Writing is not Patchett’s only passion. Since 2011, she has been co-owner of Parnassus Books, an independent bookstore in Nashville, Tennessee. For fans of digital content—and Patchett herself—it's worth noting that the bookstore has its own official YouTube channel, where you can find numerous videos featuring the author. As someone who is incredibly passionate about literature, Patchett offers fascinating book recommendations. Here are some of them:
1. Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout
Oh William! is a brilliant new novel about love, loss, and family secrets. The protagonist, Lucy Barton, reflects on her years of separation from William, her first love, after the death of her second husband, acknowledging that she still shares a connection with William. Strout crafts an extraordinary and subtle portrait of a tender yet complex partnership that endures over decades. During a shared journey, Lucy and William uncover a recently revealed family secret that challenges their perceptions of people they thought they knew completely.
“Elizabeth Strout is one of my very favorite writers, so the fact that Oh William! may well be my favorite of her books is a mathematical equation for joy. The depth, complexity, and love contained in these pages is a miraculous achievement,” says Ann Patchett. Read the book to discover why it continues to captivate readers.
2. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
In The Goldfinch, Donna Tartt weaves a gripping plot with complex characters, using both the storyline and thematic elements to enrich her prose. The book is named after the famous painting The Goldfinch by Dutch artist Carel Fabritius, which plays a pivotal role in the life of the main character, a boy named Theo. Tartt's novel tells the coming-of-age story of a lonely boy who witnesses a terrorist attack that claims his mother’s life, leaving him searching for warmth and connection with others.
Ann Patchett, always on endless literary journeys as an author and bookstore owner, attests to the book’s merit. Trusting her literary expertise, The Goldfinch is undoubtedly worth your time.
3. Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason
The novel Sorrow and Bliss leaves few untouched, especially women who see reflections of themselves in the main character. The protagonist, forty-year-old Martha Friel, has known for years that something is wrong with her. She’s undergone countless treatments, none of which have worked. Now, she knows she must change something and stop pushing away her loved ones as if they were strangers.
"Brilliantly faceted and extremely funny... While I was reading it, I was making a list of all the people I wanted to send it to until I realized that I wanted to send it to everyone I know," Ann Patchett said of Meg Mason's novel. Addressing themes of mental illness, life's uncertainties, and relationships, Sorrow and Bliss resonates deeply with readers. If you haven’t yet explored this powerful story, it’s time to make room for it on your reading list.
4. Do Tell by Lindsay Lynch
Ann Patchett also recommends Do Tell by Lindsay Lynch. The novel delves into themes of fame, notoriety, promises, and secrets. It follows Edie O’Dare, who is in the final year of her contract with FWM Studios and must quickly find a new gig after a string of unsuccessful films. To supplement her income, she has been moonlighting as a Hollywood gossip columnist.
When she publishes a story about a party, she sets off a chain of events that changes the lives of everyone involved. Edie faces tough choices, and the consequences could be devastating. Ann Patchett described the novel as: “A wonderful, provocative novel about the way time changes how we see the world… Like our intrepid narrator, Do Tell manages to be both funny and substantive, breezy and wise. I stepped into the stream of the narrative and didn’t look up until I came to the last page.”
5. All Adults Here by Emma Straub
Being an adult is a dream for many children, but do the expectations align with reality? Emma Straub’s novel All Adults Here explores themes such as the loss of parents and spouses, betrayal, complicated family dynamics, and death. When the protagonist, Astrid Strick, witnesses a fatal school bus accident, she is thrown into memories of her parenting and begins reflecting on her actions and their impact on her children.
The story is compelling, and Ann Patchett doesn’t let it go unnoticed. Furthermore, there’s an adaptation of All Adults Here, where Straub’s sharp insights come together in a captivating tale of adult siblings, aging parents, high school sweethearts, and other things that stay with us throughout life. Don’t overlook this novel—it’s an invitation to deep reflection and self-analysis.
6. The Days of Afrekete by Asali Solomon
The next novel Ann Patchett recommends is The Days of Afrekete by Asali Solomon. This story follows two middle-aged women, Liselle Belmont, and Selena Octave, as they rediscover themselves. The two were once close and shared happy times in college, but when they ran into each other at a pharmacy shortly after Obama’s election, they barely spoke. Over time, however, memories of the past help them see themselves in a new light.
“The Days of Afrekete is so elegant and fresh, so sophisticated and modern, I didn’t feel like I was reading this novel—I felt like I was living it. I loved every minute,” says Ann Patchett. The novel beautifully portrays how the people around us can shape who we are and how the choices we make ripple through our lives. It’s a poignant reminder that even a settled life can be reimagined.
7. The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
Ambitious, witty, and eloquent, J.K. Rowling’s novel The Casual Vacancy earns a spot on Ann Patchett’s list of must-reads. The story takes place in the small English town of Pagford following the sudden death of 44-year-old Barry Fairbrother, a member of the local council. What follows is a fierce battle for his vacant council seat, with contenders like Miles Mollison, Colin Wall, Simon Price, and others vying for power. Readers will encounter a side of Rowling’s writing they might not expect, featuring arguments, sexual relationships, drug use, and other adult themes.
“I thought that book was brilliant. When it came out and got such middling reviews, I was mystified. I felt so lucky to have had my own experience with it,” Ann Patchett said in The New York Times.
With the abundance of literature out there, it can be difficult to choose the next book to read. That's why recommendations from some of the best writers come in handy, especially when they analyze a variety of literature. Anne Patchett has a lot of fans thanks to her credibility and experience. So if you also trust the writer's literary taste, you will find something of your own in this list of recommendations.
