Congratulations to Kelli, the winner of last month’s book club! You can find out more about our discussion on lighthouses, moral dilemmas, and rule following here. (Kelli, I’ll send you a separate message about getting your free book.)
The book club selection for this month is This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett.
This is a collection of essays about writing and art and relationships and life. (The title is a bit misleading—it’s taken from one of the essays, but that’s not the theme of the book.) Here’s the description from the back cover:
Blending literature and memoir, Ann Patchett, author of State of Wonder, Run, and Bel Canto, examines her deepest commitments—to writing, family, friends, dogs, books, and her husband—creating a resonant portrait of a life in This is the Story of a Happy Marriage.
This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage takes us into the very real world of Ann Patchett’s life. Stretching from her childhood to the present day, from a disastrous early marriage to a later happy one, it covers a multitude of topics, including relationships with family and friends, and charts the hard work and joy of writing, and the unexpected thrill of opening a bookstore.
As she shares stories of the people, places, ideals, and art to which she has remained indelibly committed, Ann Patchett brings into focus the large experiences and small moments that have shaped her as a daughter, wife, and writer.
We will discuss this book in June, so stay tuned!
I loved Bel Canto. I am excited to read another book by Ann.
Yes, Bel Canto is my favorite Ann Patchett book! I loved hearing about her writing process in this one.