This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage

Beautifully and honestly written. I was absolutely captivated by Ann Patchett's writing and definitely plan on reading some of her other earlier works. I bought this after hearing her in an NPR radio interview. Highly recommended!

I did not realize this was a collection of non fiction essays. As such, it did not really meet my expectations. I enjoy this author's work and this book was recommended by David Sedaris, so just a warning that it isn't meant to be funny, nor is it in line with the author's other works.

I am a huge fan of Ann Patchett, and sad that I have to wait until she writes another full-length novel. These essays were so entertaining and gave me some insight into an author I love, as well as allowing me the illusion that we could be friends, if only we could meet!

I've read all her books and loved all but one. In this I feel like I've gotten to know the author as a person. Each story is like an hour spent with a new friend whose company you know you're really going to enjoy.

I have read two of Ann's books and didn't realize it until I began this collection of essays. It's a wonderful glimpse into her writing and her life - full of experiences that are interesting on the surface, but the richness is in her reflections. Her introspection is a gift she shares with us. I was sad to read the last story and miss her voice already. Now my consolation is to go read all her other books.

Great insights from a thoughtful writer. Her take on everything from her writing process, to a RV trip through the West, to owning a dog -- made me see the world in new ways. There is a subject for everyone in this book, and if you weren't interested prior in a subject, you will be once you read her side of it.

I heard Ann speak at an author's event in Denver, then read this book. Her life and writing is authentic as she speaks about family relationships, fearlessness and plain hard work - paying off. I could identify with the way she thinks. It's a personal treasure.

. She writes with such understanding of the human heart covering a wide range of subjects that she has obviously thought deeply about. Being unafraid to admit her mistakes she gains the readers complete sympathy. By the end of the book I felt almost as if I had made a new friend who I had much in common with.

This is not for those who just want to be entertained. This book is a reveal into the life of Ann Patchets. It sometimes rambles a little bit, but you do see inside someone's feelings like no other book you've read. The last thread sections about her husband, their love for their dog will be something I will reread over and over.

I am a big fan of Ann Patchett and although I usually like reading fiction, I loved this book of essays. Her writing seems so effortless, a real indication of great talent. This was a great book and I would highly recommend it.

I would recommend this wonderful book to anyone. She is a fantastic writer and all the essays are great.
The one on writing is worth the price of the book alone! If you don't know Ann Patchett's work you are in for a treat!
Then begin reading her novels.

great writing of course......funny, insightful,and honest. Whether you want pointers on being a writer or criteria for choosing a partner for a happy marriage, Ann Patchett has something important to say.

I don't think I read the description fully before purchasing. I am just starting the book and I have hope it will get better. But her essays about the writing process are boring to me. Which means the beginning chapter was not attention grabbing for me. I am pushing through, in the hopes that the essays to come are more interesting. The good news is that I bought a used copy and it did not cost much to buy it.

The initial chapters of this non fiction work are interesting and great insight into what makes a successful writer. I could not put the book down but alsa the last half of the book was much less interesting.. In fact it was boring and somewhat of a let down. But if you are thinking of being a writer I suggest you read thus book.

The title is misleading. This is not a book about marriage. Several of my friends thought it was fiction because of the title. This book could be called Stories of My Life by Ann Patchett (or I Love My Dog More Than Anyone or Anything:) It is a book about Ann Patchett, by Ann Patchett, extolling the virtues of Ann Patchett. It is very well-written like all of Ms. Patchett's books and so I give it 3 stars. She is a highly skilled and gifted writer. However, a lot of this book reads like straight PR for Ann Patchett, and that got annoying after a while. She goes into great detail about her book store in Nashville and how wonderful it is. That section felt like blatant advertising. There is a lot about her many book signings and TV interviews and all the annoying fans she has to put up with. The lack of respect for her fans surprised me. I was also surprised by the name dropping of other famous authors she knows. I did not have trouble finishing the book. The stories were all interesting as stand alone stories. But Ann is clearly her own heroine in this book, and combining all of these together into a book was, for me, too much Ann. I love her novels and am still a fan. Perhaps it is best when we don't know too much about the private lives of the authors we admire. When Ann snatched the white dog away from the little deaf girl because, of course, that dog was meant for Ann, that dog was Ann's soulmate, Ann HAD to have that very dog...well, all I can say is any awe I had left in me for one of my favorite authors ended in that section. My admiration goes to Karl for removing himself from the troubling situation with the little girl and waiting for Ann in the car. As Ann wrote, Karl knows when to get out of the way and he is clearly a very patient and tolerant man in the small portion of the book about their marriage.

I enjoy a clean, efficient and lean writing style. This book is not that. For me, using few words to create rich, tangible landscapes is the hallmark of true artist and this book just seemed like another self-involved read. When narcissism was on the buffet, the author went back for seconds.

This book is a bit of a disappointment. The more I read the more I feel that the author is trying to absolve herself of past discretions or wanting to be remembered as a martyr. Forced my way through half of this book but wish I had not spent the money. Perhaps it would have been better spent on Nora Ephron's memoirs. IJS.

I have been entranced by Ann Patchett’s books ever since a book club I was in chose “Bel Canto” as the monthly pick. I was NOT thrilled with that choice. A novel about an opera singer? Hmm. So I put it off as long as I could…and once I finally picked it up – I fell in love with the sound of the words, the beauty of the images. After finishing that book, I read all of her backlist and have been a fan ever since.

“This is the Story of a Happy Marriage” gave me a chance to see behind the curtain, to see more of the person behind the words. Many of the essays are about Patchett’s life, and all of them involve her in one way or another. I liked them almost as much as I adore her fiction – possibly because she does not hold back when the subject matter calls for brutal honesty. The reader learns about her first marriage (and her divorce), her relationship with her grandmother, her relationship with her dog (both of which are beautiful and heartbreaking), and about some of the most difficult times of her life.

There is also the added benefit of getting a taste of her sense of humor. She is funny and self-deprecating and isn’t afraid to let the reader see her at less than her best. The stories about her week-long trip in a motor home, her experience taking the qualifying tests for the LAPD police academy are funny and fascinating.

And yet, the sections I enjoyed the most were the ones about writing. About her love for, frustration with and passion surrounding her craft. For one who always dreamed of being a writer, who went to college to study creative writing and one who loves books, this was almost akin to learning the secrets of a master magician – without any resulting disillusionment.

“This book I have not yet written one word of is a thing of indescribable beauty, unpredictable in its patterns, piercing in its color, so wild and loyal in its nature that my love for this book, and my faith in it as I track its lazy flight, is the single perfect joy in my life. It is the greatest novel in the history of literature, and I have thought it up, and all I have to do is put it down on paper and then everyone can see this beauty that I see.”

“And so I do. When I can’t think of another stall, when putting it off has actually become more painful than doing it, I reach up and pluck the butterfly from the air. I take it from the region of my head and I press it down against my desk, and there, with my own hand, I kill it. It’s not that I want to kill it, but it’s the only way I can get something that is so three-dimensional onto the flat page.”

And: “It’s a wonderful thing to find a great teacher, but we also have to find him or her at a time in life when we’re able to listen to and trust and implement the lessons we are given. The same is true of the books we read. I think that what influences us in literature comes less from what we love and more from what we happen to pick up in moments we are especially open.”

All of these fascinating, beautifully written, emotionally honest essays were a delight to read. And last but certainly not least? Reading about an author who then buys and promotes an independent bookstore (every reader’s dream – come on!) when the two big bookstores in her town close? Icing on the delicious and well-crafted cake.

The title of this book is misleading as only one chapter is devoted to the subject of marriage. The rest are chapters on Patchett’s personal experiences with for example, her dog, or her mother, or enrolling in a police academy, or judging the Best American Short Stories, and so on. I did like the chapter riding around America in a Winnebago and another on opening a book store, and a third about her close friendship with her friend who tragically died in her thirties, but most of the rest I skipped through searching for the one on marriage which finally came. It has a salient piece of advice: does your husband/wife make you a better person? If the answer is no, then best to get a divorce. If yes, then stick around.
All the articles are brilliantly written as one would expect when originally published in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, The Washington Post, Wall Street Journal and New York Times magazine among others. Perhaps it’s time I tried her fiction.
Freak Out! My Life with Frank Zappa

Let me state upfront that I am a latecomer to the Ann Patchett party. By all accounts, Patchett is a successful author in both fiction and non-fiction, although mostly fiction. Since I rarely if ever read fiction, her name simply has not come on my radar screen. Much (but not all) of her non-fiction has previously been done in a bunch of magazines, and I do mean they are all over the place. Anyway, I saw this book at my local library the other day, took a look at the inner jacket summary description, and decided to give this a shot. Boy, am I ever glad I did!

"This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage" (2013 hard cover; 318 pages) is a collection of mostly previously published non-fiction pieces. Although many of them can be deemed "memoir"-like in nature, reflecting on her own life and the people around her, other pieces are nothing of the sort (check out the hilarious "My Road to Hell Was Paved", about her trip out west in a Winnebago RV, written for Outside magazine in 1998). There are 3 longer pieces (around 40 pages each) that form the backbone of this collection: in "The Getaway Car: A Practical Memoir about Writing and Life", the author reflects on how she has become the writer that she is today ("No writers came t St. Bernard's Academy for Catholic girls on Career Day, and so I marched towards the vision in my head without guidance or practical advice"), and also dispensing some very practical advice along the way (such as: thinking of going for an MFA? Don't! unless you have a full scholarship). The second long piece, "The Wall", is an indirect but nevertheless passionate defense of the LAPD (where her father worked the beat for 30 years). In the last long piece (for which the book is titled), the author looks at the state of marriage in her family ("I know that a minimum of four generations of my family have failed at marriage. On my father's side, six out of the seven Patchett children, my aunts and uncles, married, and five of them divorced. My sister and I have both divorced. Our parents divorced when I was four.") and yet how the author ended up alright, and even more than that... The other remarkable piece to look up is about her run-in at Clemson, when her book "Truth & Beauty", required reading for the incoming freshmen class, rubbed certain people in the community the wrong way as being "pornographic" and "vulgar". You can't make this stuff up!

