I’m a fan of essay collections. My all-time favorite book is a collection of essays, A Thread of Blue Denim by Patricia Leimbach. When I want to read about home, I reread that book. I was three-quarters of the way through Ann Pratchett’s These Precious Days when I ordered a copy. The blurb says she reflects on home, family, friendships and writing. Yes, and she reflects on life and death, and unusual connections. But, I ordered it because of her essays about books and authors and her bookstore, Parnassus Books in Nashville.
There are quotes I want to keep from this book. There is a lengthy one from Robert F. Kennedy. There’s a short section about Snoopy as an influence. Yes, that Snoopy by Charles Schulz. One essay, “Eudora Welty: an Introduction”, moved me because Eudora Welty spoke to my small college Freshman English class of fifteen. To this day, I’m still in awe that I sat at the same table. Ann Patchett understands that when she talks about sitting at a table with John Updike. However, she actually had a conversation with him, and he presented her with an award. But, Eudora Welty!
Like Patricia Leimbach, there are passages in Ann Patchett’s essays that remind me of my own life. The best essays do that, don’t they? They either remind you of life, or they make you think deeper about life in general. This passage made me smile, though, when she said she slept in a guest bedroom, and “watched the constellation of glow-in-the dark planets and stars she’d stuck on the sloping ceiling.” When I sleep in my sister’s guest bedroom, her Irish bedroom, there are glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling.
There was a passage in the essay, “A Talk to the Association of Graduate School Deans in the Humanities”, that reminded me of libraries, and books, and my blog. “I’m pretty much the poster child for how to incorporate the humanities into your life. It is my greatest love, my deepest joy, and all I want to do is share it, to use books and writers to bridge the lonely technological divide we find ourselves stuck in.”
There are so many excellent, moving essays in this collection. Patchett doesn’t hide her life. These Precious Days is as enjoyable as her earlier collection, This is the Story of a Happy Marriage. But, the new book has two sentences that I love. They mean family and library and books to me. “Here’s something they didn’t teach me in graduate school: if you want to save reading, teach children to read. Engage children in reading.”
Ann Patchett’s website is http://annpatchett.com
These Precious Days by Ann Patchett. Harper, 2021. ISBN 9780063092785 (hardcover), 320p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I read a galley, thanks to HarperCollins on NetGalley. Then, I bought a copy of the book.
What a beautiful review.
I felt like I became an official grown up when I discovered Ann Patchett’s writing and books. She has such a way of placing words together that was just so evocative to me. When we visited Nashville a month ago and visited Parnassus Books I rubbed down every one of the “shop dogs”, like a Buddha’s belly, wishing that Ann would walk around a bookshelf and we would become best friends!!! (Just an aside – it didn’t work. The dogs seemed happy though.)
I just retired from teaching school and my greatest joy and was teaching reading and watching worlds open up!! That “aha” moment, the moments of discovery, are worth everything.
Well my friend, you are quite the Influencer. I am adding this to my Christmas list right now!
Thank you, Gaye! I struggled over this review. It’s not easy to review such personal essays, but I highlighted some that touched me.
I’ve been to Parnassus several times. I only got to meet Bear. I’ve seen Ann moderate several panels, but I’ve never met her.
Oh, Gaye. I love your comments about teaching reading. Thank you for helping to make miracles happen.
I think there are parts of the book you’ll love. There are other essays I wanted to mention, but I can’t talk about every essay!
Thank you.
A beautiful review, Lesa. Perfect.
Thank you, Kaye! Have you read it? There’s one essay about Ann’s husband, Karl, and planes that reminds me of Donald, and you, and Donald’s Harley.
I have not – not yet. Now your comment has me thinking I will move it up closer to the top of Mt. TBR! xxoo
I think you should, Kaye.
Somehow I missed this yesterday. Excellent review. I loved her HAPPY MARRIAGE book and have this one on hold at the library. (I seem to be getting overwhelmed by books again!) Her bookstore is definitely on my “visit one day” list too. We’ve been to several “famous” bookstores over the years, here and in Britain and Ireland, plus the original Shakespeare and Company site in Paris.
Parnassus is smaller than I expected, Jeff, but it’s always fun to go to a bookstore you’ve read about. Like you, I’ve been lucky enough to get to several. Thank you for saying it was an excellent review! I loved her Happy Marriage book, too, and it’s nice to catch up with Karl again.