The Patron Saint of Liars

Absolutely, did not care for the book. Purchased the book after seeing the 4 star rating for it and was sorely disappointed. For those of you planning to buy the book please don't read any further. In my opinion, there was nothing interesting about the central character Rose. She was selfish, self- centered, a terrible mother, a terrible wife and a terrible daughter.... Not in the least likeable. How can one like the book when the central character is so cold, uncaring and shallow...beats me...

This was the first book I've read by this author because she was recommeded to me by a friend. It took me a while to get into. I started and stopped a few times. I feel like the author wrote about unnecessary details and therefore left no room for a proper ending. There was no explanation of anyone's actions and most of the characters annoyed me. I'm still not sure what the point of the book was. Not sure if I'll be reading anything else by her.

Wow.
For this to have been Ann Patchett's first novel, it is absolutely marvelous. She is a first-class writer. The story is intriguing, involving a mother/daughter relationship as it unfolds in a convent full of nuns. To read about a person who is almost totally unresponsive and unavailable--emotionally, physically, and psychologically--to her own family was deeply disturbing to me.

Although the mother was not particularly mean in her unresponsiveness, her impact on her daughter and 2 husbands was abusive. For me, the story presented an aspect of humanity that I've never been exposed to, so the book was an exploration in an alien human life form--a person who only cared about her own life without regard to the impact she was having on anyone else.

The story was fascinating, with me rooting for the family relationship the whole time. This book involves deep character study and an engrossing subject matter. Highly recommend.

This is my second novel by Ann Patchett , although it was her debut book . I found it much more to my liking than " Run " , which was way too political for me .

I think we all have things that draw us to stories . Why I am now humming " these are a few of my favorite things " ? Some of my big draws ....southern settings , coming of age tales , psychological thrillers , and homes for unwed mothers -which happens to be the setting for this interesting book .

Loved the writing style ...the story is told by the three main characters , not in alternating chapters , but entire sections at a time . Each character shares past and present in their section and the tale unfolds .

Despite not loving the ending , I did come to care about the characters . Never totally understood Rose , but well , that was Rose ;-) " Son " is a man to be admired . Cecilia is wise beyond her years .

Hated to see this one end !

In the 1960's, it was still a family disgrace if a woman got pregnant outside of matrimony. With abortion an illegal operation, women were forced into marriages which had little chance of survival or they disappeared for six months or so, supposedly to visit an aunt or travel somewhere. In reality, they entered homes for unwed mothers which were set up to allow the woman to stay during her pregnancy. The baby was taken from her right after birth and given to adoptive parents.

St. Elizabeth's is such a home. It was in Kentucky and the girls that came there came from all over the United States. They formed friendships but as soon as the baby arrived, the girls left hoping that chapter of their lives was closed.

Rose was a different case. She was married but decided that life with her husband was a mistake and that she just didn't love him. She left California without a word one day and drove across country to St. Elizabeth's. Rose didn't tell anyone she was married. She just let everyone assume her story was the same as the other girls. Also, unlike the others, Rose didn't leave and didn't give up her baby. She helped in the kitchen and after her baby's birth, stayed on to cook for everyone. She married Son, the man who helped with all the repairs and upkeep of the home and they raised the baby, Cecelia together.

Ann Patchett's forte as an author is creating believable characters, giving them backstories and telling their lives in a way that the reader wants to continue to see what happens next. In this novel, she has created three such characters, Rose, Son and Cecelia. Each tells the story from their own perspective and the reader soon grows to know more than any one of the characters do about their own lives since the other character's viewpoints are also clear to them while opaque to the other characters. This book is recommended for readers of literary fiction.

4.5 Stars actually.

Okay, okay, yes Patchett is a writer who immerses you in a warm, angsty stew of quirky characters and important emotions. And yes, this story of a girl who leaves her husband and stifling life to become a cook at a catholic charity house for unwed pregnant girls has all the makings of an award-winning movie.

The half a point is lost to the abrupt ending.

So many people might argue that the abrupt, unformed ending is true to life. That part of the terrible beauty of this story is how we love people and that love can not be enough for them or stifle them. Or it might be a quiet, sustaining love instead of an all-fired up passion. Or it might be that some people can't love. All of these things are true. But the ending was too unformed for me.

Rose flees a (loveless on her side) marriage when she finds she is pregnant and ends up at a Catholic Charity House run by nuns who help unwed mothers. Rose finds a kind of home for herself in the kitchen, and friends in the shape of a nun with the sight, the caretaker, and the original owner of the land.

However, love will interrupt her quiet life again when those around her try to get answers from Rose she isn't emotionally prepared to give.

I’m pretty sure I read this book when it was first published, but my life experience wasn’t enough for me to truly understand this book. This mother seems horrible, closed off, and selfish, but don’t we all think of our mothers that way? And, as moms, don’t we lie about ourselves to our kids to seem better, or less inferior? Even if they are lies of omission? It was after my mother died (left me) that I realized all the conversations we never had, all the things we couldn’t or wouldn’t say to each other, and every day I think of her and miss what I know was her unbinding and sacrificial love for her children. There are so many parallels in this book that I got so choked up, I had to put it down and reflect. I have a grown daughter and a granddaughter now and it seems those patterns are ingrained, as much as we try to fight them, it’s part of becoming and raising independent beings. Hopefully, however, ripping off the bandaid is not as traumatic as The Patron Saint of Liars.

Ann Patchett is a gifted story-teller, in the tradition of Larry McMurtry and Margaret Mitchell. No esoteric symbolism here, no ellipsis of time, or flights of fancy, or nightmare sequences, or extended poetic description. Patchett tells the story, and it has a beginning, and an end, and it means something.

Not that Patchett doesn’t know and use the tools of the writer’s trade. She creates vivid characters with quirks that bring them alive. She puts them in settings that are challenging (in this case, a home for unwed mothers in Tennessee) She changes point of view when the focus of the story shifts to a new character, but only if the story is helped by a new point of view. In the case of “Patron Saint of Liar’s, the story is told in first person, but by three different people: Rose, a pregnant woman on the run from her marriage, Son, the man who becomes the father of her child, and Cecilia, the child.

This was Ann Patchett’s debut novel. I had read and enjoyed “State of Wonder”, then worked back to “Bel Canto”. I was a little afraid that her first book might be more amateurish, less vividly imagines, with shallower characters. I needn’t have worried.

SPOILER ALERT!! BEWARE!!
The writing was very good, and unlike some reviewers I didn't find the story to be terribly depressing, just confusing. In fact, I'd rather read a story like this one than one that has a happy ending. I just don't see that many happy endings in real life to believe them in novels.

My main complaint about the book is that there's no explanation ever given for Rose's behavior. At the last page we know no more about her motives than we did on the first page. She remains a mystery, and so it's hard to understand the devotion of Thomas and Son. In the absence of any other reason, I just concluded that she was totally self-involved, and she really didn't care about Son and Cecelia. Or, Thomas, before them. She just did what she wanted to do, when she wanted to do it, without a thought for how much she might hurt anyone else. She's kind enough to the nuns, but indifferent to her husband and daughter. The novel tries, I think, to romanticize her behavior, and turn her into a tragic character somehow, but is unsuccessful in this. Both Thomas and Son are decent men who love her, and she doesn't deserve that love. I think it would have been better if Rose had given Cecelia up for adoption, and by doing so, spared Son and Cecelia all the years of sorrow she brought them.

Rose is a young woman in the 1960s who does not love her husband and abandons him abruptly when she discovers that she’s pregnant. She does seem to love her mother, however, but leaves both her husband and her mother in California for a Catholic home for unwed mothers in Habit, Kentucky. She never divulges to the sisters there the fact that she is not, in fact, unwed. She bonds with Sister Evangeline, who runs the kitchen, and Rose soon finds that she has a knack for cooking. The striking thing about this home is that, of course, all of the occupants and their babies depart within nine months. However, Sister Evangeline can discern certain things about unborn babies and predicts that Rose will not, in fact, give hers up for adoption. Rose remains an enigma throughout the novel, never softening and rarely divulging even the tiniest scraps of information about her former life in California. She lets down her guard only when she’s in a car. I’m not sure I understand what the author was getting at here. Does Rose only open up when she’s in motion? Is that when she feels relaxed or confident or comfortable or what? I so love this author’s other work, especially Taft and State of Wonder, but I did not love this book, which was Patchett’s first novel. My biggest beef with it is that the pace was much too slow. Plus, Rose was so inscrutable, and I never figured out why she so selfishly walked out on people who loved her, leaving sad and puzzled souls in her wake, although she may have just been incapable of loving anyone in return. And the ending was a major disappointment for me.

If I had not already been an Ann Patchett fan, I might not have gotten very far with this book. As it was, I think it was years between the time I read the free sample and when I finally found the book in a library and took it out. And then, I really didn't understand or sympathize with the main character, and the book just made me feel sad. But, as I said, I'm a fan, and Mom gave this story a good review. So I went back to it, and I'm glad I did. Patchett's a good writer and a great storyteller. I still don't understand the main character, still don't sympathize with her, but that's OK. Slight spoiler alert: I didn't realize until I got to the second one that this story is told in three parts by three different narrators, and that helped.

