About the Author: Ann Patchett

Ann Patchett at a Glance

Full Name: Ann Patchett

Pronunciation: ann PATCH-it

Born: December 2, 1963

Nationality: American

Education:

• Sarah Lawrence College (BA)
• University of Iowa (MFA)

Genres:

• Literary fiction

Biography & Background

Ann Patchett Biography

Ann Patchett is an American writer and Pulitzer Prize nominee. Though born in Los Angeles, California, she largely grew up in Nashville, Tennessee, before attending university at Sarah Lawrence College and the University of Iowa. She published her first novel, The Patron Saint of Liars, in 1992 and found widespread success with her 2001 work Bel Canto, which was adapted into a 2018 feature film starring Julianne Moore and Ken Watanabe. In total, Patchett has written nine novels, as well as several works of nonfiction, including the memoir Truth and Beauty and the essay collection These Precious Days. Her work, which often focuses on themes of loss, the past, and human connection, has enjoyed both critical and popular acclaim, featuring on New York Times bestseller lists and being translated into over 30 languages.

In addition to writing, Patchett is the owner of Parnassus Books, an independent bookstore in Nashville. In discussing the store’s origins, Patchett has lamented the decline of not only brick-and-mortar bookstores but also the small, intimate shops she remembers from her youth (Patchett, Ann. This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage, Harper, 2013). In addition to opening her own store, Patchett advocates for others in the business, using her celebrity to speak out about the importance of independent booksellers.

Fun Facts About Ann Patchett

• Before finding success as a novelist, Patchett used to wait tables at TGI Friday and spent nine years writing for Seventeen magazine (Reese, Hope. “Ann Patchett Really Is This Nice.” Buzzfeed News, 2021).
• Though best known for her adult fiction, Patchett has also written several children’s books, including The Verts, a story about a pair of siblings—one extrovert and one introvert—coming to understand one another.
• Patchett’s bookstore, Parnassus Books, has several social media accounts associated with it, but Patchett herself eschews social media entirely.

Ann Patchett’s Awards & Honors

• 2020 — Pulitzer Prize finalist for The Dutch House
• 2021 — National Humanities Medal recipient

Interviews & Podcasts

Hear from Ann Patchett in her own words.

Interviews with Ann Patchett

_TODAY

Ann Patchett Talks New Book, Top Non-Fiction Picks for Fall (October 2, 2024)

In this interview with Today, Ann Patchett discusses her latest work and shares reading recommendations for the fall season. She reflects on the process of writing nonfiction, the personal stories that inspired her collection These Precious Days, and how she selects books that resonate with her literary sensibilities.

_{THE GUARDIAN}

“In a World That Is Going to Hell, There Is Still So Much Joy”: Ann Patchett on Finding Happiness (July 22, 2023)

In this thought-provoking conversation with The Guardian, Patchett explores how optimism, storytelling, and human connection inform her work. She shares her views on happiness, the significance of finding meaning through literature, and why she believes fiction offers solace in difficult times.

Podcasts with Ann Patchett

_{BBC: WORLD BOOK CLUB}

Ann Patchett: The Dutch House (March 2, 2024)

In this episode of World Book Club, Patchett delves into the themes and inspirations behind The Dutch House. She discusses the novel’s exploration of memory, family loyalty, and the power of nostalgia, as well as her approach to character-driven storytelling.

_{NPR: THE WILD CARD}

Ann Patchett Finds Bits of Catholicism and America Appalling: “But I Am Those Things” (November 10, 2024)

In this candid conversation on The Wild Card, Patchett reflects on the complexities of her upbringing, identity, and cultural influences. She speaks openly about her relationship with Catholicism, American ideals, and how these elements surface in her fiction, offering a glimpse into the contradictions that shape her worldview and storytelling.

Ann Patchett Quotes

Never be so focused on what you’re looking for that you overlook the thing you actually find.

— State of Wonder (2011)

Love was action. It came to you. It was not a choice.

— Bel Canto (2001)

I am interested in—imprisonment isn’t exactly the right word—what you can’t get out of. People always say, ‘You’re so obsessed with the family,’ but that’s because you can’t get rid of them! You have to stay and work it out.