Bottom line: this is quite a remarkable book, and even though I obviously do not know the author, I nevertheless feel like I have a personal connection with the author through this book. I was moved and surprised, and always entertained, as in: I couldn't wait to turn the pages and read the next piece. I was sorry to finish the book as I hated to say goodbye to Patchett's writings. I even may want to check out some of her fiction books now. "This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage" is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Note: I received This is the Story of a Happy Marriage from TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

I've been an Ann Patchett fan for years. I loved State of Wonder and adored The Patron Saint of Liars, so when I was given the opportunity to read about Ann Patchett by Ann Patchett, I jumped. And boy, am I glad I did! Confession: I had no idea she started out writing magazine articles. I consider myself to be pretty up-to-snuff when it comes to the writing histories of authors I love, but for some reason I never did much Patchett research. I think this is probably a good thing because it lent an air of mystery to her work.

My favorite essay from the book was The Getaway Car. In it, she discusses how she became a writer and gives advice (like don't get an MFA because it's a waste of money) and her self-deprecating process of writing a book. In it, she details the circumstances around writing The Patron Saint of Liars, which is my favorite book by her, and I loved reading the backstory. I think I might actually go back and reread it now that I have some insight into her writing processes.

Voracious readers will love this book. As a writer who is writing about writing (follow all that?), Patchett's love for all things literary is palpable. I, for one, relished in her descriptions of reading, wanting to be a writer as a child, putting pen to paper, and actually put down the book to write a short, personal essay just because she inspired me.
But enough talking about the book. Run to the library and get your copy NOW!

Ann Patchett's new essay collection is so personal that it's more a non-linear memoir than anything else, and by and large that works very well. Her life story isn't anything unusual, but that's part of the charm: Patchett's clean, clear prose, sentimental but aware of its own sentimentality, captures familiar life experiences, from a childhood defined by broken marriages to adult struggles with caring for elderly relatives, from the joy of a beloved pet to the pain of its death. There are lighter occasional pieces as well, from Patchett's surprising conversion to the cult of the RV to her rejuvenating visits to the Hotel Bel-Air. A few essays call out for a more detached, journalistic perspective that Patchett can't provide; while it's lovely that her independent bookstore was a success, I'm not sure that says anything about larger trends beyond the advisability of having a patron who can write six figure checks and use her fame to create national publicity. And though her love for her father is touching, I do think it's unwise to bring up the unpleasant reputation of the LAPD only to admit that she doesn't really want to examine it. But taken in the personal, non-analytic spirit in which it's meant, THIS IS THE STORY OF A HAPPY MARRIAGE is a fine collection that reveals the contours of a rich and (yes) happy life.

This is the Story of a Happy Marriage is a collection of essays by a writer who is best known for writing novels. I haven't read any of Ann Patchett's novels, and probably won't, because I never seem to get around to reading contemporary fiction. But I often enjoy the essays of novelists -- Amy Tan, Stephen King, Susan Orlean, and many others. The title intrigued me. Was it meant ironically? Smugly?

Most of these pieces are autobiographical in some way although they don't add up to a memoir as such. They are articles and essays that have been previously published, in magazines and journals, at different stages in Patchett's career. I especially enjoyed her book tour experiences, which she seemed to appreciate, if not actually enjoy. Her piece about taking the grueling exam for the Los Angeles Police Academy was also fascinating.

Many of the essays are about relationships that have been important in her life, such as those with her grandmother, her first husband, her father, her dog. Then there's the title essay, late in the book, which is good planning. If you already know and like Patchett, you can read the essays out of order, but if, like me, you are new to her writing, it's good to get to know her through the essays that precede it. By the time I got to the happy marriage piece, I quite liked Patchett and was fine with following her long story of how she and her current husband met and didn't get married for eleven years. I think that if I had not got to know her through the previous 200 pages of essays, I might have found her happy story just a bit too self-satisfied. As it was, I was happy for her and grateful for a happy ending to a story that could have ended unhappily.

It's a pleasure to add Ann Patchett to my list of novelists who write great essays.

Even if you don't read the whole collection (and I recommend giving it a try), I can't recommend the essay "The Getaway Car" highly enough. It's the story of how Patchett became a writer, and it's excellent. "The more we are willing to separate from distraction and step into the open arms of boredom, the more writing will get on the page." I didn't love every essay equally, but I liked them all and loved a few. I highly recommend this book.

She also lent me her enthusiasm for the short story in her "Introduction to The Best American Short Stories 2006": "Love the short story for what it is: a handful of glorious pages that take you someplace you never knew you wanted to go."

Her marriage, in the title essay, lends itself to thoughtful reflection: "I try to study our happiness so that I will be able to remember it in the future, just in case something happens and we find ourselves in need."

Much more is in the book. The author herself narrates the audiobook, and she's lovely to listen to.

Upon diving into this delightful collection of essays, we encounter author Ann Patchett's intense admiration for short stories detailed in her "Introduction to The Best American Short Stories 2006." As editor of that year's collection of the finest short stories (her choice), she says, "The stories offered me their companionship, each one a complete experience in a limited amount of space." The same is certainly true of her collection of personal essays.

We start out learning about Patchett's quest to become a writer. She wryly notes that writers make art but also must pay their bills. First, she believed she should do physical work that would leave her mind occupied with her tales, but she soon learned that being a waitress or a cook depleted her energy. Her next job as a teacher presented a new conundrum: dealing with the creativity of her students left her with no desire to grapple with her own. She went on to write nonfiction articles for magazines, and this was a perfect fit: satisfying her curiosity, giving her adventures, and teaching her the joys of built-in restrictions not encountered in novel writing (such as word count). We have many of those pieces to thank for this particular collection.

Patchett knew from childhood that she would be a writer, and here she passes on the lessons she has learned along the way from her beginnings as a poor student, whose ability to pen stories saved her from having to repeat grades, to the award-winning, bestselling novel and nonfiction writer she is today. In "The Getaway Car: A Practical Memoir about Writing and Life," she tells us she learned that writing a novel is a long, slow, steady slog. Her experience is that she can't think too much about how far away the end is and she can't jump on every new idea for a different story that beckons her away from her present manuscript. In addition, she aims to write a book that she wants to read --- and to always make sure she isn't boring herself. She also dishes on whether she believes characters can take on a life of their own, plus her opinions on writer's block, commitment and persistence. (Honestly, if you aspire to write, you should buy the book for this essay alone, which is chockful of advice and inspiration…although you won't want to miss the other pieces.)

It is fascinating to read of Patchett's early years, presented through a prism of stories and divorce, which mold not only her identity as an author but also her attitude toward marriage. She recounts her Christmases as the child of divorced parents, complete with stepsiblings and the yearning for her far-away father. The Christmas she was 12, her father gave her, via a telephone call, a gift that she treasured every Christmas since (and plans to treasure every Christmas to come) while also contributing to her identity as a writer.

I can't imagine anyone not loving this collection, staying up late and turning pages frantically while simultaneously dreading reaching the final page. Readers can expect an emotional journey. Some of the essays made me laugh or nod in agreement, while others made my heart ache. (Full confession: As a testament to the power of Patchett's writing to stir empathy, I cannot read "Dog Without End." My attempts to get past the third page sent me beyond despondency.) According to the author, the recurring theme visited in her novels is the gathering together of a group of strangers, who then form connections --- an apt description of the ability of this book to link readers through her writings.

- Terry Miller Shannon

"Writing is a miserable, awful business. Stay with it. It is better than anything in the world."

Happily for readers of Ann Patchett's novels and her non-fiction works -- a wide array of which are assembled in this collection -- the author has taken her own advice and stuck to writing. The result, on display here, is an interesting assortment of articles with a wry, witty, reflective and sometimes pointed voice, but one that is always distinctive and never becomes sarcastic or cynical.

The essays themselves all have one element in common: they draw on some aspect of Patchett's own life and experiences, and use that to reflect on some phenomenon -- friendships, the turbulent paths of a literary 'career', marriage, censorship, bookselling -- that is almost certain to be of interest to anyone who is even tempted to pick up this volume. While a writer or bibliophile will clutch this book to them like a jewel, even someone who is just looking for some kind of anthology to dip into from time to time will find themselves caught up in Patchett's world and worldview. I don't think you need to love her novels to appreciate this collection, just be a fan of solid, crisp non-fiction narratives focusing on the kinds of issues that any novelist -- and in some cases, any human being -- is likely to encounter.

Best of all, Patchett puts just the right amount of herself into these essays, which are of widely varying lengths. She has a point of view and expresses it as she tries to assemble a cheerleading squad for the short story or whip up the outrage of undergraduates over being told what they can and can't be asked to read. But in contrast to Donna Leon's upcoming essay collection, My Venice and Other Essays, an advance copy of which I recently read, she never comes across as cantankerous or irritable. She emerges as the kind of writer you'd happily trust and follow, having demonstrated over and over again her mastery of language and ideas.

A great holiday gift for any writer or book-obsessed individual on your list.