Annn Patchett weaves a marvelously unusual story in “The Patron Saint of Liars.” The story is very well-written and the characters fully developed, all within a most unusual storyline. Then, with just wisps of things tantalizingly coming together, the novel ends! This happens to be one of my pet peeves and destroys all my previous literary pleasure. The writer teases with a great storyline and fascinating characters, then: Pouf! Stops writing! I know I’m whining about the book I wish had been written, rather than the one that was, but I find this literary ploy terribly frustrating. I feel I have wasted the time invested in the story that doesn’t provide closure. Therefore, in spite of all the good things I can say about this book, I cannot give it a high recommendation. What a shame!

I have mixed feelings about this book. Some things about it were quite lovely, but there were other things about it that didn't work for me, and overall it felt unfinished.

First, the positives:

Patchett's writing can be very beautiful and evocative. Reading this, you can really see St. Elizabeth's and feel like you are there. You also get the sense that there aren't any wasted words here. There is no fluff; every sentence has a purpose.

The characters are well developed. I liked Rose and actually sympathized with her to a certain point. Others have said that she was selfish or her motives weren't clear, but I didn't feel that way. She made bad choices, but she wasn't a bad person -- that was evident in the way she tried to honor her promises and stay on as the cook at St. Elizabeth's even though she was never paid for her work. She tried to take care of those around her in the only way she really knew how.

The different narrators all had distinct voices, which isn't always accomplished in books where the narrator changes. Cecilia's section was my favorite -- I liked her observations about her complicated relationship with her mother.

Even though the ending was abrupt (more on that later), I like that Patchett didn't tie everything up in a neat little bow. Sometimes things don't work out the way you want them to in life. Sometimes you just don't get the answers you want. I kind of liked it that Cecilia's story was left open.

Now, the negatives (spoilers ahead!):

As previously mentioned, the book felt unfinished. Son and Cecilia each get only about 100 pages. I felt like the book could have gone deeper into their stories, especially Cecilia's. Son's section actually kind of dragged for me. I was more interested in his backstory than in his account of the present time.

There were some things brought up that weren't fully explored, like the stigmata. I guess Sister Evangeline was supposed to be a saint, but I wasn't really sure what to make of that.

The passage of time was sometimes unclear. Suddenly Cecilia was 15 years old, and I had to go back and check dates to figure out what year it was.

The ending was rather abrupt. I was really interested in where things were going after the arrival of Thomas Clinton, but then they didn't really go anywhere. I don't believe that Thomas and Cecilia wouldn't have started figuring things out. They were both smart people. Thomas would have asked how old Cecilia was. Cecilia was already feeling like there was something Son wasn't telling her. This is someone who asked a lot of questions and always wanted to know what was going on. Given the unclear chronology of everything, and that Son told her to lie about her age, I think she would have started putting things together.

I would have liked to hear from Rose again at the end; that might have provided more resolution to the book overall. Although the lack of resolution could have been deliberate, since in that way the book mirror's Cecilia's lack of resolution in her relationship with her mother.

Overall, not a bad read, especially considering this was Patchett's first novel. I certainly didn't hate it the way I hated State of Wonder. I have 2 more of Patchett's books that I still intend to read (Bel Canto and Truth and Beauty).

I just finished reading The Patron Saint of Liars. I found that I couldn't put the book down, but in the end I was left with so many unanswered questions that I felt frustrated. The story is compelling and I really wanted the author to explain why Rose felt so detached from her life. I wanted Cecilia to figure it all out in the end. Another reviewer described the book as "melancholy". I would agree that is a very good overall depiction of the characters in the book. It is one of those stories that sticks with you and you find yourself thinking about long after you are finished reading. I guess that is the sign of a good story. I just wish that there was more closure.

I thought this was a great book. Ann Patchett is one of my favorite writers, I am never disappointed with one of her books. In this particular book, she brings out all the different lies, types of lies that have been told, reasons/non reasons (fears?) and how some people are even lying to themselves by not recognizing the plain truth before them. Its a How many people can be affected by a single lie/action. A very thought provoking and enjoyable read. The famous quote by Walter Scott explains it well: O, what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive!

I read and enjoyed Bel Canto last year. I thought Bel Canto was interesting, thought-provoking, and well-written. I was disappointed in The Patron Saint of Liars. I needed more from this book. The first third of the book is narrated by Rose, the main character. She did not give me enough reason for her to leave her life in California. She did not indicate that she tried to improve her life before leaving. She seemed to live her life like she had no control over outcomes. This continued throughout the book. If Rose can't explain her actions, I wish someone could. And no one did.

Rose does not take control over her life in Kentucky. Instead she passively falls into another loveless marriage. Again, she doesn't try to salvage this marriage and take control of her fate.

I could find few redeemable qualities in the main character and I did not feel her actions were adequately explained. When the narration shifted, I never got more explanation or learned to like Rose more. If anything, I liked her less.

While I enjoyed the characters and narration of Son and Cecelia, I was still let down by this book. I was especially disappointed in the lackluster ending. I don't need book endings to be tied up neatly with a bow, but I would have liked more resolution.

If I had not already been an Ann Patchett fan, I might not have gotten very far with this book. As it was, I think it was years between the time I read the free sample and when I finally found the book in a library and took it out. And then, I really didn't understand or sympathize with the main character, and the book just made me feel sad. But, as I said, I'm a fan, and Mom gave this story a good review. So I went back to it, and I'm glad I did. Patchett's a good writer and a great storyteller. I still don't understand the main character, still don't sympathize with her, but that's OK. Slight spoiler alert: I didn't realize until I got to the second one that this story is told in three parts by three different narrators, and that helped.

Patron Saint of Liars Ann Patchett

I was really excited to read this book. It seemed like a
story line full of possibility. I kept reading and hoping
for promise. It never happened. In retrospect, there
is no real life spark in the book. It just droned on to a
flat line ending. I’ve discovered that I need feel a connection with the
protagonist. That never happened. Rose was a cold, self-absorbed
one dimensional woman who never risked emotionally.
Even though the book is very well written, that is not enough
to hold me. I felt nothing after reading this book
except that I could have been reading a better book. Sigh!

Annn Patchett weaves a marvelously unusual story in “The Patron Saint of Liars.” The story is very well-written and the characters fully developed, all within a most unusual storyline. Then, with just wisps of things tantalizingly coming together, the novel ends! This happens to be one of my pet peeves and destroys all my previous literary pleasure. The writer teases with a great storyline and fascinating characters, then: Pouf! Stops writing! I know I’m whining about the book I wish had been written, rather than the one that was, but I find this literary ploy terribly frustrating. I feel I have wasted the time invested in the story that doesn’t provide closure. Therefore, in spite of all the good things I can say about this book, I cannot give it a high recommendation. What a shame!

Wow.
For this to have been Ann Patchett's first novel, it is absolutely marvelous. She is a first-class writer. The story is intriguing, involving a mother/daughter relationship as it unfolds in a convent full of nuns. To read about a person who is almost totally unresponsive and unavailable--emotionally, physically, and psychologically--to her own family was deeply disturbing to me.

Although the mother was not particularly mean in her unresponsiveness, her impact on her daughter and 2 husbands was abusive. For me, the story presented an aspect of humanity that I've never been exposed to, so the book was an exploration in an alien human life form--a person who only cared about her own life without regard to the impact she was having on anyone else.

The story was fascinating, with me rooting for the family relationship the whole time. This book involves deep character study and an engrossing subject matter. Highly recommend.

I have mixed feelings about this book. Some things about it were quite lovely, but there were other things about it that didn't work for me, and overall it felt unfinished.

First, the positives:

Patchett's writing can be very beautiful and evocative. Reading this, you can really see St. Elizabeth's and feel like you are there. You also get the sense that there aren't any wasted words here. There is no fluff; every sentence has a purpose.

The characters are well developed. I liked Rose and actually sympathized with her to a certain point. Others have said that she was selfish or her motives weren't clear, but I didn't feel that way. She made bad choices, but she wasn't a bad person -- that was evident in the way she tried to honor her promises and stay on as the cook at St. Elizabeth's even though she was never paid for her work. She tried to take care of those around her in the only way she really knew how.

The different narrators all had distinct voices, which isn't always accomplished in books where the narrator changes. Cecilia's section was my favorite -- I liked her observations about her complicated relationship with her mother.

Even though the ending was abrupt (more on that later), I like that Patchett didn't tie everything up in a neat little bow. Sometimes things don't work out the way you want them to in life. Sometimes you just don't get the answers you want. I kind of liked it that Cecilia's story was left open.

Now, the negatives (spoilers ahead!):

As previously mentioned, the book felt unfinished. Son and Cecilia each get only about 100 pages. I felt like the book could have gone deeper into their stories, especially Cecilia's. Son's section actually kind of dragged for me. I was more interested in his backstory than in his account of the present time.

There were some things brought up that weren't fully explored, like the stigmata. I guess Sister Evangeline was supposed to be a saint, but I wasn't really sure what to make of that.