— interview with Harper’s Bazaar (“Quiet Moments of Drama Have Always Been My Thing”: Ann Patchett on Family, Fiction, and False Impressions, 2023)

It seems very possible to me that being alive is God and that the trick is whether or not we know it. The trick is whether or not we can keep our focus and remember that we are, for all of the suffering, the recipient of the most beautiful gift for a limited period of time, which is our life.

— interview with NPR (Ann Patchett Finds Bits of Catholicism and America Appalling: “But I Am Those Things,” 2024)

Writing is a job, a talent, but it’s also the place to go in your head. It is the imaginary friend you drink your tea with in the afternoon.

— Truth and Beauty (2004)

Notable Books by Ann Patchett

Bel Canto (2001)

This award-winning novel is one of Ann Patchett’s most celebrated works, blending political intrigue with a deep exploration of human connection. Inspired by a real hostage crisis in Peru, Bel Canto follows a group of international dignitaries, including a famous opera singer, who become captives in an unnamed South American country. As the standoff extends over months, barriers between captors and hostages blur, leading to unexpected relationships and shifting allegiances. The novel examines themes of art’s power to transcend conflict, the fragility of human life, and the surprising ways people find solace in crisis.

Awards:

• 2002 — PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction
• 2002 — Women’s Prize for Fiction (previously the Orange Prize for Fiction)

Check out SuperSummary’s study guide for Bel Canto.

The Dutch House (2019)

A modern fairy tale with echoes of Henry James and psychological realism, The Dutch House follows siblings Danny and Maeve as they navigate a lifelong attachment to their childhood home and the wounds of parental abandonment. Spanning five decades, the novel unravels their struggle to reconcile their past with their present, examining themes of memory, inheritance, and forgiveness. Narrated by Danny in a reflective, almost dreamlike tone, the novel highlights Patchett’s gift for crafting complex family relationships and morally nuanced storytelling.

Check out SuperSummary’s study guide for The Dutch House.

These Precious Days (2021)

This intimate collection of essays offers a deeply personal glimpse into Patchett’s life, covering topics such as writing, friendship, and mortality. The title essay, which centers on her friendship with Tom Hanks’s assistant Sooki Raphael, stands out as a meditation on unexpected bonds and the fleeting nature of time.

Check out SuperSummary’s study guide for These Precious Days.

Authors Like Ann Patchett

Barbara Kingsolver

Recommended Read: Flight Behavior (2012)

Like many of Patchett’s works, Flight Behavior is an intimate character study that explores personal transformation within broader social and environmental themes. The novel follows Dellarobia Turnbow, a restless young mother from rural Tennessee, who stumbles upon a breathtaking phenomenon—millions of monarch butterflies appearing in an unexpected location. As scientists arrive to study the unprecedented migration, Dellarobia gets caught between the expectations of her small-town life and her newfound awareness of ecological crises.

Check out SuperSummary’s study guide for Flight Behavior.

Amor Towles

Recommended Read: The Lincoln Highway (2021)

A rich, picaresque novel set in 1950s America, The Lincoln Highway follows 18-year-old Emmett Watson as he embarks on a road trip with his younger brother after being released from juvenile detention. Their trip takes unexpected turns when two fellow inmates from the camp join them, leading to a journey filled with detours, adventure, and self-discovery. Towles’s storytelling, like Patchett’s, is deeply immersive, focusing on character development and themes of fate, redemption, and the passage of time.

Check out SuperSummary’s study guide for The Lincoln Highway.

Elizabeth Strout

Recommended Read: My Name Is Lucy Barton (2016)

This intimate novel captures the complexities of family, memory, and personal longing. Lucy Barton, recovering from surgery in a New York hospital, finds herself reconnecting with her estranged mother, triggering reflections on her childhood, her pursuit of a writing career, and the quiet emotional wounds that shape her identity. Strout’s spare, lyrical prose and deep psychological insight make this novel a compelling read for those who appreciate Patchett’s nuanced explorations of relationships and personal history.

Check out SuperSummary’s study guide for My Name Is Lucy Barton.

Follow Ann Patchett

Connect with Ann Patchett on the following platforms:

• Website: annpatchett.com
• Facebook: Parnassus Books
• Instagram: @parnassusbooks
• TikTok: @parnassusbooksnashville
• YouTube: Parnassus Books
• Parnassus Books Blog: Musing