This is the first book I've read by Ann Patchett. I didn't even know about the author until I saw her on a public TV show called ' A Word on Words' hosted by John Seigenthaler, Sr. I was able to locate the book from my local library's e-book list, and so I read it. She has a strong command of the English language and masters a most interesting and readable literary style. She writes this book, not as a novel, but about her life and experiences, and this includes the ups as well as the downs. Her book kept my attention very well, as I read it each night before going to bed for about an hour. I finished it in about a week. Another reason why this book was of interest to me is that I too live in Nashville, and I also experienced the beauty of the Sisters of Mercy nuns and their convent school, St. Bernard Academy. I attended there from kindergarten through the sixth grade. I'm glad I read this book, and I understand why John Seigenthaler thought that it was worthy of his televised attention on 'Word on Words'. Also, I've learned firsthand why Ms. Patchett has an excellent reputation as an author of interesting books.

Review originally posted on my blog at westmetromommy.blogspot.com
5.0 Stars

I'm not normally a fan of essay collections. I'll read them--after all, it is nice to have books that you can easily pick up and put down--but the constant change of topics tend to frustrate me. I'm also not overly familiar with Ann Patchett--the only one of her previous books I've read is Bel Canto and that was several years ago.

All that being said, I simply adored This is the Story of a Happy Marriage. This book is a collection of previously published essays in outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, Atlantic Monthly, and Gourmet. While it would seem that there are a number of unrelated topics included--and there are a number of topics--this is a very well-arranged collection. Even though the topics vary widely--from opera to RV travel to proof of the "Colbert Bump"--this book feels very streamlined. Even though I claim to enjoy the fact that I can easily put down essay collections between essays, I found myself unable to set this one aside.

Patchett is a very personal writer and now, after reading so much about her life, I feel like she is my best friend. (I do not mean that in a stalker-ish kind of way.) She is also an honest writer--she doesn't paint herself in a better light than she deserves and she has a very appealing self-deprecating sense of humor.

I can say nothing but glowing and wonderful things about this book. I would recommend This is the Story of a Happy Marriage to anyone, even those of you who share my formerly held belief that they were not fans of essay collections.

This is a collection of mostly previously published work woven together and organized to tell a somewhat autobiographical story. Her novels are my all time absolutely favorite reads. These works gave me a glimpse into the genius that created the novels. The collection is her life story, growing up, her marriages, her friends, education, and career. I admire her observations, courage, and convictions. The writing is beautiful like her novels. I find myself rereading sections and passages. It’s the big stuff, the everyday stuff, opinions, and everything in between here. Enjoy!

So many favorites, here’s some:

Non-Fiction, an Introduction – It’s her story about being a writer and advice to writers. It reminded me a bit of Ann Lamont’s Bird by Bird

My Road to Hell was Paved – She and her separated husband take a week long research trip in a 29 foot Winnebago named “Minnie” to discover the underbelly of the RV world and find something else.

The Best Seat in the House – Describes her new found, late to the game love and obsession with Opera.

The Bookstore Strikes Back – It’s about her path to owning a successful bookstore, in the days of the store.

The Right to Read – The Clemson Freshmen class Convocation, her talk in response to protests against her book Truth and Beauty as a mandatory reading assignment.

The stories about her life such as: This is the Story of a Happy Marriage, The Mercies, Love Sustained, and This Dog’s Life.

Ann Patchett is a comfort to read (I mean, her prose is almost always enticingly inviting) and a joy as well. She's no grammarian (e.g., "I promised whomever was listening..."), but she's a fine stylist as a non-fiction writer, and quite a speechwriter as well, to judge from The Clemson Freshman Convocation Address of 2006, reproduced here, wherein she brilliantly and never shrilly defends her book Truth and Beauty against those Clemson associates (parents, etc.) who would have banned it and her. She writes better about writing than about marriage (she has a passion for language and seemingly none for flesh); there's a wonderful comparison of novel writing to channel swimming, "a slow and steady stroke over a long distance in a cold, dark sea."

Ann Patchett is so modesty famous that one must imagine she's famously modest. But her success has rendered her somewhat airily unaware of her privileged position. She dines with Edgar Meyer; she stays seemingly endlessly at the Hotel Bel-Air (not that it was so much fun for her, and she's quite funny in rendering her sense of displacement); she can write, "In Melbourne, I gave a reading with Jonathan Franzen;" "I was once at a writers' colony in Wyoming..."

Only once does this sense of entitlement (wholly earned, it must be said) actually tend to steer her wrong. Early in the book, she compares learning to play the cello with learning to write and says that no beginning cello player expects to be playing in Carnegie Hall in a month whereas beginning writers seem to expect their earliest work to be published immediately. The problem with this analogy is that virtually no cello player who doesn't become a fine cello player will ever play in Carnegie Hall, whereas absolutely terrible writers are often our culture's most successful writers (so that Laurelin Paige can publish a sentence like, "I swallowed the emotions that threatened to show on my face," and E. L. James this: "'Why here?' I hiss at him." and people actually pay to read these writers, which is the intellectual equivalent of paying for the rope with which you're hung).

Every once in a great while a worthy writer becomes commercially successful. Ann Patchett is surely worthy and certainly successful. How nice for her and good for us.

Having missed reading Ann Patchett's bestseller (Bel Canto), I was eager to read her new book when I saw it featured at an airport bookstore. It revealed the author to be an excellent writer with a distinctive voice, capable of being genuine and open with her audience. In this autobiographical collection of essays the layers are peeled back revealing experiences and personal feelings. The combination of a distinctive writing style and meticulously chosen words kept me engaged throughout.

Several times I found myself pausing to mark an insightful passage or underline a particularly poignant phrase. I love to learn from reading, especially about the creative process. That was a highlight of the book for me. Sadly, not all the essays were equal in power. (I loved the story chronicling her Winnebago trip). I was confused by the order in which the stories appeared and after finishing the book, I was disappointed by the title of the volume.

Ann Patchett is known these days as the voice of the independent bookseller after opening a successful bookstore in Nashville. She claims that title with pride, but of course, she is also one of this country's preeminent novelists. In This Is The Story Of A Happy Marriage, Patchett lets the reader into her life. The book is a collection of essays she has written at various times, and is an exploration of her life.

One of the early essays is titled The Getaway Car. In it, Patchett explores her writing life; how she learned to write by starting with short stories, the mentors she had such as Allen Gurganus and Grace Paley, and the friends she made such as Elizabeth McCraken who sustained her as she found her writing voice. She talks about her time in education, both on the undergraduate level and in a MFA program. Along with these memories, she dispenses writing advice to those interested in becoming authors; what worked for her and what she has found unhelpful.

Other essays explore her childhood in Tennessee, her first disastrous marriage, the jobs she took in order to support herself as she got established as a writer, and her family relationships. She discusses the love she has for her mother and father and the great influence her grandmother had on her life. Patchett writes about her successful second marriage. She also writes about one of the other loves of her life, her dog.

In 2006, Patchett's book about her friendship with Lucy Grealy was chosen as the freshman required read at Clemson University in South Carolina. Lucy was also a writer, and her life was marked by her childhood bout with cancer, and the years of surgery and chemotherapy that cured her, but only after disfiguring her severely. After her death, Patchett wrote the book Truth And Beauty to memorialize Lucy's life. Fundamentalists in South Carolina disapproved of the book which had sex and drugs in it, and attempted to get Clemson to rescind the selection and ban Patchett from the campus. She writes about this time in her life, and the convocation speech she gave to that freshman class. It is a stirring indictment of ignorance and how a writer should respond to such criticism.

This book is highly recommended for both readers and writers. What shines through is Patchett's true vocation as an author; one that she was willing to make any sacrifice for. It is interesting to note the loyalty she gives to anything she takes up; her family, her pet, her marriage, her friends, even her city of Nashville, Tennessee. It is rewarding for readers to hear about the authors she thinks are good authors, and validating for those who also appreciate them. The reader will finish this book with a new appreciation for Patchett and her mark on American literature.

Ann Patchett explains in her intro that she started writing non-fiction as a way to pay the bills while she worked on her novels. Only gradually did she realize how the non-fiction writing had honed her skills as a novelist. This collection of essays is a showcase for the craft of writing. Some of these essays ("My Road to Hell was Paved") made me laugh out loud. Others ("Love Sustained") moved me to tears, or made me angry ("The Love Between the Two Women"). None of them could be skipped. Each one highlights an aspect of writing, or of friendship, or of love, or of life.

Magazines, with their range of topical reporting and commentary, have fallen out of favor in this Internet age. This collection makes me want to go back to "Harpers" and "the Atlantic Monthly" and "Vogue" and all those other slick-covered collections of non-fiction, and re-discover the pleasures of the documentary point of view. This is a great book to have at your bedside to dip into one essay at a time, to savor, to ponder. I had to ration myself to one essay an evening, because I didn't want to ever be finished.

If you love Ann Patchett’s novels, prepare to fall in love with the author herself when you read This is the Story of a Happy Marriage. I was so enchanted while reading this book that I brought it along to read aloud to my husband as we drove the 2,000 miles from Northern Lake Superior to our winter home in Florida. He laughed so long and hard that I wondered if I should do the driving to maintain control of the wheel. This is the Story of a Happy Marriage is so much more than an enchanting collection of personal essays. It is a surprisingly intimate view of Patchett: the young girl growing up in a miss-matched family, the young writer struggling towards a career, the star-crossed lover, the cherished friend. In her essay “The Get-Away-Car,” Patchett shares her best and wisest advice on how to become a writer. Bringing her self-effacing humor and profound insight to every page, Patchett writes about her dog, her grandmother, the nun she feared as a child and learned to love as an adult, the hilarious saga of a road-trip in a Winnebago through Montana. Written and published over a period of years and compiled in this book, these essays blend the past with the present in an almost seamless story-telling event.