The passage of time was sometimes unclear. Suddenly Cecilia was 15 years old, and I had to go back and check dates to figure out what year it was.

The ending was rather abrupt. I was really interested in where things were going after the arrival of Thomas Clinton, but then they didn't really go anywhere. I don't believe that Thomas and Cecilia wouldn't have started figuring things out. They were both smart people. Thomas would have asked how old Cecilia was. Cecilia was already feeling like there was something Son wasn't telling her. This is someone who asked a lot of questions and always wanted to know what was going on. Given the unclear chronology of everything, and that Son told her to lie about her age, I think she would have started putting things together.

I would have liked to hear from Rose again at the end; that might have provided more resolution to the book overall. Although the lack of resolution could have been deliberate, since in that way the book mirror's Cecilia's lack of resolution in her relationship with her mother.

Overall, not a bad read, especially considering this was Patchett's first novel. I certainly didn't hate it the way I hated State of Wonder. I have 2 more of Patchett's books that I still intend to read (Bel Canto and Truth and Beauty).

I just finished reading The Patron Saint of Liars. I found that I couldn't put the book down, but in the end I was left with so many unanswered questions that I felt frustrated. The story is compelling and I really wanted the author to explain why Rose felt so detached from her life. I wanted Cecilia to figure it all out in the end. Another reviewer described the book as "melancholy". I would agree that is a very good overall depiction of the characters in the book. It is one of those stories that sticks with you and you find yourself thinking about long after you are finished reading. I guess that is the sign of a good story. I just wish that there was more closure.

This is my second novel by Ann Patchett , although it was her debut book . I found it much more to my liking than " Run " , which was way too political for me .

I think we all have things that draw us to stories . Why I am now humming " these are a few of my favorite things " ? Some of my big draws ....southern settings , coming of age tales , psychological thrillers , and homes for unwed mothers -which happens to be the setting for this interesting book .

Loved the writing style ...the story is told by the three main characters , not in alternating chapters , but entire sections at a time . Each character shares past and present in their section and the tale unfolds .

Despite not loving the ending , I did come to care about the characters . Never totally understood Rose , but well , that was Rose ;-) " Son " is a man to be admired . Cecilia is wise beyond her years .

Hated to see this one end !

I thought this was a great book. Ann Patchett is one of my favorite writers, I am never disappointed with one of her books. In this particular book, she brings out all the different lies, types of lies that have been told, reasons/non reasons (fears?) and how some people are even lying to themselves by not recognizing the plain truth before them. Its a How many people can be affected by a single lie/action. A very thought provoking and enjoyable read. The famous quote by Walter Scott explains it well: O, what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive!

To what point? The characterizations are something Ms Patchett must have been working on for some time before she used them in her debut novel. I suspect these characters may have been born during the author's time at the famed Iowa Writers' Workshop.

Warning: contains spoilers.

The story line is offbeat and serves primarily as a vehicle where we meet and learn about the characters in this story. It is told in three of the characters' voices. First there is Rose, the central character. She is an emotionally removed woman whose motivations are sometimes bizarre and always mysterious. The Middle third is voiced by Son, Rose's second husband. The final third is told in Rose's daughter Cecelia's voice. Julia Gibson reads all three voices in the audio edition and does all of them very well.

Rose lives a lonely and secret existence, making life-altering decisions based on illogical reasoning. Her decisions are both instantly life-altering and hurtful. They leave people who care about her deeply hurt and confused. She recognizes a need for loyalty only to herself and discards family members on a whim. Upon her daughter's birth she marries a second man, that like her first husband, she does not love. Then, when her daughter is only eight, she chooses to live alone in a cottage within view of her home that still houses her daughter and husband. She treats her family with the same contempt she has for society's rules and norms. She mostly ignores them, while they continue to love her with undiminished devotion.

Son, a generation older than Rose, is hiding out from a past haunted by an abusive girlfriend/fiancé for whose death he feels responsible. He has retreated to St. Elizabeth's, a Catholic home for unwed mothers, where he meets Rose. Rose is there pregnant, but posing as unwed. Son falls in love with Rose upon sight. When she suddenly decides to keep her baby rather than putting her up for adoption, she marries Son as a means of achieving this. Son bewildered by what he sees as his unaccountable good fortune begins his turn in Rose's parade of loves to which she is emotionally indifferent.

These are just two of the intriguing characters that make this odd novel worth reading. You will also meet Rose's mother, Helen, who quit driving when her husband died in an auto accident; Cecelia Rose's daughter baffled by her parents odd behavior and searching for reasonable roll-model for her life; and Sister Evangeline a dysfunctional though devout seer.

Recommended: Yes. 3.7 Stars

Not really satisfying. Disjointed. I see that she is trying to show that one of her characters is a liar, and her idea seems to be that nobody understands why she is this way- but we don't get any further insight. It doesn't make sense. Yes, human nature is a mystery- but you need to be an awfully good writer to leave a character a mystery. You can't just leave things out and then say, Oh, it's a mystery.
And, I'm not sure that the shifting viewpoints in the three parts of the book are working for her.
But the real problem here is that Patchett has set her book in a community of nuns, yet she never has the nuns pray or talk about God! The only one who does, talks mostly a secular feel-good kind of religion that does not have much to do with normal Catholicism. Real nuns are not like this. And the abbess is just a cardboard meanie-- also she has no control over her community, she has lost control of things in a way that would never happen in real life. A real abbess does not just let someone she does not like or trust suddenly invade her community and stay on for years and years as cook. If Ann had explored convent life at all, she would have found a very different picture!

What a great example of how strong protagonists don’t have to be likable to be effective. One thing a bit different in the storytelling and structure—the book is divided into three parts with a different narrator for each section. I found this to be jarring at first, but soon found the various viewpoints strong and felt empathy for each narrator. The plot involves a woman who leaves her husband when she discovers she is pregnant. She disappears into a home for unwed mothers in Kentucky, “a state whose capital I did not know…where no one would look for me” and raises her child there shrouded in lies.

An Incredible Novel that merges a physical journey of a woman as she escapes an expected future with the quintessential non-stop American Road Trip. Questions everything motherhood should and shouldn't be. The story is unapologetic and honest, revealing historically accurate truths about what women were expected to do when they have "shamed themselves."

Ann Patchett has a strong assertive style that matches the unforgettable anti-heroine protagonist she creates. An amazing book that I couldn't put down, and just happened to be a book left in the sharing pile at a condo I was staying at--otherwise I wouldn't have even picked it up at the store. Don't expect to be satisfied with this character. This is Olive Kitteridge stuff: brassy and unapologetic.

I really enjoyed reading this book. The first section reminded me of being a young woman in the 1950s. It was such a thoughtful look at how it was in those days, some of it good, some of it bad, especially as to Rose and Angie regarding the enormous societal and family pressures that influenced a young women's life choices during those years. I also loved the Cecilia/Cissy character, who grew up in crazy/odd circumstances, yet somehow showed signs of being a normal teenager in almost every way. It was a textbook description of how people are affected by someone they love who simply can't give and receive love the way humans are meant to, perhaps what is referred to these days as a narcissist. The mood of the book and some of the storyline reminded me of John Irving in Cider House Rules. I really liked the book; although it wasn't a classic "page turner" I found the story compelling to the point that I finished in only a few days. And, it made me think deeply about how we all affect one another in small ways that end up being not so small. A very thoughtful book.

I love books by Ann Patchett and The Patron Saint of Liars , her debut novel, was not a disappointment. The story follows the journey of Rose Clinton from California to St. Elizabeth’s, a home for unwed mothers in Kentucky. Relationships are a theme throughout, including friendships, husband and wife, mother and daughter, and, perhaps most importantly, past and present. Rose appears to be emotionally detached throughout this deeply emotional book. As in real life, it’s hard to watch her making decisions that affect both her life and the lives of those around her. Patchett has a way of weaving quirky lives into great literature. The Patron Saint of Liars was a great debut book. I enjoyed the audio version with an excellent narration by Julia Gibson.

First of all, if you're debating between this (or any other Ann Patchett book) and "Bel Canto," buy both (well, buy them all - she's a fabulous author), but save "Bel Canto" for last. This is a very good book, as are Ms. Patchet's other books, but "Bel Canto" will spoil you because it's extraordinary.

Ok, now that we've covered that, this is a great debut novel and well worth 5 stars. If you want a book that is definitely fiction but soaked with realism, this is a good find. The main characters (Rose, Son, and Cecelia) could be anyone you would meet. Their story is certainly unusual and compelling, yet it's far from outlandish. I was further drawn in by the fact that Rose was so loved by those around her, yet her intentional closed-off demeanor made me wonder how. But isn't that real life? We all know people who draw others to them, but we can't figure out how that can be. It gave me pause and, days after reading the novel, I'm still wondering what happened to Rose before the story began to cause her to keep people at a distance. Maybe it would feel good to love every character, but it wouldn't stick to my bones as well as this book has.

