From the Bookshelf of Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge…

This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage

Ann Patchett

Start date: February 25, 2015

Finish date: March 1, 2015

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What Members Thought

May 05, 2014 HannaH rated it it was ok

I wished I had never read this so I could keep Ann Patchett in my favorites list. As someone else noted, I wouldn't want to meet her in real life. The pieces were full of narcissism and desperate to list off her accomplishments and know-it-all attitude about writing and life. She frequently talks about luck, but it just reeks of insincere humble bragging---an obligatory afterthought that follows her name dropping. ...more

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Apr 18, 2017 Laurie rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2017

I tore through this book of essays like it was a novel. I actually picked it up because I like Patchett's fiction, and I didn't realize this was a book of essays until I started. I can't choose a favorite, they're all great, and Patchett's writing is so vibrant and readable. ...more

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May 18, 2014 Loretta rated it it was amazing

Shelves: non-fiction, on-writing-and-creativity

This is a re-read and well worth it. I don't remember why I didn't write a review the first time but it might have been because I knew I'd be reading it again.

Patchett is one of those writers whose style is deceptively clear and simple and makes you think at first that means she's writing easy superficial pieces but oh no no. Deeper than it looks. You'll be reading along a nice little story and then there'll be a couple of sentences that are just..."OH. Oh, THAT's what this is about. Well, wow. ...more

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May 22, 2018 Lianne rated it really liked it

Shelves: audiobooks, memoir, 2018, essays

I have been listening to this essay collection on and off on my commute and while working for a few months. Ann Patchett is just such a great, evocative writer and seems like a wonderful person with interesting relationships with the people in her life. I particularly loved the essay about Parnassus, the bookstore she co-owns -- I fell in love with the store when I visited Nashville, and hearing its history was fun. I also really enjoyed the essays in which she completely dove into a topic and b ...more

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Nov 14, 2018 Jen Hubbard rated it liked it

Maybe 3.5 stars. Some of the stories are great. I think my favorite was "The Wall", but looking back, I'm having trouble remembering what most were about (except the last two, which I read last night). ...more

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