I bought this book unaware of the content, because it was on the cheap pile and I was buying by weight.
Other than the fact that the title is quite misleading at first glance, the book is absolutely brilliant and great value for the money I spent.
The book is made up of twenty or so candid, meaningful and very memorable essays about a multifarious array of topics, all of them relating to life, Patchetts growth in the world we live in and much much more.
One particular story "Love Sustained" was exceptional writing and extremely touching about the death of her grandmother and the things the author wished she'd said or done. I was deeply moved by her rendering of that event in her life.
The quality of the writing is overall, exquisite and each essay or short story has its own, personal appeal. They are tackled individually rather than all painted with the same colour or the same brush.
Bravo!
Sergiu Pobereznic (author)

Ann Patchett keeps popping up on my radar, which is interesting, because I really, really hated State of Wonder. But then I saw Cheryl Stayed on her book tour for Wild, and she recommended Patchett's essay "The Getaway Car," about how she became a novelist, and when Cheryl Strayed recommends an essay about writing, and you're a writer, you read it. I loved "The Getaway Car" enough to put this, Patchett's collection of previously published essays, on my reading list, and it was very, very good. I would almost say excellent, were it not for a few places where Patchett's choice of words had me re-reading sentences because I I had no idea what she was trying to say.

This is a collection of essays, so some are bound to be better than others, but there were only a few that I found myself eager to finish so I could move on to the next one. Many of them are about Patchett's life as a writer, which I found interesting. Patchett is honest and funny and someone I feel like I could probably be friends with if I knew her in real life.

Several of the essays are about her close friend Lucy Grealy and the book she wrote about their friendship after Grealy's death at a young age, which makes me want to read Truth & Beauty, because I also lost a close friend at a young age. This book is good enough that it makes me willing to give her fiction another chance, even though I suspect that I will continue to admire her non-fiction more than her fiction.

I became interested in reading some of Ann Patchett's work after listening to an interview between her and Anne Lamott. My interest was also peaked when I heard that she was partners in the ownership of Parnassus Books, an independent bookstore, in Nashville,TN. "This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage" is a collection of essays that Patchett wrote to support herself while working on her novels. They were originally published in magazines but fans and friends kept asking for a collection and these are a best of the pieces that she wrote for magazines. I listened to this on an Audible.com book which was narrated by Ann Patchett herself which added to my listening pleasure.

I think that people who are interested in the craft of writing would particularly enjoy some of these essays. I particularly enjoyed her use of language and the economy of language. I hope that more people will pick up this book and read it. It is truly a jewel.

I cannot believe I waited so long to read this book! Ann Patchett has long been one of my favorite authors. I love her fiction, and I really enjoyed Truth and Beauty, her honest memoir about her dear friend and fellow writer, Lucy Greely (and I've read Lucy Greely's own autobiography as well, and am aware of the controversy regarding Ann and the Greely family's disagreement on many matters. I love that this is one of many subjects she touched upon in this book, a collection of essays and articles about Ann's life experiences.

These are topics near and dear to Ann Patchett's heart, whether they are about her father and her quest to "become" an LA police officer like him (so she can write about it, of course!), her beloved dog, her husband, or her hometown. Her addressing of them is honest and brave. Writing is obviously her therapy, and she is an inspiration.

I have a few favorite essays in this book, but I think her final one was my favorite. I read aloud from it to both my husband and a daughter, I was so delighted by so much of it. The final sentence of the book left me sobbing....in public at a restaurant! That's how much I adored this book. Ann Patchett has a thing with compassion, and to me, that might be the greatest virtue a writer can have. She really knows how to get to the heart through her amazing writing, be it fiction or nonfiction. Definitely one of my favorites or the year.

This is the Story of a Happy Marriage reminded of Elizabeth Gilbert's Committed (Ann says her and Gilbert are friends, so maybe they brainstormed off one another.) Both stories center around marriage and the authors' hesitancy to engage in it. I forget Gilbert's reasons now but for Ann it's because she comes from a long line of divorcee's; because her first short-lived marriage ended in divorce and because she then immediately got into another relationship that almost went down the same path (marriage->divorce). "You don't have to marry everyone you have a relationship with" her mother told her glibly. And that's when realization hit. She could avoid marriage all together - have the relationship without the eternal commitment. It was a sure-fire way to never get divorced again.

Ann makes her position clear to the boyfriends that followed. They could date her but they shouldn't expect to marry her. She remains staunch in this determination - until she meets Karl, who she stays with unmarried (and in separate, nearby homes) for 11 years before circumstances make her reevaluate her principles.

I won't say more than that because I don't want to give the story away. It is by turns wry, humorous and deeply felt. It is about the way we are a product of our experiences and also about the way we are in thrall to our fears. It is about serendipitous circumstances and taking risks and about how the heart wants what it wants in the end.

This was a really enjoyable experience. I almost feel like Ann Patchett tucked me in last night. In fact, I feel like she is with me still - her calm, practical voice dishing out truth for me to ponder. I would recommend the audio experience if you have the inclination and the time.

This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage is a catchy title. My husband gave me a strange look when he saw me reading it. But it's not a story about happy or unhappy marriages insomuch as a collection of beautifully written and carefully selected previously published essays. Ann Patchett writes about writing, about marriage, divorce, wanting and loving her dog Rose (and how her closeness with Rose has led to observations on how she must want a child), owning an independent bookstore, regularly spending time with her elderly grandmother, her love of opera, a memorable lunch in Paris, traveling in a Winnebago, and the ties and love of people in her life.

If you want to become a writer, if you enjoy essays or love reading, pick up This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage. My list of the topics tells you very little about the book or why you should read it. Patchett's writing is clear without being simple - as I read it I would slow down to enjoy the almost hearing the words in my head and learning the heart of each essay/anecdote.

Not only am I glad to have read my first Ann Patchett book, I look forward to discovering her other writings, both fiction and nonfiction.

"This is the Story of a Happy Marriage" is a collection of Ann Pachett's works written between 1996 and 2012 for various publications, with some new essays as well to tie the theme together. Pachett has a gift with turning a phrase and achieving the sort of conversational prose that makes it feel like she could be sitting across the table from me, having coffee and chatting.

The stories include are humorous, thoughtful, and insightful, and go far beyond "a happy marriage" or relationship. It's anything but an advice book, yet I found things that challenged the way I think about the world, myself, and relationships.

She starts the book with her journey to become a writer, wends her way through relationship, animals, owning a bookstore....but she manages to tie the themes together. I found myself writing down several phrases as I read through the book, such as "This is how we change the world - we grab hold of it. We change ourselves." I thought this quote was particularly relevant for the collection of essays she chose. Many of the stories were about how her experiences impacted her, and she changed herself.

This series of essays will not disappoint.

Ann Patchett is a very, very good writer, and I have enjoyed and admired several of her novels -- but I've never reread one, and I'm someone who rereads books. It may be her endings. She tells fascinating stories, but they leave me neither with the easy glow of a "happy" ending nor with the catharsis of some sad ones.

I may well reread many of the essays in this collection, particularly the ones where Patchett writes about incidents from or aspects of her personal history. Somehow, when the story she's telling is admittedly her own, she can write about happy or sad, fulfillment or waste, mistakes or lessons learned, and reach straight to my heart. These essays have an unequaled clarity and strength.

It's often said that we can't really learn from any experiences except our own. But if it's possible, then I'd hazard a guess that some reader, sometime, somewhere, will read one of these essays and experience a revelation that may change his or her life.

I cannot believe I waited so long to read this book! Ann Patchett has long been one of my favorite authors. I love her fiction, and I really enjoyed Truth and Beauty, her honest memoir about her dear friend and fellow writer, Lucy Greely (and I've read Lucy Greely's own autobiography as well, and am aware of the controversy regarding Ann and the Greely family's disagreement on many matters. I love that this is one of many subjects she touched upon in this book, a collection of essays and articles about Ann's life experiences.

These are topics near and dear to Ann Patchett's heart, whether they are about her father and her quest to "become" an LA police officer like him (so she can write about it, of course!), her beloved dog, her husband, or her hometown. Her addressing of them is honest and brave. Writing is obviously her therapy, and she is an inspiration.

I have a few favorite essays in this book, but I think her final one was my favorite. I read aloud from it to both my husband and a daughter, I was so delighted by so much of it. The final sentence of the book left me sobbing....in public at a restaurant! That's how much I adored this book. Ann Patchett has a thing with compassion, and to me, that might be the greatest virtue a writer can have. She really knows how to get to the heart through her amazing writing, be it fiction or nonfiction. Definitely one of my favorites or the year.

This is the Story of a Happy Marriage reminded of Elizabeth Gilbert's Committed (Ann says her and Gilbert are friends, so maybe they brainstormed off one another.) Both stories center around marriage and the authors' hesitancy to engage in it. I forget Gilbert's reasons now but for Ann it's because she comes from a long line of divorcee's; because her first short-lived marriage ended in divorce and because she then immediately got into another relationship that almost went down the same path (marriage->divorce). "You don't have to marry everyone you have a relationship with" her mother told her glibly. And that's when realization hit. She could avoid marriage all together - have the relationship without the eternal commitment. It was a sure-fire way to never get divorced again.

Ann makes her position clear to the boyfriends that followed. They could date her but they shouldn't expect to marry her. She remains staunch in this determination - until she meets Karl, who she stays with unmarried (and in separate, nearby homes) for 11 years before circumstances make her reevaluate her principles.

I won't say more than that because I don't want to give the story away. It is by turns wry, humorous and deeply felt. It is about the way we are a product of our experiences and also about the way we are in thrall to our fears. It is about serendipitous circumstances and taking risks and about how the heart wants what it wants in the end.

This was a really enjoyable experience. I almost feel like Ann Patchett tucked me in last night. In fact, I feel like she is with me still - her calm, practical voice dishing out truth for me to ponder. I would recommend the audio experience if you have the inclination and the time.