The movement of other characters and action in the book were well-paced - just enough to be a page-turner without making my head spin. I would say that most of the movement in the novel comes from character and relationship development, yet not so much so that we feel bogged down by it.

There were numerous loose ends that were not tied up throughout and at the end of the book. Again, I felt this made the book all the more real and caused me to still be chewing on certain things that happened, could have happened, or might happen. If it were a movie, I would wonder if things were left open to produce a sequel, but I've read enough of Ms. Patchett's works to know that she's content to let the readers draw their own conclusions and finish some of the story lines on their own. I don't like this with many authors because they don't do it well. Ms. Patchett is the exception, and I'm happy she gave me enough to connect with each main character and be able to let my imagination pick up where she leaves off. I can appreciate other reviewers saying they wish she'd tightened things up and given us more closure, but I felt she closed things enough - it's her way to keep certain things similar to real life, so we're left with some level of not knowing and feeling a tug of wishing that things were a little different. I find that to be far more engaging in the long run.

I originally read this book 10 or so years ago. Unlike most books that I read and can't recall what it was about a couple months later, this one left me with a clear picture after more than a decade. This story is so well written and so engrossing that the story feels like part of my own memories. I happily ran across the book as a freebie with Kindle Unlimited and settled in for a great read. One of my all time favorites.

The last two months I've enjoyed reading Ann Patchett's "State of Wonder" written in 2011 then enjoyed even more "Bel Canto" written in 2001, and after reading her debut novel written in 1992 not only is it my favorite of the three, it's one of the best books I've ever read. This story really resonated with me on so many levels. What is God's will for my life? Who should I marry? Should you stay in a marriage if you're not in love? I felt so much compassion for the three main characters, the mysterious Martha Rose Clinton, running away from her past, the uncomplicated Wilson Abbott who falls in love with Rose, and their precocious daughter Cecilia, I became very, very nervous wondering what would happen to all of them as this tense human drama was winding down. The same feeling I had for characters in the other two books I read by this author.

It's alaways a thrill to discover a great author that you've never noticed before. She writes with great clarity. Her style is elegant and classy, free of excessive vulgarity. Her characters will stick with you whether you like what they do or not. Whether you like what their fate is or not. I can't wait to read other novels she's written. 5 very huge stars!

P.S. I see there was a TV movie made from this novel with Dana Delaney cast as Rose.

Ann Patchett's The Patron Saint of Liars was, by all accounts, a stunning debut, a story of a women who, married for three years, found herself pregnant, and instead of simply telling her husband and carrying on with her life, flees to a home for unwed mothers.

The story is told from the point of view of Rose, the pregnant woman; Son, a handyman at the home who meets her during her stay there; and eventually the child she has. Rose's section describes her feelings surrounding her decisions with regard to her pregnancy and everything she does leading up to and after its discovery, including her eventual decision over what to do once the baby is born, and the other two points of view take over after her decisions are made and deal with the ramifications of them.

Patchett's writing is the same lovely style it is today, and she had the same gift even then of making an unsympathetic character -- which many will undoubtedly find Rose to be -- riveting. Readers will want to know how someone could walk away from her life simply because she didn't like the way it was going. What keeps the book from being stellar, however, is that Patchett allows that unsympathetic character to remain at surface level, leaving other characters left to ponder motivations, making for frustrated characters, and much of the time, a frustrating read with no closure.

This review appeared previously on Goodreads.

This is my first reading of Ann Patchett, her first novel. She was born on my sixth birthday! The central figure of the story is Rose Clinton, who, basically, has trouble with relationships. One might say she has a dissociation disease. She leaves her husband, Thomas, and drives cross-country--California to Kentucky--to a home for pregnant unmarried women, run by a Catholic religious order of sisters. There, in the midst of her own pregnancy, she finds her vocation: working in the kitchen of this home, which was once a hotel, built near the site of a miraculous stream. From there the story progesses. She marries another man just to avoid the normal procedure of giving up the newborn daughter for adoption. This second husband, Son Abbot, has his own heart-breaking history. Rose hurts Son by naming the child after the sorrowful, memorable woman in his life. Both Son and the daughter (by Thomas Clinton) cannot relate to this mysterious woman, this mystical Rose. The end is almost predictable, and somewhat tragic.

Patchett writes with such flair. Rose develops in a mysterious direction, while Thomas, and Son (short for Wilson) are very different men, each a pleasant character. The daughter is a typical girl, yet different from her mother, and is growing up, and seeing the world in a unique fashion. The sisters of St. Elizabeth are lovable characters, except maybe for Mother Superior. I truly appreciate Patchett's dealing with Catholicism in a positive, gentle fashion, showing its ability to probe life. The plot is as unbelievable as is life. Unfortunately what happens to the players goes unaffected by how the nation and world were changing in the 1960s, for the most part. Habit (a great name for a small town with a big "convent") seems immune from the outside world. But these characters are wonderfully generated. It is hard to believe that this is Patchett's first novel. I look forward to reading Taft, sometime soon.

I really liked this book. Each time I had to put it down, I looked forward to getting back to the story. I love stories that progress thru generations, and that are "spoken" thru different characters - this book does both. I would have given 5 stars if not for the ending which felt a bit unresolved. The setting of a Catholic home for unwed pregnant girls was facinating, especially how the stigma changes from the 60's to late 80's. I like how Patchett did not paint these girls as victims in their situations. The residents that were highlighted made choices that brought them there. No mention of incest or rape, for that I was glad. The way the Catholic church was protrayed was not offensive either. Before reading this book, I thought all kinds of horrible things were going to take place in this home, but the nuns (all but one) were kind and caring. Spoiler Alert: I thought it was weird that Son & Rose agreed to marry so suddenly, and secretly hoped that they would grow to love one another. I loved Son's character & hoped he would finally find love & be truly happy. When it became clear it wouldn't be with Rose, I had hoped someone else would come along and appreciate him. I started to lose interest a bit when Lorriane came in the picture. She was not interesting in the least. I know she enter to developed Cecelia's character, I would have liked to hear more about her school life outside of St. Elizabeth's. It would have been nice for Cecelia to have met her grandmother and known her (real) father's (normal) family. That bit about her staying on to care for Lorraine's baby like June did for her was pathetic. I think Rose totally copped out by leaving that mess at the end for everyone else to sort out. And noone really speculated where she had gone, and neither did I. I was more concerned for the rest of them.

Rose, a woman in her 20's, finds out that she is pregnant. Unsure that she can be a good mother to this baby she leaves her husband and her own mother behind (and in the dark) as she drives cross country from California to Kentucky to St. Elizabeth's a place for unwed mothers who are giving up their babies.

St. Elizabeth's used to be the Hotel Louisa when it was originally built. Built in Habit, Kentucky next to a healing spring, people from all over used to travel to this town known for it's healing capabilities.

Rose finds herself in this home for pregnant young woman and realizes that maybe giving up her baby isn't what she really wants to do. The decisions she makes will affect not only her life but the lives of those around her.

Patchett tells the story of St. Elizabeth's from three different perspectives. Once again she weaves together characters in a thought provoking way. Do modern day saints exist and if so what defines one? What is it that draws one to a place or to a person? Well written, fast paced, Patchett draws you in quickly and keeps you captivated until the end. If you liked this book definitely pick up Bel Canto next!

Understated tale about the immutability of personality and learning to accept it. Characters are engaging though some are stereotypes. I must admit that the contrast between the strength of the female characters and the passivity of the male characters was annoying but we are going through a period of anti-male chauvinism, aren't we?

Not quite great. Perhaps after Bel Canto, my expectations of Ann Patchett are unreasonably high. "The Patron Saint of Liars" was a good read, great characters, good pace and certainly her trademark subtle suspense. Perhaps I just didn't like the ending. Perhaps I just wanted there to be a good person where such was not Ann's story. It has certainly caused me to reflect on people I know who remind me of such a person. Enigmatic at least. Mind expanding probably. Are there really people like that out there? I suspect I have been simply naive and this story has awakened a new understanding of the range and diversity of life.

Patchett's novel is neatly divided into the three separate internal monologues of Rose, Son and Cecilia. Even though Rose's monologue takes up the majority of the book, the reader knows the very least about her, and she frustratingly remains an enigma from start to finish. Rose, the daughter of a very loving and devoted mother and of a father who died in a car accident when she was only three, makes impulsive decisions which have devastating consequences for those she leaves in her wake. She married Thomas, a man she doesn't love and takes off for parts unknown when she discovers she is pregnant. She abandons Thomas, her mother and her life in California, only to end up in the 1960's at St. Elizabeth's, a home for unwed mothers, where she inexplicably marries the much older handyman, Son, who raises her daughter as his own. Ultimately, Rose abandons both Son and daughter Cecilia both physically and emotionally, but the reader never gets a handle on the reasons for Rose's inablity to make meaningful and emotional connections with others. Other than the fact that Rose is physically beautiful, it is a mystery why Thomas, Son and Sister Evangeline have all fallen in love with her. Her daughter is the only one who confronts her mother about her indifference and inability to love, but to no avail. One gets the sense that Rose spends all those years as an unpaid cook in St. Elizabeth's as some kind of weird penance for abandoning Thomas and her mother, although this is never made crystal clear in any way. Rose seems more like a cardboard character because she has no redeeming qualities and the reader is never given any substantial insights into what makes Rose tick.

