I have a rule about Ann Patchett books. I don’t read them on a deadline, and I definitely don’t start them at 11 p.m. thinking I’ll “just read a chapter.” That rule exists because I have broken it every single time, and paid for it with a night of no sleep and a heart that feels gently, lovingly wrung out like a dish towel. So when Whistler landed on my radar, I knew exactly what I was signing up for. Patchett has been my favorite living novelist since Bel Canto, and I’ve followed her from opera houses to Michigan cherry orchards to that porch in Tom Lake like a devoted, slightly obsessive pen pal. Whistler did not break my rule so much as confirm why the rule needs to exist.
Tag Archives: Ann Patchett
Book Review: Commonwealth
Ann Patchett is a celebrated author who has written several novels, short stories, and essays over the years. Her latest work, Commonwealth, is no different from her previous successes—it’s an engaging and thought-provoking read. Here’s my take on this refreshing read.