This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage is a catchy title. My husband gave me a strange look when he saw me reading it. But it's not a story about happy or unhappy marriages insomuch as a collection of beautifully written and carefully selected previously published essays. Ann Patchett writes about writing, about marriage, divorce, wanting and loving her dog Rose (and how her closeness with Rose has led to observations on how she must want a child), owning an independent bookstore, regularly spending time with her elderly grandmother, her love of opera, a memorable lunch in Paris, traveling in a Winnebago, and the ties and love of people in her life.

If you want to become a writer, if you enjoy essays or love reading, pick up This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage. My list of the topics tells you very little about the book or why you should read it. Patchett's writing is clear without being simple - as I read it I would slow down to enjoy the almost hearing the words in my head and learning the heart of each essay/anecdote.

Not only am I glad to have read my first Ann Patchett book, I look forward to discovering her other writings, both fiction and nonfiction.

"This is the Story of a Happy Marriage" is a collection of Ann Pachett's works written between 1996 and 2012 for various publications, with some new essays as well to tie the theme together. Pachett has a gift with turning a phrase and achieving the sort of conversational prose that makes it feel like she could be sitting across the table from me, having coffee and chatting.

The stories include are humorous, thoughtful, and insightful, and go far beyond "a happy marriage" or relationship. It's anything but an advice book, yet I found things that challenged the way I think about the world, myself, and relationships.

She starts the book with her journey to become a writer, wends her way through relationship, animals, owning a bookstore....but she manages to tie the themes together. I found myself writing down several phrases as I read through the book, such as "This is how we change the world - we grab hold of it. We change ourselves." I thought this quote was particularly relevant for the collection of essays she chose. Many of the stories were about how her experiences impacted her, and she changed herself.

This series of essays will not disappoint.

Ann Patchett is a very, very good writer, and I have enjoyed and admired several of her novels -- but I've never reread one, and I'm someone who rereads books. It may be her endings. She tells fascinating stories, but they leave me neither with the easy glow of a "happy" ending nor with the catharsis of some sad ones.

I may well reread many of the essays in this collection, particularly the ones where Patchett writes about incidents from or aspects of her personal history. Somehow, when the story she's telling is admittedly her own, she can write about happy or sad, fulfillment or waste, mistakes or lessons learned, and reach straight to my heart. These essays have an unequaled clarity and strength.

It's often said that we can't really learn from any experiences except our own. But if it's possible, then I'd hazard a guess that some reader, sometime, somewhere, will read one of these essays and experience a revelation that may change his or her life.

I was going to give this a pass, and am so glad I didn't thanks to Maureen Corrigan's review on NPR. These essays formerly published in many magazines taken as a whole provide a more introspective insight into Ann Patchett than almost any straightforward autobiography I've read. Just the story of how she came to meet and marry her husband, with whom she is famously happily married, is revealed in ways that can't be duplicated through ordinary storytelling, and yet it comes out delightfully in several of these pieces. There were places I actually laughed out loud (take note -- not acceptable on an airplane). For those who want a cleareyed treatise on how to a writer, The Getaway Car, a 2011 piece from Byliner, will answer any and all questions -- it makes a great companion piece to Annie Lamott's Bird by Bird. But each essay has something to offer, illuminating and heartfelt, and gives a portrait of a loving, caring person worth knowing. Nashville is lucky to have her.

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.

Marriage means different things to people. I love reading what it means and what it looks like in many of the authors I read. So Ann was no different. For her to open herself and her marriage, I applaud her. You are really opening yourself to a lot of criticism. Her one question was does he make you a better person? Yes, but I always ask myself, do YOU make him a better person? Ahhh.. now there is the question to ponder! ;) Happy reading!

This is the first book by Ann Patchett that I've read, but I enjoyed it so much that I can't wait to read more of her books. I found this to be incredibly well written and even though the essays that comprise this book were written independently of each other, this still held my attention from start to finish. I love how well Patchett brought the people and situations in her essays to life and that the stories she told seemed incredibly real vs. some essays that paint an idealized portrait of life. I also appreciated that many essays also subtly nodded to bigger, philosophical questions which made me think. I especially enjoyed the essays that spoke to the craft of writing. I could see them being especially useful in as reading in a creative writing class or for someone who is an aspiring writer. I shared them with my boyfriend who has is MFA in poetry and they were great fodder for discussion. I also loved the essays about marriage, the life and loss of Patchett's dog, and her relationship with a nun who taught her in elementary school. I found these essays very emotional and beautiful to read. Out of the 22 essays in this book the only one I didn't care for was 'The Best Seat in the House.'

Overall I found this collection of essays to be an enjoyable read. They are great to enjoy read straight through, or for someone who wants to pick up a book here and there when they have a free moment to read.

Nonessential personal essays, the enjoyment of which will depend upon how much you like the author and want to get behind her books or more noteworthy public appearances such as being on Colbert for starting an independent bookstore in Nashville or being protested by Christian fundamentalists for allegedly writing a pornographic, drug-filled book about her friendship with author Lucy Grealy. I liked her tales of obligations to others that you don’t hear from male authors: caring for her grandmother and for an elderly nun who’d taught her in first grade. I liked the unexpected personal stories such as passing the entrance tests to become an LA cop, her attraction to men who smoke while riding bicycles and how she (in her 40s) lied to a little deaf girl to steal her puppy. The practical-but-not-inspiring Kindle Single writing-advice essay called The Getaway Car is included here. Grade: B

I've been a great fan of Ann Patchett since I read Bel Canto several years ago. My admiration for the author grew even more when I learned she had opened Parnassus Books in Nashville, TN after two local bookstores closed (I'm a great fan of indie bookstores). Although her latest is not a novel, it is still an engaging and involving read in the form of essays written by Ms. Patchett between 1996-2012. Through these revealing essays, readers are provided insights into the author's personal life, and are able to piece together a narrative of the interesting life she has had.

Throughout the book, readers come to understand the author's deep commitment to the people she loves, including her husband (found in the title story), the author's close relationship with a nun who taught her while she was at grammar school, her experiences driving an RV across the American West, and much more. The essays are thoughtfully-compiled and made for a thoroughly engaging read.

I've been a fan of Ann Patchett since reading her brilliant masterpiece of a book, Bel Canto. I have an insane amount of longing to visit the bookstore she is co-owner of in Nashville, TN (Parnassus Books), and every time her name comes up in my email, on the internet, or in conversation, I have to hold myself back from squealing in delight and rushing insert myself into whatever is being talked about.

So I was thrilled when I received an opportunity to review this memoir, this very, very important memoir that spoke so loudly to me right now in my life. In This is the Story of a Happy Marriage, Patchett does not talk just about her marriage, but about other extremely important things. Finding oneself, censorship, writing, schooling, job searching, living life, love, and most importantly, always pushing toward what makes one happy. The message that came across loud and clear in Patchett's memoir is that life is short and we have to make the most of it, doing what we love the most.

While Patchett's life worked out for her in a fantastic way, it is by no means a model for everyone, and she readily admits that. Moments came in her life, opportunities that she grabbed at and things worked out in her favor. That is, I think, the message she was trying to get across. There is no set pattern that can guarantee success in life; rather, one has to live life, grab opportunities, strive to be the best person they can be not only for themselves, but for those they love as well. There is no need to cave to pressure (I really appreciated her staunch stance on having children. I struggle with some of the same issues when people try to pressure me into believing that I am something less than normal for not wanting to get married), but stand firm in your beliefs and things will work out the way they work out.

I'm working on writing a novel for the first time in my life, thanks to NaNoWriMo this year. It's the first time I've even come close to approaching 10k words and I am watching as my own life heavily influences my writing. Patchett took time in one of her essays to talk about this phenomenon and it re-assured me. If a writer who is as magnificent as Patchett recognizes exactly what I'm going through as I start to explore my writing potential, then surely I am on the right path to finding something that works for me. It was encouragement that I needed right then and I'm so glad this book came into my life at this time.

Another important essay included in this collection was Patchett's convocation speech at Clemson University concerning her book, Truth and Beauty. It's a gorgeous speech and one that shouts loudly for people to read, to think, to make decisions for themselves and not cave to the overwhelmingly heavy hand of censorship. That speech alone is worth the price of the book - but you will also get many, many beautiful essays that will make you laugh and cry.

This is the Story of a Happy Marriage is not just about marriage. It's about life. And this reader has no intention of ever marrying, but I found something in this book that spoke to me. I suggest you give it the chance to do the same for you.

I really enjoyed this diverse collection of essays. The themes include dogs, girl's parochial school, marriage, divorce, a few lectures given as commencement/graduation addresses, and a surprising gem of a narrative about starting a book store. Patchett is an engaging and honest writer and her excellent prose keeps you reading no matter the subject. I was unsure the stories about flooding and divorce would be of interest but, though melancholy, I found myself pondering her words long after putting the book down. Her writing keeps you turning pages and wishing for more at the end. The opening essay alone, about writing, will keep this book on my shelf for decades.

My only criticism is that some of the speeches reminded me of the late night, art house pontificating we did back in school, relishing the artist's vocation of taking things too seriously. But it is a minor critique and shouldn't stop anyone from reading this excellent collection.

Let me confess that I've never read Ann Patchett's fiction. However, I'm deeply in love with this set of nonfiction essays, previously published in places like The Atlantic and The New York Times.

Recently, I also read books of essays by two other popular writers, Anne LaMott and Eleanor Lipman. You could think of each author/collection as part of a three-course meal. Anne LaMott's writing is like an appetizer. It's enjoyable, particularly in small quantities, because let's be honest, she's absolutely brilliant and funny, but a little bit of thanks-be-to-God and damn-the-republicans goes a long way. And I love Anne's work, I really do. But you know that when you pick up one collection your experience will be a lot like when you pick up her other collections.