Son also abandons his family in Tennessee, and he too stays at St. Elizabeth's as a sort of penance to assuage his guilt over feeling responsible for Cecilia's drowning. He is a good man who has given up his family and his past, and although he remains emotionally disconnected from his wife Rose, he devotes his life to nurturing his daughter Cecilia, whose name he fought against, but Rose insists on that name because that would explain the presence of the tatoo on his arm with Cecilia's name. Son has his daughter's birthdate tatooed right under the name of his dead childhood sweetheart, and the lie is complete.

St. Elizabeth's clearly has some symbolic significance in this novel, although that is not made crystal-clear at any point either. The hotel-turned home for unwed mothers is built on property under which once sprang a miraculous hot spring that had healing powers. Do Rose and Son go to Saint Elizabeth's to be healed or are they incomplete individuals who are unable to face the past and move on in a healthy way with their lives? At least Son has found a purpose in life - to be a good father to Cecilia. Rose continues to abandon those who love her right to the very end of the novel, so there is no growth or redemption there.

What truly makes sense in this novel is that Sister Evangeline, who plays good nun to Sister Corinne's bad one, is the novel's patron saint of liars. It seems everyone who comes to St. Elizabeth's has secrets. The first thing the girls do when they get there is to lie to Sister Corinne that their husbands died in a car accident. Sister Evangeline, the resident seer, offers love and acceptance to all the liars who pass through St. Elizabeth's over the years. St. Elizabeth's seems to exist apart from the world at large, and Rose, Son, Cecilia, June, and Sister Evangeline seem to form a dysfunctional family of sorts in this isolated environment. The girls have their babies and leave. It is never clear to the reader why Son and Rose have gotten "stuck" in such an odd and isolated place.

This is a fairly quick read and the prose is sophisticated. The characters in this novel will not stay with me, whereas the characters in Patchett's later novel, Bel Canto, still resonate ,although I read it several years ago. Clearly, Patchett has honed her craft in Bel Canto, but Patron Saint of Liars is still a very acceptable read, if only for the questions it leaves unanswered.

Beautifully written story about a horrible young woman and the people she leaves...or ignores...and then leaves. I wanted to like the heroine or at least understand her, but her narcissistic, cold-hearted behavior made her absolutely unlikeable...and boring on top of it. Sad story, sad people, sad everything.

I've often said that life is a series of compromises and this book seems to bear that out. The characters are flawed, complicated, and beautiful, their motivations complex and challenging. Nothing is simple or insultingly pat. It's a book that will stay with you.

Pairs well with: Sweet tea and bourbon, with a lemon twist

First, Patchett can write very well--she carries you right along on a beautiful stream of words--so she is a joy to read no matter what else you might say about her. What I would say however is that while this is a really good book, she gets better in later books. It is probably not fair to judge this book by what she accomplishes later--but ah, we are human - and so we do unfair things. Just like Patchett's characters. I like her characters...not personally but as literary devices. They are complex. They are not presented in neat little packages so that we, the readers, are given a complete overview of who they are and why they do what they do. They are often contradictory and we have to keep asking why are they doing this -or that. I think we look for characters that are easy to understand because we are so desperate to try and make sense out of the world-and we are hoping that literature will help us do that. But I think good literature helps us see how complicated it really is and that there are no simple answers about why people do what they do. So Patchett gives us characters that make us crazy based on the decisions they are making-but who are good people, regardless of their decisions. We realize in the process that people do not have to do specific things to be good people-and that we don't really know -and don't have to know why a person makes the decisions they do- you can still care about them. Why, for instance, would a married woman, with a husband who adores her abandon him and go to a home for unwed mothers. Why would a woman who adores her mother decide to never communicate with her mother again? You read along saying to yourself-no! Don't do that. But she does it and, she is still a good person-a deeply good person-with a scar that is never explained to us but that drives her and diverts her-and we don't have to know and we have no right to judge. I guess my very favorite thing about Patchett is not that her characters are complex, contradictory and allusive but it is in the relationships Patchett builds between her characters--they are not relationships we recognize. Love between men and women may or may not be romantic. The love of a mother for a child does not have to fit into a cookie-cutter--all good or all bad. Loyalty maybe demonstrated by non-action as well as action. We may choose to move on-or stay-in any relationship or place but it won't change who we are. I think Patchett is masterful--here and in her other books--at creating these 'non-standard' relationships--and in the process broadening our thinking about what it means to be human. And while I like her later books better than this one--and I imagine it isn't fair to judge this book by her later work--I am still doing it...so this one gets four stars -- primarily because her others deserve five.

I read this book after a recommendation from a friend. The story was fresh and interesting, covering several decades of time. I found myself very engaged and wanted to continue reading. The only thing that led me to 4 stars instead of 5 was because I couldn't feel any connection to Rose throughout the book. Maybe that was the intention but she was just such a strange character. Every time I'd start to feel a little bit of warmth and sympathy towards her she would do something strange all over again and I'd be left seriously disliking her. The ending of the book doesn't give you much to hold on to in term of uplifting hope. I would highly recommend the read because it IS very interesting, but just be forewarned that the ending isn't going to make you feel great.

With the main character who is basically portrayed as distant and unfeeling, the book still touched me very deeply. It is beautifully written and had me enthralled throughout. I will not say more because I might reveal too much about a delicately and carefully written plot.

Beginning The Patron Saint of Liars was like being in a canoe on a river. The story carried me along with a natural flow. The main characters - Rose, Son, Cecilia, and others in their world - are complex, at times sympathetic, other times tragic. The ending was as it should have been, mirroring real life in that often there are circumstances where there are no final resolutions, only acceptance of how things are.

Ann Patchett's ability to inhabit her characters' minds is stunning...In The Patron Saint of Liars, she is (in order) the wife, the husband, and the child, each of the book's three sections building upon the others, moving the story along chronologically while adding layers to each of the three main characters. All of this technical bravura, however, appears to exist solely to allow Ms. Patchett to tell us her stories. And, The Patron Saint of Liars is a wonderful, intricate story, of Rose, who refuses to believe that she is worthy of happiness and keeps running to evade the truth, Son, the man who accepts her and her child with open-hearted love, and Cecilia, the daughter she is afraid to love. Among the host of supporting characters, each fully sketched and colorful, Sister Evangeline stands out most clearly, an elderly nun who has little cooking ability and unusual powers of prophecy even though she sometimes appears unaware of what is happening before her eyes. As the book draws to a close, Patchett allows the reader to feel a bit smug in understanding what is happening to Sister Evangeline, even though the good Sister seems unaware of it herself. Throughout the book, Patchett gives the reader full warning what will happen eventually, but it makes no difference...

But babies just stay the same." So says Sister Evangeline, a nun who has worked for most of her life at St. Elizabeth's, a Catholic home for unwed mothers.
Sister Evangeline usually doesn't get to see the babies - the mothers are taken to Owensboro and they are then given up to adoption. But one day, one mother who comes to St. Elizabeth's breaks all the rules. This woman is Rose, a married woman who drove from California to birth her baby and then give her up, because she knew she couldn't be the mother it needed. But when the time comes, she chooses to follow another path, and keeps her child and stays on at the home.
Patchett's books is divided into three chronological stories of Rose's life at St. Elizabeth's - told by Rose, her second husband Son, and her daughter Cecilia. Throughout the book, the language is lyrical, helping to set the scenes where the plot is carried out. In the end, perhaps none of the characters are truly sympathetic. But they are all memorable, and ultimately we perhaps come to realize that no one with a story to tell is completely sympathetic. Overall, I found this book to be a lovely read.

My first exposure to Ann Patchett’s writing was “The Magician’s Assistant” - and I was instantly hooked and had to find more of her work. She definitely didn’t disappoint with this story - her characters are believable and she really brings them to life!

I liked the 'idea' of the book - home for unwed mothers. But, the voices were too similar. Everyone had the voice of Rose, especially Cecilia. She was speaking about things and experiences she could not possibly know about or have ever had, being brought up in a little 'dry' town in KY. She was not mature enough to speak in the voice given. She was not immature enough for her age. She was only 14 or 15 - not old enough to drive which would have been 16. I did read Bel Canto, which I enjoyed, since it was so different. The writing was better also. I think the character development was much better in BC.

This book was an easy read but I can't say it was the one of the best books I've read. I just didn't feel like I got to know the characters that well and there was no connectivity from the beginning story to the end. What was the point of the history of it wasn't part of the story?

I can review this book or even recommend it. How does someone just up and leave and never say goodbye or look back? This book left me wondering many different things and feeling many different emotions. This was a book like I've never read before and I'm still wondering why I chose to read it.

5 stars all the way. The entirety of this book, is very well written . It brings you back to an era long forgotten. Each section is written from a different characters perspective, so you really get to know them. I couldn't put this book down.

