These Precious Days : : Essays

Locations
Call Number: 814.54 Pa, Adult Book / Nonfiction / Literary Arts / Essays / Patchett, Ann
On Shelf At: Downtown Library, Malletts Creek Branch, Westgate Branch

Introduction: Essays don't die -- Three fathers -- First Thanksgiving -- The Paris tattoo -- My year of no shopping -- The worthless servant -- How to practice -- To the doghouse -- Eudora Welty, an introduction -- Flight plan -- How knitting saved my life. Twice. -- Tavia -- There are no children here -- A paper ticket is good for one year -- The moment nothing changed -- The nightstand -- A talk to the Association of Graduate School Deans in the Humanities -- Cover stories -- Reading Kate DiCamillo -- Sisters -- These precious days -- Two more things I want to say about my father -- What the American Academy of Arts and Letters taught me about death -- Epilogue: a day at the beach.
""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 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."--Provided by publisheer.

REVIEWS & SUMMARIES

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Vintage Patchett Essays submitted by 21621031390949 on June 14, 2022, 5:59pm Vintage Ann Patchett. Mostly interesting essays, personal, warm, and deep, and of course, the writing is excellent. The author reads this unabridged recording, and she does a very good job — nice speaking voice — which is not true for every author. This collection has more than the usual stories of sorrow, as she eulogizes her three fathers, and a very close friend.

Great essay collection submitted by A2AE on June 30, 2022, 11:13am I loved the first essay the best and enjoyed the whole collection (quite a bit more than her fiction, in fact).

wonderful collection submitted by bec on July 6, 2023, 8:05am I'm a big Ann Patchett fan, and these essays still surprised me with how absolutely wonderful they are. Funny, sharp, generous, and moving as she recounts stories from her life, people she's known and loved, and the early days of the pandemic when these essays were written. Really, really lovely.