Eleanor's work, on the other hand, is more like a gooey dessert. Again, you're going to enjoy it. And at times, you may even taste the richness of her work. But a lot of it, particularly the essays that were written for popular audiences, feel like a lot of icing without a significant slice of cake. In my opinion, Eleanor doesn't let her personal walls down very often to let readers truly look in to how she feels (although to be fair, the essays about her parents are particularly memorable and touching). I read her collection once, thoroughly enjoyed it, but haven't felt the urge to pick it up again.

That leaves Ann Patchett's collection. It's dinner. You are going to feel filled up and satisfied. You are going to see real glimpses into her life (the confession about Rose, near the end, makes her even more human). Unlike Anne LaMott, Patchett comes across as thoroughly grounded. The essays are solid. You're going to learn about the writing process. You're going to learn how much work and focus it takes---and why you should form your own opinions about everything. There's also something here for everyone. You can read about her bookstore---and remember why bookstores are so important. You can read about the nuns who were her teachers---and learn what it is to have faith and to love even in trying times. Every essay is special, different, unique.

My reviews don't usually include this type of analogy, but run (don't walk!) and get a copy. See if you don't then understand exactly what I mean. I feel so nourished now. There's no doubt that I'll be picking this one up again and again and again.

I live in Nashville, and Patchett is well known here for opening a bookstore (Parnassus Books) at a time when conventional wisdom said that bookstores are obsolete. This is a collection of her essays that were originally written for magazines and newspapers such as Atlantic Monthly, Harper’s, The New York Times, Vogue, The Wall Street, The Washington Post, and other publications. The essay that provides the title, however, was originally published as an original work for the web site Audible.com, the Internet’s leading retailer for audio books. Many of the essays are autobiographical (the happy marriage is her second), and I learned a lot about her that I had not known from the general media, even in Nashville.

Sometimes marriages fail. Sometimes books succeed. Sometimes friends die too young. Sometimes dogs live longer than you expected (though never long enough). In this collection of essays, the author explores all these issues, and more. She discusses things from all stages in her life, and what it is like to write about them.

Oh Ann Patchett. Can we please be best friends? I am so wholeheartedly in love with this book; it is, by far, the best book I have read this year (and I have read about 160 or so). I love the fact that Ann spends so much time talking about her writing, and how it has and continues to effect her life. In one particular essay, she talks so honestly about what it means to be a writer, and how the writing process is different for everyone; the key is simply to write. It was so damn inspiring that I stopped in the middle, and started writing. I am not kidding.

I love that Ann is so honest about her relationships in her life, even when other people do not "get" them. One of the most touching essays is one concerning her grandmother, and how, as an adult, Ann helped take care of her. She also openly discusses her long term dating relationship with her future husband, Karl, and the ups and downs throughout the years.

The structure of this book is autobiographical; it is simply conducted through a series of essays. But it honestly felt more like I was sitting down, talking to an old friend. I found this book so relatable, so moving, so inspiring. There is no way my review can ever do this book justice, so instead, you should probably just read the book.

I received a review copy courtesy of TLC Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first book by Ann Patchett-a very insightful look into the ups and downs of Patchett’s life, her writings, marriage, family, dog, and the people who came in and out of her life. A collection of short essays which were published in the NY Times, WSJ, Washington Post and others. (how a writer supports herself while trying to earn income and have time for writing and the process). She tells her story about her trials, experiences, successes, failures and her search for love and happiness in personal and business.

All of the essays are tied together with a background of her life and history of the articles she wrote. This book inspires all of us whether writing short stories, blogging or novels. Makes readers appreciate all our favorite author’s efforts and what it takes ---Thanks for sharing your life lessons! I look forward to reading more from this author.

There is a lot to love in this terrific collection of essays by a great writer.
There is something for everyone to relate to as the stories cover just about every aspect of life one could imagine...friends, family and the challenges and rewards of relationships are well-explored.
Some of the stories resonated more than others, and I'm guessing every ready will have their own favorites in this collection. I love when an author's stories make you appreciate your own stories!
The Mercies, chronicling Patchett's relationship with Sister Nena and the Sisters of Mercy (a group of women for whom I have enormous respect and admiration) was my favorite story. This story brought back memories of a nun, Sister Alphonsa, that really challenged my in my stormy teen years. She would be surprised to know just how much she meant to me as I matured and realized what she was actually giving me.

THIS IS THE STORY OF A HAPPY MARRIAGE brings together several previously- published, and some new, non-fiction essays from beloved New York Times best-selling American writer Ann Patchett. Patchett, author of multi-prize winning Bel Canto  and State of Wonder, here blends literature and memoir. In these essays, read in The Atlantic, Harper's, Vogue and the Washington Post, Patchett examines her life, looking at some of her nearest and dearest commitments: to family, friends, her husband Karl, her dog, and writing. As ever, Patchett's work is admirably terse, yet resonant, as the book stretches from her California childhood through her upbringing in Nashville, Tennessee, her unhappy first marriage, the flora and fauna of Tennessee, the hard, lonely grift of writing, and the fun of opening Parnassus, her own Nashville bookstore, simply because the town needed one.

The author's writing, six novels and two books of nonfiction, boasts sparkling " mots just," as the French would say: finds just the perfect words for the occasion. Let me just give you a quote from the book at hand here, which, as it happens, is the opening paragraph of her introduction:

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. My short stories and novels have always filled my life with meaning, but, at least in the first decade of my career, they were no more capable of supporting me than my dog was. But part of what I love about both novels and dogs is that they are so beautifully oblivious to economic concerns. We serve them, and in return they thrive. It isn't their responsibility to figure out where the rent is coming from.

The writer's novels are deeply imagined and researched: the two I've read, both set in South America, have been extraordinary. The fourth, BEL CANTO tells the story of an opera singer held hostage, along with several others, in an embassy in an unnamed country that sounds a lot like Peru during its Shining Path insurrection. Its writer here states that writing/researching it gave her her lifelong love for opera, a sublime entertainment of which she was previously ignorant. She expresses her gratitude for the present-day live HD opera broadcasts which many of us, not fortunate enough to live in major cities, have come to enjoy. STATE OF WONDER gives us an unknown Indian tribe along a tributary of the mighty the store River. The tribe has found herbal remedies in its surroundings, some of them unique and useful enough for whispers of their existence to have reached major American pharmaceutical companies.

BEL CANTO won both the PEN/Faulkner Award and the Orange Prize in 2002, was shortlisted for the National Book Critics Circle Award, and was named the Book Sense Book of the Year. It's sold more than a million copies in the United States and been translated into more than 30 languages. Luckily for me, my mystery book club read this book and thereby introduced me to Patchett, with whom, as a confirmed mystery reader, I was not then familiar. Loved BEL CANTO, absolutely loved it, but did not review it here, didn't feel competent to do so. But through the kind agency of the store Vine, I was able to read and review STATE OF WONDER here: like critics and viewers worldwide, I loved it. Loved, absolutely loved THIS IS THE STORY OF A HAPPY MARRIAGE as well. Thank you, book club, am so thankful to have made Patchett's acquaintance.

This is a collection for your bookshelf, or better yet, a stand by your bed because it contains many short essays best appreciated by reading one at a time. For purposes of reviewing, I did read through these in one sitting, but will return and reread them as they should be, one...no more than three...in each sitting. Several subjects are covered, but the author's core interests appear to be dogs, reading, and writing. Possibly the best is the first one in the book: "Non-fiction, An Introduction". The title essay, "The Getaway Car", and the one on opening a book shore are other notable ones....each reader will likely have special favorites among the essays. All in all, this is a priceless collection, highly recommended.

Whether or not you're a fan of Ann Patchett or have yet to encounter any of her novels, there is much to like in this diverse collection of previously published magazine articles across a wide spectrum of topics and publications. The 22 articles span 320+ pages and are consistently engaging and readable encompassing Patchett's signature style of eloquent yet lucid prose. My personal favorites amongst the collection were 2 longform articles - the first of which elaborates on her writing philosophy and practices (Byliner, Sept 2011) and the second, a heartfelt memoir of Patchett's sojourn through the LAPD Academy application process to better understand her Father (Washington Post Magazine, 2007).

The essays in This is the Story of a Happy Marriage provide a keen insight into the development of a writer, but the essays in this collection, which also have appeared in many magazines, also give readers insights into many of the feelings we all share about love, fear of love, success and failure Each essay is unique. My favourite are the title essay and the essay about Patchett teaming up with someone to open an independent, small book stores. These are touching, thought-provoking stories made all the more poignant because they are true.

I’ve just spent a happy week with Ann Patchett’s new collection of essays dating from 1998 to the present. Most have been published in magazines or on websites like Outside, Vogue, Audible and Byliner, though some, according to Patchett, have been lengthened. Taken together, “This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage” presents a complicated, successful writer taking an honest, often witty, smart look at what’s been most important and, probably, most confounding.

It was an active week for me because the book is a meaty one. There are many ways to read “This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage” — especially if you admire Patchett’s fiction, especially if you are a writer, especially if you enjoy being entertained, especially if you’re looking for new insights to break the loop of your own less-than-productive thinking, especially if you get some masochistic thrill seeing yourself in the imperfect moments of others. These 22 essays, plus introduction, are life in the hands of Ann Patchett and that’s a good thing.

My favorite essays are the longer pieces because I enjoy the storyteller in Patchett. With essays like “The Wall” and “This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage,” Patchett does her best work weaving story, insights, humor, and, sometimes, stop-dead-in-your-tracks writing. These are gems where life meets meaning in the hands of talent. In “The Wall,” which is post-Rodney King riots, Patchett decides to try to get into the Los Angeles Police Academy, (1), for a story she wants to write and, (2), because her father retired as a Captain level three in the LAPD and she wants to know him better. Her training, which she needed to do to be able to scale a 6-foot wall, is interesting in itself. We go on to read about the testing itself, about those taking the test and about her father’s community-oriented approach to law enforcement.

