As the world tries to shift the weight of this new boulder that threatens to crush us, there are few better places to turn than to the beautiful writing of author and bookstore owner Ann Patchett.
In her latest essay collection, ‘These Precious Days’, we find words and images that so accurately reflect the profound emotions of friendship, family, dedication and love.
The essays span in time and subject from the author’s childhood to adulthood, from her relationships with parents, partners and friends to her choice to write, to open a bookshop and to not have children.
There is a wonderful ease to Ann Patchett’s writing, to how her life flows through the essays, simultaneously organic and meticulously planned.
The essays depict different watershed events that all benefit from the calm reflections afforded only by time and distance.
‘These Precious Days’ is full of recognizable moments, and each reader will almost certainly have their own favorites, be it ‘Three Fathers’, a love letter to the three men her mother marries, each of whom play a defining role in Patchett’s life, or ‘There are No Children Here’ about the author’s choice not to want/have children, a choice that is so controversial to so many around her, or my personal favorite ‘These Precious Days’ about a chance encounter with Tom Hanks’ personal assistant, Sookie, an encounter that turns into a surprisingly deep friendship, thanks to two factors we would most want to do without, Covid and Cancer.
Maybe it’s because we are all so affected by the loneliness and turmoil around us, maybe it’s because no one is left untouched by the universal strength and gift of genuine, selfless kindness. One thing is for sure, this collection is a powerful reminder of the immense joy we can derive from being alive in the moment and aware of the influence of others, of being generous of spirit and giving of ourselves, and how we must always endeavor to make life decisions that feel right and true.
‘These Precious Days’ will make you smile, laugh, wonder and perhaps even shed a tear.
But it is all so worth it!
Happy Reading!
‘Tiến is a second generation immigrant. His parents came from Vietnam to the US. His days are split between his home life, where his parents speak mostly Vietnamese to him and each other, and school, where he has American friends and speaks only English. Since his English is better than his Vietnamese he is worried that he can’t tell his parents one very important thing. He’s gay. Alongside school and reading fairy tales in English for his parents he tries to figure out how he can tell them and what they will think.
This. Is. Incredible. This book is the most stunning graphic novel I have read so far. The art is absolutely beautiful and the symbolism through the three different colors, red, blue and yellow, is just beautiful. Aside from the gorgeous artwork, the story moved me beyond any other book I have read. I kept having to close the book and take a second, either to suck the tears back in, to try and comprehend my growing rage or to quickly scream with joy with a big fat smile on my face. And all of this happened within a day. I simply could not stop reading.
I also really love that our main character does have supportive people in his life. It’s not him against everyone. He has friends that are there for him, no matter the ups and downs. They are there for him through his anxieties about coming out and his excitement about the school dance.
I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone. And as someone who is part of the LGBTQIA+ community myself it is truly an amazing read. This is 100% a five out of five star book for me. And I truly hope you will pick it up and give it a go because I believe it deserves much more attention.’
Beautifully reviewed by Daniela Sarah Gram
Happy reading!
RESERVE YOUR COPY OF THE MAGIC FISH
“Back on track with this international, political thriller. Louise Penny does the writing while Hillary Clinton adds the storyline. And it works really well!
Europe is experiencing a number of terrorist attacks and the US Secretary of State, Ellen Adams, is traveling the continent trying to figure out who is responsible in time to prevent attacks on US soil.
The story is complex but once it gets going ‘State of Terror’ is a fast-paced page-turner.
It’s like a Jack Ryan story but with tons of girl power, as Ellen Adam ‘kills it’ as Secretary of State.”
Thank you Lotte for this review!
Happy Reading!
RESERVE YOUR COPY OF STATE OF TERROR
“This is a wonderful and amazingly well-written book. A great mix of Evaristo’s own experiences growing up and what that structure has given her in the form of strengths and benefits as well as limitations.
The book is a piece of modern ancestral history as well as the story of her success, initially just personally but subsequently also for the world with the huge bestseller Girl, Woman, Other”.
PS: We also agreed that the book has a fantastically inviting cover! Never underestimate the power of the cover 💪
Thank you to Christa Broend for the lovely review and to everyone else for sharing your book experiences with us.
And as always message us to reserve a copy of this book, that we are certain would make a wonderful Christmas present ⛄️