If you fancy reading a book that you can't put down but that makes you more depressed by the page then this is it. It is not uplifting. It is not feel good. It breaks a mother's heart. I hated Rose more with each page and wish I would have spared myself the $2.

The description didn't say it was a happy book, in its defense, but a book hasn't elicited such strong negative emotions in me like this in years. So maybe that is testament to good writing.

Good writing of a miserable story.

Enjoyed the book despite the fact the main character Rose either could be excused for being autistic or mentally ill, or if not the case was a totally cold and cruel. The story was a good one and the book kept my interest from start to finish. Would have given 5 stars if the author had given us some clue as to why Rose behaved the way she did

My first exposure to Ann Patchett’s writing was “The Magician’s Assistant” - and I was instantly hooked and had to find more of her work. She definitely didn’t disappoint with this story - her characters are believable and she really brings them to life!

I liked the 'idea' of the book - home for unwed mothers. But, the voices were too similar. Everyone had the voice of Rose, especially Cecilia. She was speaking about things and experiences she could not possibly know about or have ever had, being brought up in a little 'dry' town in KY. She was not mature enough to speak in the voice given. She was not immature enough for her age. She was only 14 or 15 - not old enough to drive which would have been 16. I did read Bel Canto, which I enjoyed, since it was so different. The writing was better also. I think the character development was much better in BC.

This book was an easy read but I can't say it was the one of the best books I've read. I just didn't feel like I got to know the characters that well and there was no connectivity from the beginning story to the end. What was the point of the history of it wasn't part of the story?

I can review this book or even recommend it. How does someone just up and leave and never say goodbye or look back? This book left me wondering many different things and feeling many different emotions. This was a book like I've never read before and I'm still wondering why I chose to read it.

5 stars all the way. The entirety of this book, is very well written . It brings you back to an era long forgotten. Each section is written from a different characters perspective, so you really get to know them. I couldn't put this book down.

If you fancy reading a book that you can't put down but that makes you more depressed by the page then this is it. It is not uplifting. It is not feel good. It breaks a mother's heart. I hated Rose more with each page and wish I would have spared myself the $2.

The description didn't say it was a happy book, in its defense, but a book hasn't elicited such strong negative emotions in me like this in years. So maybe that is testament to good writing.

Good writing of a miserable story.

Enjoyed the book despite the fact the main character Rose either could be excused for being autistic or mentally ill, or if not the case was a totally cold and cruel. The story was a good one and the book kept my interest from start to finish. Would have given 5 stars if the author had given us some clue as to why Rose behaved the way she did

The many reviews of Patron Saint are very interesting. Either the readers like this book very much, or they like it very little, not much middle ground. I have a friend who is an author, and for her, I read books now with two "eyes"....to see the story's structure and "voice" (for my friend) and for the story, for myself. I must say that this author made almost all of the characters very real and there, too, you either liked them or hated them.

I found the book a fairly easy read. I liked the way she did the three sections, each one emphasizing one of the main characters. Rose's read fast and easy (whether you liked her personality or not). Son's was slower and "choppier" for me, but it was done in the way one would expect that particular personality to think or act. Sissy's was also smooth reading and a good charateriaztion of the daughter.

Having said all that, although the story was pretty much a page-turner all the way, I was not happy with the ending, either. Not that I look for a "happy" ending to my stories, but I DO like completion of some kind. This had none.

If this had been my first Ann Patchett read, I would not read another....as it was, I tried to read her Truth and Beauty and was left totally "cold". I read Patron Saint as a favor to my friend, so we could discuss style.

But, everyone has different tastes in reading and that's a GOOD thing.

This marked my first foray into Patchett, and I feel fortunate that someone insisted I read it. For one, Patchett's style allows the reader to view this family life from three very different perspectives, which--as an afterthought--may enable us to personally wonder how our own patchworked families operate. Is everything as it seems to be? What do we hold out from one another? Do we really know or want to know all of the details of our spouses or parents? As an aside, the novel shows how unwed mothers may have felt during a time when they were shunned, forced to live secluded lives of "visiting" out-of-town relatives for six to eight months. I felt a sense of empathy for each character, including Rose who could never enjoy her life. Overall, this web is a gem.

This book was beautiful and harsh and made me feel so, so much! It is definitely going on my favorites shelf. I see myself reading it again and again through the years. I can’t wait to read another of her books.

I loved the story and the way Ann Patchett told it. It was a subject about which I would have never thought, but I'm sure hit home with lots of people of the pre-abortion era. I especially liked the way it was written in the first person by the three main characters, giving the point of view of each. This will certainly not be the last book that I will read from this author.

I enjoy reading this author, but I have to say the first main character in this work puzzled me.There is no background to explain why Rose made that first dramatic decision and there is no understanding why she is so emotionally distant throughout the story. Sissy's "realization" at the end was a letdown more than an arrival at self truthfulness. In contrast, Son's flashback to his former life was a complete surprise and added great depth and interest to his character.

This was a good book but it did just end. It just stops with no resolution for any of the characters. I liked the characters...well except for Rose maybe...wow she's selfish...but I just wish there had been an ending of some kind.

Good read but I didn’t like the outcome, father robbed of his child and vice versa. Why leave one unhappy marriage just to repeat? Then she never got what she was looking for any way, hurt all those people for nothing and didnt learn to love. Not a feel good story for sure.

I've read several Ann Patchett books and enjoyed them. I look for her books. But I have to say there are few characters I dislike more than Rose. Cecilia I guess could tie. Son had lousy luck with women. Of course I'm only 2/3 through so maybe I'll change my mind. But I doubt it. Only frustration and utter dislike could make me write a review at this juncture. To be fair, she can cook and is kind to Sister Evangeline. I could write a book myself or a substantial essay anyway on what is so disturbing about her. I can't believe I can't muster any compassion for her whatsoever. Does that make me a Sister Corrine? Yikes.

I have appreciated Ann Patchett's articles and essays published as This is the Story of a Happy Marriage. I was disappointed in this book, though. Mid-way through I had to skip over whole pages. In the end I didn't get why this story had been told. It's a story of messed up barely functioning people who do not get over their mistakes or progress emotionally in their lives. We all struggle to continually grow, and this offers no hope nor redemption. I was left mildly depressed for all the characters.

I picked up this book after Magician's Assistant. I was so excited to read another Patchett novel.

I felt like I had read this book before, or have seen a movie depicting the scenes, or maybe it is just the style of Patchett that is comforting. I sat down as the sun came up and read the complete book in 4 hours.

An easy read, an easy escape and a guarantee that you will fall in love with some of the characters. My heart followed Son through his walks back and froth from his home to 'hotel'. I felt for Rose in her longing and lack of feeling settled.

She had more character then she gave herself credit for... bringing me to wishing the ending was a little different (hence the .5 star).

Patchett's writing style is one that puts you in the exact moment of the scene. 4.5 stars

I've been a fan of Ann Patchett's since I read Bel Canto years ago (this is my 4th Patchett novel so far). I love the style of her writing, the stories and the points of view. She managed to bring people alive and always with just a tiny sprinkle of magical realism, which I love. Can't wait to read another.

I was blown away by this book and was not disappointed for one minute during my reading. A sensitive topic with deeply-drawn and well developed characters, this story is told by three different people. The three points of view move the storyline smoothly without jarring transitions. Anne Patchett deserves this rare 5 star rating from me.

I'm beginning to think that there are novels written by women for women. Ann Patchett's debut novel, "Patron Saint of Liars" must be one of them. I felt nary a whit of sympathy for, nor gained a dram of understanding about protagonist Rose Clinton, whose behavior toward the men who love her defies either.

Patchett does provide an interesting look into the world of homes for unwed mothers (which in itself is an ironic setting), a no doubt declining industry in a world that has become progressively more tolerant toward what are now called single mothers. But even that connection is disappointing after a prelude that implies that the setting may have some ultimately redemptive qualities, which it didn't, at least for Rose.

Two-and-a-half stars, rounded up to three for the look at homes for unwed mothers.

The only reason why I picked this book up was to read it for a book club. I have "Bel Canto" in one of my boxes and have tried to read it before but just could never get into it. After reading "Patron Saint of Liars" ~~ I am not so inclined to pick it up. I probably will read it ~~ it just won't be anytime soon.

The writing itself is lyrical. The story is not. It is very confusing and to be honest, I don't like people like Rose in real life so reading about her and her "secrets" didn't really enthrall me. Rose is probably one of the most selfish and least conflicted character I can think of at the moment. She finds out she's pregnant and drives away from her husband and her mother without a word. She ends up at St. Elizabeth, a home for girls who got pregnant in the day when having a baby out of wedlock was taboo. She stays even after her baby was born, married the caretaker, Son, and together they raised Cecilia. Sounds like a great story, right? It's not. It is one of the most tedious stories out there. Rose is loved by all but she loves no one.

Son's story was mentioned too and he is a weak character in spite of his height and weight. The only redeeming factor I can see in him is that he loves Cecilia whom he raised as his own child but isn't. He was the one who took care of Cecilia when she cried or needed a hug. Helplessly in love with Rose, he took care of her daughter. Though he betrayed Cecilia at the end and ensared her with lies to keep her close.