Patchett writes in “This is the Story of a Happy Marriage” that she carries divorce in her veins. There were many divorces in her family, going back for generations. When she was in her early twenties, she leaves her husband, saying in retrospect that staying merely compounded the problem. She gave up everything to get out and took a waitressing job at T.G.I. Friday’s. She moves on to write for magazines like Seventeen, realizing that it’s better to produce articles on deadline than to haul platters of hamburgers if she wants energy left over for novel writing.

The facts of Patchett’s life accumulate as you read through the essays, from her birth parents’ divorce that left them on opposite coasts to her fine education at Sarah Lawrence and, less so, at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop to her commendable Catholic school experience to some of the details that went into the startup of her independent bookstore, Parnassus. She’s honest, telling us she had an affair that helped move her toward divorce and telling us that it didn’t matter how she left him, only that, finally, she did. It’s these moments of shared honesty that validate her humanity and bond her to us. She also reminds us that honesty is one thing, but writers always pick and choose what they will share. Don’t think you know any writer well simply by reading their memoirs.

“The Getaway Car,” subtitled “A Practical Memoir about Writing and Life” is a gift to all but especially to writers. She emphasizes the importance of reading (she thinks writers need a strong early background in poetry) and practice. I celebrate her disdain with those who tell her they have a great bestseller in them, they just need to get it written. She asks, “Does everyone have one great floral arrangement in them?” “Living a life is not the same as writing a book.” Cheers to that. Don’t ask about agents till you’ve perfected your art, she counsels. Focus on the quality of your work instead. “Do you want to do this thing? Sit down and do it.” There are years of bad stories a writer must pump out before, finally, unearthing the better ones.

“This Dog’s Life” is an especially sweet pet story. It has something to say about nurturing, pet ownership and parenthood. “All I ever wanted was a dog,” she starts off saying.

My favorite travel story here is the piece she wrote for Outside magazine in 1998 about a road trip in a “bantam-weight” RV. She and her estranged significant other Karl took the 29-footer on a weeklong journey. They were full of expectations as to how this trip would go. Naturally nothing turned out as expected and the RV became a treasured home for this couple making their way through a complicated relationship. Flexibility plays a leading role in this essay. They meet one woman traveling alone. She’d traveled with her husband till he died, then kept on going by herself. Her planned transition, when the time came, would be from RV to nursing home.

In “How to Read a Christmas Story,” Patchett’s father reads a story with a meaningful Christmas message to her over the telephone. Christmas is a bad time for her and her splintered family. Given the gift of the story forever changes this for Patchett. All alone at school one Christmas, she retells the story to herself — “the best gift I have no record of.” It should come as no surprise that storytelling is at the top of the list for this adept storyteller.

I have actually never read anything by Ann Patchett, but I was interested in reading this collection of essays because I figured it would give me a good feel for her work product and style. Luckily, it did, and I am happy to say that I really enjoyed her writings.

This book covers a wide range of topics (all nonfiction)--as well as a broad stretch of time, spanning her entire career. I especially loved her essays on the writing process. I found them surprisingly informative and encouraging.

On the other hand, her essays on more personal topics (like divorce or friendship) were more reserved than I would have liked. When she writes about nonfiction, she puts it ALL out there, reveals all her insecurities, doubts, successes, and failures. But when she relates anecdotes or observations that are more personal in nature, her writing is guarded and just a bit dry. If you are looking for something with a bit more meat to it, I would recommend Anna Quindlen's Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake.

I rarely give a book five stars - but this one deserves the highest rating. Writing beautifully, as always, Ann Patchett shares magazine articles, speeches and essays which range all over the map - and are certainly more than just comments on marriage. Aspiring writers need search no farther for sterling examples of the simple act of writing - clear, concise, funny, moving, sad - perfect.

Having heard Ms. Patchett speak at Word of South music/literary festival in a packed, poorly ventilated room, with sweat everywhere, I was enchanted. Who knew she's funny? Loved "Bel Canto," probably the best novel ever written about music; loved "State of Wonder." But those books were decidedly NOT funny. Running through the pieces in "This is the Story" is a deep vein of humor, aimed both at herself and at the universe.

Thank you, Ann Patchett, for having honed your craft and shared with us.

This is a very enjoyable collection of essays, mostly about writing and the life of a writer. The title essay was probably the best one, but it's really the only one about her marriage. The rest could be considered a metaphorical marriage, in the sense that writing is a life-long passion for her and her longest-term commitment, but it was not what I expected from reading the jacket and some of the other reviews. Still, she's a good writer and I'm very glad I found this. I've read two of her novels but nothing of her nonfiction writing before. I found her thoughts on what education and true creative thinking are most inspirational.

Bottom line, after reading to the last page I am hoping to find her at the Thanksgiving dinner table to continue the conversation. I enjoyed her company that much, and as I have not read any of her books yet (several are on our bookcase at home) I have the joy of reading them to look forward to.

Patchett has been published in the The Atlantic, Gourmet, Harper's, New York Times magazine, Vogue & The Washington Post. published 9+ novels.

1963 born in Los Angeles & raised in Nashville Tennessee (where she now lives with her husband)
1992 'The Patron Saint of Liars', written while living in Provincetown, Massachusetts is her first novel
1994 'Taft'
1998 'The Magician's Assistant', resulted in a Guggenheim Fellowship
2002 'Bel Canto', won the PEN/Faulkner Award and the Orange Prize in 2002 and Book Sense Book of the Year
2004 'Truth & Beauty', a memoir of friendship with the author Lucy Grealy
2007 'Run'
2011 'State of Wonder"

Most of the essays have been previously published and span the timeline from her childhood to 2013. They include: how she came to write and publish her first novel, her parents divorce, traveling in an RV, her own first marriage and divorce, her family and friends, taking and passing the Los Angeles Police Academy admissions test where her father had worked for 30 years (retiring as a captain), her 9 years working of Seventeen magazine, her writing career, how she came to own a bookstore, and the wonderful happy marriage today. Told with humor, love a delight of life, a total of 22 works.

Enjoy!

A wonderful collection of essays on a wide variety of topics including how to succeed at writing, the joys of watching opera in HD at the local theater and the author's unexpected enjoyment of camping out in a Winnebago. We meet her first and second husbands, her beloved dog named Rosie and a Nun and a very special grandmother who have been central players in her most interesting life. Ms. Patchett has a freshness and vibrancy in both her writing and the way she perceives the world that make this a very special book.

I enjoy Ann Patchett a great deal and this book was no exception. It is a biography of sorts done in an essay format, not only about her current marriage but about her past relationships (not just marriages but family in general) failed marriages and the lineage she came from. There are some valuable life lessons here and this is a book you will want to read or listen to again for some reminders of these lessons. I think anyone married or not can benefit from the life experiences written here. No matter where you are in life. A book I would highly recommend for anyone navigating their way through dealing with others.

I have long raved, to anyone who would listen, that I would read anything written by Ann Patchett. I have purchased magazines solely for the purpose of reading one of her essays or short stories. I have been looking forward to the publication of this compilation for some time. Imagine then, my disappointment in discovering I was having difficulty reading the regular hardcover version! The pale font, stylized to almost seem like italics, is more than my astigmatism can handle. I'm thrilled to discover the audio version, what a bonus, to hear the author reading her own work!

This book makes me want to find every article Ann Patchett has ever written. I really enjoyed getting to know her through these short stories. I first heard her on NPR talking about this book and had to read it and I'm so happy I did. I hope to go to Nashville someday and see her bookstore and am hoping I enjoy her fiction as well as I enjoyed this collection of non-fiction.

This is a great book. I've been a fan of her novels for years, but I doubted that a collection of stories could be as good. I was wrong. Ann Patchett is a wonderful person who has had an interesting life. Her unselfishness in sharing her experiences and her terrific writing talent make this a joy to read. I almost feel that she's my new best friend now. An earlier reviewer felt that there was too much self-promotion included, but that's not my reaction. Patchett is frequently self-effacing and, I believe, honest both with herself and her readers.

I am a fan of Ann Patchett's novels and was eager to read her memoir. I was not disappointed. "This is the Story of a Happy Marriage" is an extremely readable collection of essays, all which have been previously published between 1996 and 2012. While Patchett covers multiple topics in these essays, they all keep coming back to the topics of marriage, home, and family life. This is a great book and very fine writing.

The title may mislead people, since the book contains many preprinted columns by the author, from a variety of magazines and newspapers on a wide variety of subjects. I enjoyed them so much. I would recommend the book to all!

Years ago when womens magazines were in their heyday there was always an interesting essay or article.I remember being at a hairdressers or doctors appt and wanting to keep the magazine because an article was so intriguing. Sometimes I ran out and bought it afterwards.These essay reminded me of how I used to enjoy reading those magazines and that it has left a void now that they are usually just full of self help articles.I took this book out of the library but will purchase it as I liked her encouraging tips on writing and I also loved reading about her dog "Rose" as I also have an older dog.Oddly even though I own some of her books I never read them.I did read the "Patron Saint of Liars" but that was eons ago. I may try to read her fiction again-It was interesting that she is not one of my favorite authors -yet I really liked her non-fiction.

I have read most of Ann Patchett's novels and this collection of essays and stories about her life and her identity as a writer, above all else in her life, was wonderful. I have no desire to write a novel, but I still enjoyed her first long essay on the writing process. I looked forward to each new chapter, and meted them out so as to make the book stay with me a little longer.
I highly recommend.

As always, Ann Patchett comes through, revealing her views on writing, life, and relationships. I would advise a warning label for the chapter, 'Love Sustained', however, an extremely personal and painful look into end of life. Not for the recently wounded or meek of heart. I highly recommend this book for its lovely writing -- not fussy or pretentious. Stories simply and well told.

