends, dogs, books, and her husband--creating a resonant portrait of a life in This is the Story of a Happy Marriage.
Stretching from her childhood to the present day, from a disastrous early marriage to a later happy one, This is the Story of a Happy Marriage 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.
As she shares stories of the people, places, ideals, and art to which she has remained indelibly committed, Ann Patchett brings into focus the large experiences and small moments that have shaped her as a daughter, wife, and writer.
Synopsis
A Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
"I had been so engaged by Ann Patchett's multifaceted story, so lured in by her confiding voice, that I forgot I was on the job. ...] As the best personal essays often do, Patchett's is a two-way mirror, reflecting both the author and her readers." -- New York Times Book Review
Blending literature and memoir, New York Times bestselling author Ann Patchett, author of State of Wonder, Run, and Bel Canto, examines her deepest commitments--to writing, family, friends, dogs, books, and her husband--creating a resonant portrait of a life in This is the Story of a Happy Marriage.
Stretching from her childhood to the present day, from a disastrous early marriage to a later happy one, This is the Story of a Happy Marriage 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.
As she shares stories of the people, places, ideals, and art to which she has remained indelibly committed, Ann Patchett brings into focus the large experiences and small moments that have shaped her as a daughter, wife, and writer.
Synopsis
Blending literature and memoir, Ann Patchett, author of
State of Wonder, Run, and
Bel Canto, examines her deepest commitments — to writing, family, friends, dogs, books, and her husband — creating a resonant portrait of a life in
This is the Story of a Happy Marriage.This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage takes us into the very real world of Ann Patchett's life. Stretching from her childhood to the present day, from a disastrous early marriage to a later happy one, it 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.
As she shares stories of the people, places, ideals, and art to which she has remained indelibly committed, Ann Patchett brings into focus the large experiences and small moments that have shaped her as a daughter, wife, and writer.
About the Author
Ann Patchett is the author of six novels and three works of nonfiction. She is the winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award, England's Orange Prize, and the Book Sense Book of the Year, and was named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World. Her work has been translated into more than thirty languages. She is the co-owner of Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee, where she lives with her husband, Karl, and their dog, Sparky.