Cecilia is the only honest character in this novel. She is also the most realistic one as well. Her story is the one that lingers in my mind after the last page has been turned. Her story is regrettable as well as unforgetable. After reading about Rose and Son, the reader can't help but feel anger and pity for Cecilia's life and how it turned out. After all, the very people who are supposed to love her the best turn out to be liars.

I know this novel got a lot of rave reviews and I am disappointed that I am not one of them. It is written well with the stories of three characters entertwined together in a way that keeps the reader reading, but it is so incomplete and shallow. There is something missing from this book and I want to say it's the plot but it's not that simple. The stories are sad and depressing. I am not a fan of liars and reading about how people make a mess of their lives doesn't make me want to read it ~~ there's enough drama in my own life to make me want to escape into something else. And that something else is definitely not this novel.

11-19-07

I think I had read this before and liked it. This time I decided that the main character in the story was completely selfish and horrible and undeniably human. A person who always ran away from everyone who cared about her.

I hadn't been reading novels for a while. I picked Patron Saint of Liars because of a recommendation. So glad I did. I love the perspective of the 3 principle narrators in the story, especially Son`s story. The story was as simple as it was complex. Very personal and thought provoking. I plan to go back to reading novels and will definitely read more Ann Patchett.

Folks, Rose isn't the patron saint of liars; Sr. Evangeline is. She is surrounded by people who withhold the truth, lie, or cover up, yet she loves them without reservation, sees through their pain to their truths, says those who see themselves as saints are 'out of the running,' and knows she has flaws of her own. And in case we still didn't get it, the author gives her the stigmata!

I picked up this book initially because I grew up in Philpot Kentucky and was so surprised that anyone would write a book about the area. I was mesmorized by the subtle details she incorporated into the novel. I was hooked by the first page. the book is so rich in details and the characters are so well developed, it is easy to become absorbed in lives of st Elizabeth's home. The only disappointment is that I reach the last page and I don't want the book to end. Beautifully crafted book that I will think about for years to come.

"The Patron Saint of Liars" is the debut novel of author Ann Patchett. Patchett has also written the extraordinary "Bel Canto." This novel, originally published in 1992 was the announcement of a major new talent in literature. The story she tells is a simple one, but filled with grace and written with skill. In the 1960's, pregnant, Rose Clinton leaves her husband in California with nothing but a note saying that she is unhappy and that he should not try to find her. She has no intention of coming home. Her destination is in Kentucky: St. Elizabeth's home for unwed mothers. It is where women from all over go to give birth and give up their children. It is a Catholic home in a Baptist town. Rose does not believe that she can be a good mother to her child and that she shouldn't be a mother. Not now. Perhaps not ever.

The novel is told in three sections. The first section is told from the perspective of Rose. Through her eyes and with her words we learn about why she left California, how she ended up at St. Elizabeth's and what that experience was like. Patchett writes Rose so well that when her section ended I couldn't imagine that the next section of the novel could possibly be as good as what it was that I just read. Section two is told by Rose's husband. The final section of the novel is given to Rose's daughter. "The Patron Saint of Liars" is a remarkable novel. It is filled with insight into the characters and it seems at times also into our own lives. This isn't a story of faith, but it is also filled with a sense of grace and healing at all turns, even when the characters are facing personal difficulties.

With "Bel Canto" I knew that Ann Patchett was a talented author and I wanted to experience her other novels. After "The Patron Saint of Liars" it is clear that Patchett ranks among my favorite authors. She doesn't slam the reader with hard hitting slamming dialogue, but rather allows that sense of grace and healing which is so much a theme of the novel come out in nearly every sentence. As a first novel this is even more remarkable as accomplished authors would be fortunate to write a novel as beautiful as this. I would give "The Patron Saint of Liars" my highest recommendation.

-Joe Sherry

This story is enthralling, heartbreaking and inspiring. The writing is beautiful; many sections I highlighted just so I could read the phrasing again. I love the way the story keeps reminding you of the importance of the decisions we make, how blessed we are to have loved ones in our lives, and how God’s love is always there with us too: through tough times and good.

I have read other reviews of this book and feel as if I must have missed something along the way. I do think the book was written well and it had some high points but all in all I found the story to be disappointing. I realize that human beings are not categorically the same and we have to allow for behavior we don't always comprehend but I felt like Rose's character was just not developed enough. I kept wanting to know what was driving her to behave as she did. She leaves one loveless relationship where her mother was present in her life to enter another loveless relationship where she was cut off from her mother whom she loved deeply. There didn't seem to be any kind of explanation for such bizarre behavior which makes the book somewhat unsatisfying to me. Perhaps there are those who find this thought provoking and stimuating but I would need a little more character development to get to that point. I must admit that Rose left me feeling very annoyed and frustrated, so if that is the mark of a well-written book, then I guess it was so. I just thought the story had so much more to offer if the author had opened up more and allowed other things to flow. All in all, I found the book left me empty and alone with Rose.

This book took me a lot longer to get through than the other Ann Patchett books I've read. It certainly was well written, but I didn't love the main character. I think you're not supposed to love the main character to be honest! I don't require all of my books to have likable characters. Rose was certainly interesting and beautifully flawed. The book was well written, but it just seemed to drag on more than the other books I've read by Patchett, which I have absolutely and unequivocally loved. I'm glad I read it and I definitely found it interesting and well-written, but it is definitely not one of my favorite of hers.

I liked the story but found the ending to be unfulfilling. I also thought the opening part about the spring would tie back in at some point. I felt left with more questions than answers, but maybe that was the point.

After reading "State of Wonder" by the same author, I seeked out another of her books and I was not disappointed. Ann Patchett is a wonderful storyteller. Her characters are so richly developed and there's always a bit of mystery, which keeps me intrigued throughout the book till the last page. I enjoyed this book very much and will read more of her work.

Picked it up and unfortunately never put it down. Read it in all one "sitting", as in stayed up all night to finish it cover to cover. The main character is annoying, but you will root for other characters and keep reading to figure out if things get cleared up. Read it

I read this to the end but I'm not sure it was a good use of my time. I found the ending terribly unsatisfying. I felt that the story went on too long by the time I was reading Cecelia's story. I am not sure if I will read any other books by Ann patchett.

I have to admit, I was intrigued by the title - "The Partron Saint of Liars." Ms. Patchett wrote a descriptive and interesting book - but I found myself wanting more. The title character, Rose, is just a coward. She can't face her life, yet short of running away after she discovers she is pregnant (By her husband, no less) never does anything. I saw nothing in her character that was even interesting let alone having two men love and Sister Evangeline love her. Son is your basic "salt of the earth" kind of guy - but again, I could never understand his adoration of Rose. He obviously adores Cecelia -Rose's daugher whom he raises as his own. Ms. Patchet allows a sympathetic view of Son. My favorite charachter was Sister Evangeline. There is a scene where Rose and Sister Evangaline are talking in the kitchen and Cecelia asks if Sister if she misses her mother. Sister Evangeline cries as she answers "Every day." I wanted to cry, too when I read that. Rose has no feeling for anything or anyone, thus making it hard to care where this book was going.

As always ,Ann Patchett is a wonderful story teller. This story is based on secrets and lies that braid the characters together in a way that is sometimes sweet and other times jarring. A great read!

The story isn't as big as the book but I enjoyed wallowing in all the words anyway. There wasn't all that much action with the main characters or their lives but everything else in the book fills it up. I enjoyed this book!

Patchett takes the reader through the painfully honest, searingly personal account of how the life of Rose--an interminable escapist--impacts the lives of those around her.

The novel draws its strength in part from Patchett's ability to tell her story from multiple perspectives: a single mom, daughter and second husband. Each point-of-view feels as fresh and true-to-character as the last.

If you're looking for a tidy, happy fairy tale ending, look elsewhere. Patchett's characters will make you love them, hate them, and think deeply about your own relationships and secrets--very much a must read.

A really good read that keeps you interested all the way through. I do agree with some other reviewers who say that the story gets a bit frustrating at times, because you feel like you just never get to know Rose or what she's all about...just like the people in her life!

A very good, well-written book, though. I'm picking up Bel Canto next!

I found this book to be a huge disappointment on so many levels. First of all, the characters are boring, except for Cecelia, the daughter. However, by the time I got to her portion of the story (which came last), This is the kind of book you keep reading with the hope that it will get better. The story line was very interesting, but the story itself failed to deliver on every level. The characters I did find interesting and wish I could have found out more about were all marginal in the book and we never got to hear their stories. Additionally, there was no conflict to speak of ... no drama. Just long boring litanies told by the three main characters. The only character I developed any feelings for was Thomas and I had continued reading the book with the hope that I would see Rose get her due for what she did to him, but that never came. The ending was extremely unsatisfying and left me with many unanswered questions. It felt like the author herself had grown tired of the whole story and just wanted to be done with it as quickly as possible.

The Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett is well written, but not exactly exciting. The story line was inventive and seemed to have a lot going for it, but I kept expecting something to happen that would somehow complete it. Nonetheless, each of the characters in the novel, especially the ones who had a narrating section, was very well developed.
I think that the author had a way of connecting herself with each of the characters so that they seemed real. Even the characters that had relatively minor roles were very tangible, like someone that every reader would have met at some point in their life. The main character, Rose, however, somehow made the novel feel incomplete because of her emptiness as a person. The fact that she was such a secretive character, even up until the end, left me feeling unsatisfied. Her personality is sympathetic yet despicable at the same time. Overall, I feel that the novel was passable, granted that it was Patchett's first novel. I would recommend this book for a light read, but not if you want to get something lasting out of it.

The story isn't as big as the book but I enjoyed wallowing in all the words anyway. There wasn't all that much action with the main characters or their lives but everything else in the book fills it up. I enjoyed this book!

Patchett takes the reader through the painfully honest, searingly personal account of how the life of Rose--an interminable escapist--impacts the lives of those around her.

The novel draws its strength in part from Patchett's ability to tell her story from multiple perspectives: a single mom, daughter and second husband. Each point-of-view feels as fresh and true-to-character as the last.

If you're looking for a tidy, happy fairy tale ending, look elsewhere. Patchett's characters will make you love them, hate them, and think deeply about your own relationships and secrets--very much a must read.

A really good read that keeps you interested all the way through. I do agree with some other reviewers who say that the story gets a bit frustrating at times, because you feel like you just never get to know Rose or what she's all about...just like the people in her life!

A very good, well-written book, though. I'm picking up Bel Canto next!

I found this book to be a huge disappointment on so many levels. First of all, the characters are boring, except for Cecelia, the daughter. However, by the time I got to her portion of the story (which came last), This is the kind of book you keep reading with the hope that it will get better. The story line was very interesting, but the story itself failed to deliver on every level. The characters I did find interesting and wish I could have found out more about were all marginal in the book and we never got to hear their stories. Additionally, there was no conflict to speak of ... no drama. Just long boring litanies told by the three main characters. The only character I developed any feelings for was Thomas and I had continued reading the book with the hope that I would see Rose get her due for what she did to him, but that never came. The ending was extremely unsatisfying and left me with many unanswered questions. It felt like the author herself had grown tired of the whole story and just wanted to be done with it as quickly as possible.

The Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett is well written, but not exactly exciting. The story line was inventive and seemed to have a lot going for it, but I kept expecting something to happen that would somehow complete it. Nonetheless, each of the characters in the novel, especially the ones who had a narrating section, was very well developed.
I think that the author had a way of connecting herself with each of the characters so that they seemed real. Even the characters that had relatively minor roles were very tangible, like someone that every reader would have met at some point in their life. The main character, Rose, however, somehow made the novel feel incomplete because of her emptiness as a person. The fact that she was such a secretive character, even up until the end, left me feeling unsatisfied. Her personality is sympathetic yet despicable at the same time. Overall, I feel that the novel was passable, granted that it was Patchett's first novel. I would recommend this book for a light read, but not if you want to get something lasting out of it.

Interesting and good book. The characters were well developed and I felt empathy for each of them. The ending was a little disappointing. It was not wrapped up in the way I thought it would be, but maybe that's part of what made it a good book--not getting what you want in the end.

I'm not sure I really liked this book. It left me wishing there had been more to the story. The first thing I didn't like was that the story is told from the perspectives of 3 different characters, so the book is separated out into 3 different parts. I wanted to know the whole story from the first character's perspective, when it switched over I didn't feel like I was finished getting to know her. The ending left me wanting more as well. I felt like the story just kind of ended, and nothing was really resolved. I also felt like, as soon as the character perspectives changed, the characters stopped really developing. Sure, we got more of one character's back story, but that wasn't enough for me. I think this book could have been really good, but all in all, it fell short.

I appreciate the care Patchett uses in developing many of her characters, but it only goes so far. I wish she had put in a few clues that might help explain why the main character does many of the things she does. As it is, we are left to speculate about her reasons--really, about who she is--with little real evidence.

Ann Patchett is a great story teller and each book I've read, including this one, has wonderful surprises in it. She is quirky but not too strange. Her choice of words and language is very description.

This is my first experience with Ann Patchett and won't be my last. I loved her writing style even though the character development didn't always make sense. Why did everyone love Rose so much when she was so cold and shut down? The explanation for leaving Thomas, and her mother whom she loved deeply, didn't make sense to me. The story however was beautifully written albeit sad. I was a bit disappointed in the ending, but I think that had to do with more with finding the Lorraine character incredibly annoying. I'm anxious to read my next Patchett novel.

Would not have guessed the premise of this book would be so appealing, but it's the central character - the mother Rose - who is the liar and the mystery at the heart of the book. Absolutely worth reading.

This is Patchett's first novel, and she's gotten better and better. If I hadn't read Bel Canto before this one, I'd have awarded 5 stars.
Divided into 3 parts, the book spans the lives of its three main characters: Rose, a woman with 'issues' who has trouble attaching to people but tries to do her job in life as well as she's able. Son, Rose's 2nd husband, is a giant of a man who is damaged by a tragedy and finds a place for himself as handyman in a 60's home for unwed mothers. And Cecelia, named after a tattoo on Son's arm of his first love, damaged by her weird upbringing but a complete person nonetheless, thanks to the mothering of the 'saint' in the story,, a clairvoyant nun who mothers them all.
I loved this book.

I didnt think the book was bad until the further I got. I could understand why Rose decided to leave California. I was glad that she decided to keep the baby. Even when she married Son I thought for sure that she would finally grow to love someone, including her daughter. The fact that she remained so flat and uncaring really bothered me. I would have loved to see Thomas show up with no warning and finally see all the truth come out and see some resolution for all the caracters that Rose touched. I almost felt that Patchett lost her steam, and found it easier to let Rose disappear and end the book than to deal with what was really happening. At the very least, I would have liked an explanation from Rose at the end as to why once a again she couldnt stay and deal. As far as being a Saint, I didnt see any redeeming quality about Rose for that kind of title. It was frustrating and disappointing. Its the kind of book that leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

This book just wasn't all that good. It was long and slow and pretty simple. I didn't find the writing particularly inspiring either. After Bel Canto, I am disappointed, since that was such an exciting and beautiful book. I finished this whole book but I never really liked it that much.

This is the kind of contemporary novel I yearn for, yet seldom find. Everything that happens in this novel is unexpected and inexplicable, yet powerful and magical. Detail is complex, as is theme. I so loved reading it that I drew it out for days because I did not want the novel to end. Lovely.

I found myself totally involved with the characters when I realised mid read I had read this book years ago. I loved it then and loved it second time around. Just the quirky kind of book I enjoy. Still left me wishing for a better ending!!!

This is Patchett's first novel, and she's gotten better and better. If I hadn't read Bel Canto before this one, I'd have awarded 5 stars.
Divided into 3 parts, the book spans the lives of its three main characters: Rose, a woman with 'issues' who has trouble attaching to people but tries to do her job in life as well as she's able. Son, Rose's 2nd husband, is a giant of a man who is damaged by a tragedy and finds a place for himself as handyman in a 60's home for unwed mothers. And Cecelia, named after a tattoo on Son's arm of his first love, damaged by her weird upbringing but a complete person nonetheless, thanks to the mothering of the 'saint' in the story,, a clairvoyant nun who mothers them all.
I loved this book.

I didnt think the book was bad until the further I got. I could understand why Rose decided to leave California. I was glad that she decided to keep the baby. Even when she married Son I thought for sure that she would finally grow to love someone, including her daughter. The fact that she remained so flat and uncaring really bothered me. I would have loved to see Thomas show up with no warning and finally see all the truth come out and see some resolution for all the caracters that Rose touched. I almost felt that Patchett lost her steam, and found it easier to let Rose disappear and end the book than to deal with what was really happening. At the very least, I would have liked an explanation from Rose at the end as to why once a again she couldnt stay and deal. As far as being a Saint, I didnt see any redeeming quality about Rose for that kind of title. It was frustrating and disappointing. Its the kind of book that leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

This book just wasn't all that good. It was long and slow and pretty simple. I didn't find the writing particularly inspiring either. After Bel Canto, I am disappointed, since that was such an exciting and beautiful book. I finished this whole book but I never really liked it that much.

This is the kind of contemporary novel I yearn for, yet seldom find. Everything that happens in this novel is unexpected and inexplicable, yet powerful and magical. Detail is complex, as is theme. I so loved reading it that I drew it out for days because I did not want the novel to end. Lovely.

I found myself totally involved with the characters when I realised mid read I had read this book years ago. I loved it then and loved it second time around. Just the quirky kind of book I enjoy. Still left me wishing for a better ending!!!

I selected this after reading another Ann Patchett book and absolutely loved it. Beautiful narrative about a woman's journey to be who she really is and the people she impacts along the way. Highly recommend.

A very good friend recommended this book and even though we usually don't read the same type of books I loved this one. I have read about 3 of this authors books now and every single one is totally different and interesting. Will be downloading Bel Canto next.