I have been a fan of Ms. Patchett's fiction writing for years, but this book of essays really increased my admiration for her writing. These essays were gems of nonfiction, beautifully written. They came closer to describing the entire gamut of middle class American existence than just about anything that I have ever read. What issues are explored in these essays? You name it: being married, a woman, a writer, a daughter, a child of divorced parents, a pet owner, selfish, selfless, young, not so young, Catholic, etc.

I wish that this book had been longer--I don't think that I could ever tire of reading such well-crafted and insightful essays.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about human nature or relationships as well as to anyone who appreciates good writing.

I have read several of Ann Patchett's books and my sister recommended this to me mostly for the chapter about how to go about becoming a writer (because I have mentioned that was a dream of mine). This is a collection mostly of prior magazine pieces she did during her lifetime and only one is titled "Happy Marriage", so that is not really the theme of the book. I did enjoy the stories and this book, but I generally just read fiction novels, so this was a bit of a change. My favorite book of hers, that I often recommend, is Bel Canto.

I have no intention of writing for publication. However, I still read with great interest the essay on learning the craft. And, Ms Patchett did learn well. Her prose flows, engages and teaches.
The essays are stand alone, great reading for those times when only short reading time is available.
I found the collection engaging and entertaining. Recommend at 5 stars.

This is a wonderfully-written memoir in the form of essays about the author's life and experiences. She discusses many aspects of her life, including love and marriage, dogs and writing. This book would be particularly interesting and inspiring for aspiring writers, as she discusses at length her experiences becoming a novelist. I am interested in checking out Patchett's novels now!

I am not one for non-fiction or essays. But I love Ann Patchett and decided to give this a try. As always, her writing is superb. Some of these essays are older and were written for magazines, others are new and written for the book. But they all work well together and give you a glimpse into her life. The title essay was particularly engaging.

I really like this writer. She is one of my favorites.
The format this time is completely different from her other outings. This book is non-fiction. She discusses her attempt to find a relationship that warrants the investment of marriage. This book is a collection of writings/essays running 5 to 10 pages long and some even longer. Rather than reading this book at one setting or all the way through as I did, I recommend picking it up and reading a selection from time to time when your schedule permits.
I highly recommend Ms. Patchett to give you writing that is worth the investment of your time. Enjoy

If you're interested in a bedtime book to read a little at a time, this is for you. I enjoyed her writing style as she shared thought-provoking stories candidly, with humor. It was fun to read an essay a night, with the capstone Happy Marriage essay making me feel as if I was sitting across a table over a cup of coffee chatting with her. Makes me want to meet her someday!

This is a great book to have on a night stand or carry with you if you are short on time but love to read. It is compiled of short essays and you can read one at a time, always ending with a sense of finishing a story, unlike when you read chapter by chapter of a book. I enjoyed the stories I've read and would recommend it to others.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in becoming a better writer, listener or human being. I'm inspired to live, love and write more artfully. Read this book; you'll laugh, cry and likely discover parts of yourself you've tucked away.
Ann Patchett, thanks for sharing your truth about life in such an elegant way. You've shown us all a path to do the same. Namaste.

I am new to Ann Patchett; I read a great review of this book and decided to listen on Audio CD. It was well worth the money spent and the time listening. The audio version is narrated by Ms. Patchett, and is wonderful, which you can't always say about authors reading their own books. Her essays are engaging and thoughtful, with a sense of humor. Her essays about censorship and Lucy Grealy are very moving, and led me to order Lucy's book and Ann's book about Lucy so I could learn more about both of them. I highly recommend this to readers who have not read Patchett before, and if you like audiobooks, so much the better!

Ann Patchett is a craftman with words. The stories left me wanting to read all her past magazine articles as they really are "short stories". Her accounts of Rosie, her dog, make me want to get another dog NOW!

Most know Ann Patchett for her award-winning fiction, but in this memoir she shines at writing about her life in the real world. Patchett talks about writing, her bookstore, and her dog; she does not hold back. You’ll laugh and weep while reading this book—it is definitely one of the best of the year.

This collection is quite limited. The author has this rather Ptolemaic view putting herself at the center of the universe. The writing is clear but often boring. Much of it feels like it was done on assignment, a vehicle for self promotion. There is nothing to ponder here. Very light weight.

I have very much enjoyed others books by Ann Patchett and so I eagerly picked up this book. These essays are quick reads and some are quite riveting - accounts of her time trying out for the LAPD, her marriage, her bookstore. Others felt more like a chore to read - how to be a writer, an intro to a short story collection. What I found most surprising about reading this book were the glimpses of Ms Patchett's true character which one can see side by side with more flattering recollections of herself. The essays side by side have the effect of revealing the fictionalizing ability of all writing and how through writing one creates a new self.

Enjoyed how each chapter revealed a little more about the author. I have read all her fiction but don't always trust her to love her characters as much as she makes me love them. I am more understanding after reading this book.

I've read Ann Patchett's novels - loved Bel Canto - but this is the first collection of essays I've had the delightful experience of being enthralled by. An array of topics and a look at how her writing career developed through her brilliant tales.

Another reviewer who enjoyed this book wrote she planned to savor each engaging essay at a time - picking the book back up when she had time. I was not so disciplined. I read one piece, choosing at random, and then another, then another, then another - soon it was 3 AM and had to force myself to turn out the light. Each piece left me hungry to spend more time with the author and hear more of her voice. Highly recommended.

I loved this book! What a writer! I must go back and read her novels. Many different subjects are touchingly covered in this book of essays. And I like how you can read them in self-contained spurts, like short stories. Short stories, as Ann says, should make a comeback, for that reason.

Nice, easy read. If you are a fan of Patchett's non-fiction, this will surely please you. If you are a fan of her fiction, this is a way to get to know the writer better. I especially enjoyed the pieces about her life in Nashville. My only criticism is that I would have liked to have known when the pieces were written before I read the piece, as the context would have made more sense to me.

She was and is so good at fiction. This was just not as enjoyable and as most autobiographies very self aggrandizing.
I am still a very huge fan of previous works but i think most will be disappointed.

If you are a fan of Patchett, this book is basically a must read. Unlike her other works, this is a collection of stories about her actual life, relationships and marriage. It's a marvelous look into the woman behind the titles so many of us love, read and reread. These stories are previously published, in various magazines, from 1996 until 2012. A wonderful and memorable collection.

This group of essays are a gift. I've enjoyed her novels over the years but after reading this book, I feel like she shared her life in a very humble, honest, generous way. I feel as if I am a lifelong friend.

I love Ann Pachet's writing and this book was no exception. Though a couple of the entries had me scanning quickly, the ones that I loved, were one's that hit close to my own experiences....perfectly put into words as Ann Patchet does.

I loved this book. I have loved all of Ann Patchett's fiction, but it was so interesting getting an idea of "what makes her tick" in this book of memoirs. She is a master of suspense, dropping hints of what may be coming (but sometimes doesn't).

Of interest, she is a strong advocate of the harm done by buying books on line.

Amazing account of her Life almost. I feel like I know her because she's like me! The nun stories, the dog and child of divorce stories. wow. I live near Nashville and hope to go to her book store and have a glimst of this women whom
I really could relate to!

Amazing account of her Life almost. I feel like I know her because she's like me! The nun stories, the dog and child of divorce stories. wow. I live near Nashville and hope to go to her book store and have a glimst of this women whom
I really could relate to!

I stopped so many times to highlight passages and lines that spoke to me. In this collection of essays, Patchett writes about the ordinary things of life and reveals such beautiful things about them. Pieces of this book will stay with me for a long time.

Ann Patchett is a brilliant writer. She was new to me when I heard her interview with Terry Gross on NPR's Fresh Air to discuss the book. The memoir was a fascinating journey into the world of a writer and full of life lessons. I plan to follow up and read everything else she's written.

I enjoy Patchett as a novelist but I really enjoy her as a nonfiction writer. I first came to her through her memoir and only then read her novels. I was a bit put off by the title of this collection, but don't worry- its about so much more.

The readable text from a probing mind that was Catholic influenced during the heyday of religion, this book speaks volumes. Real people doing real things that have meaning. Truly enjoyable. I could read more.

Thank you, Ann Patchett. I loved every single word of this truly wonderful collection. It was similar to enjoying a piece of your Grandma Stella's famous cherry pie which she only made on the 4th of July. It left me wanting more.

I'm hoping you come out with a follow-up. I'm already pondering what it's title could be.....

This makes the perfect commute book, interesting stories, short, and meaningful. Its well written and just enjoyable. I read about 40,000 pages a year and thisone is a keeper. I recommend it to bookclubs.

As someone eternally single I really don't have any insight into this book. With divorce rates approaching 60% or so it's a refreshing change for a book like this about a marriage that works and isn't all steeped in religion. Of course trying to apply these life lessons to YOUR marriage may be difficult because obviously you are not the author or her husband, nor is your spouse. So just don't expect any miracles.

That is all.

I read Truth and Beauty first and loved it to the point I came on here and ordered just about every book Ann Pratchett's has written. This was the next one I picked up. I couldn't get past the first 30 pages. Just pointless. I put it down and started The Magician's Assistant instead. I have since lost this book in my house somewhere and just don't miss it. Skip this one. This one just seemed like a desperate attempt to have something (anything?) published.

I hate Ann Patchett! After discovering her and reading (and re-reading) all her books I went through a period of about twelve months where no other books satisfied me. Ms Patchett had spoiled me! So eagerly I waited news of her next novel and happily signed up in advance - on the wish list. So finally the new " novel" arrived on my I Pad and I soon discovered it was not a novel - had I missed something? - but a collection of short stories some of which I had previously read. So my high expectations were dashed. Please let me know when I can expect to be in a "State of Wonder" again...and then I will love her again...promise!