Beautiful, clearly well put together, heart felt words that are relatable, understandable and a lot of real life are to be found in this book, I highly recommend it to those who are wise beyond their years.

While I am a fan of Ann Patchett, and I have enjoyed The Dutch House and Commonwealth, I couldn't get into this one and hence I did not finish it.

I would still reccomend checking it out if you are interested, and give it go. Just because I dind't enjoy it that's not to say you wouldn't enjoy it either.

Fans of Ann Patchett will love this series of beautifully written essays, all in her inimitable style. No-one writes like Ann, and I will never tire of reading her work.

Each essay deals with a different topic, some are based on memories, other are musings, but all delve into the human experience and are so relatable. I loved having the chance to learn more about Ann’s life and her innermost thoughts, and the audiobook adds an extra dimension since she narrates it herself. Hearing the story behind the painting on the cover was an extra special touch, and made me feel even more privileged to now have it in my collection.

These Precious Days is a thought-provoking and uplifting read and I’m so glad to have been given the chance to read it here. I have since bought a hard copy so I can dip back in whenever I like and can pass it on to other to enjoy too. I would highly recommend it, it’s just wonderful.

I know Ann Patchett’s name but I haven’t read any of her books, no reason for that but I don’t know why as she gives you a sense of warmth and it’s as if you are having a chat with a friend you’ve know for a long time.

This is a wonderful, poignant collection of true personal stories that range from her love of Snoopy (the Peanuts character) to discussing her choice to not have children. Her love for her dog. Her childhood and how she became a writer. Then there is the beautiful title essay about her friendship with Sooki, Tom Hanks' assistant and an artist, how they hit it off and became good friends. She then comes to live with the author during the coronavirus pandemic to receive treatment for pancreatic cancer at a centre near Ann as the treatment she needs isn’t available near her.

The other stories range from lighthearted tales about, her husband Karl’s adventures as a pilot and the many different planes, or the importance of book cover jackets and the time and work that goes into choosing them, or the role knitting has played in her life. She offers up warm memories about travel, friends (many of them writers) and family members (the opening essay is a beautiful ode to her three fathers: her biological father, her stepfather and then, after her mother divorced, a second stepfather). There’s a tale about owning a bookstore, Nashville’s Parnassus Books, which gets her great joy.

This is a lovely book that flows and we meander along though her life and enjoy the journey. I will search out more books by Ann now.

I am a massive fan of Ann Patchett and this collection of essays and memoir is everything I love about her writing - kindness, humour, deft prose, deep insight and humanity.

Ann Patchett is a genius and this book shows why. What an incredible book – everyone should read it.

Ann Patchett at her best. Fascinating book and highly recommended. Will definitely ear mark it for my book reading group.

This is a glorious collection of personal essays by one of my favourite feel-good authors, whom I would place in the same category as Mary Lawson, and Elizabeth Strout. Written during the pandemic, Patchett has produced a series of contemplative stories about her life, career and family. There's a chapter on de-cluttering, where Patchett vows to not buy clothes for a year, which really appealed to my inner Virgo. She talks about wanting "to get past the want and be honest about the need" which is seriously worth considering as a more sustainable lifestyle choice. There is also a heart-warming chapter call "Three Fathers" where she talks lovingly and honestly about her father and two step-fathers and the very difference relationships she enjoyed with each of them,

In the titular essay "These Precious Days", Patchett discusses her unexpected relationship with Tom Hank's personal assistant Sooki, who has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Sooki moves in with Anne and her (doctor) husband Karl to undergo specialised treatment at the start of the pandemic. An intimate and beautiful relationship develops between the two women who end up cocooning together for some months.

I've heard the book likened to having a long conversation with a particularly brilliant and warm friend and I'd fully agree. If you are looking for a cosy pick me up read, then I'd recommend this lovely book. Many thanks to @netgalley and @bloomsbury for this e-book in return for my honest review.

Ann Patchett is a wonderful writer of fiction. Her stories have great characters and this non fiction collection of essays is no exception. I enjoyed finding out more about how her mind works and what she thinks of various issues. I particularly liked the complex essay of the three men who could be called “father” and the interplay and relationships between Ms Patchett and the three men and between the three men themselves.

There is a lot to dip into here and the book would be a good gift as it should appeal to many different readers and may well send people off to find her fiction which would only be a good thing.

I was given a copy of the book by Netgalley

What fascinated me most about the author whilst reading this collection of essays, is that she never closes the door on a new experience. Good or bad, her door is always open to those who need it. By doing this her experiences are so varied that she can bring us a collection like this.

I will admit; not only have I never read anything by Ann Patchett before. I’ve never read a collection of essays before. Like Ann, I embarked on a completely new experience when turning the first page.

I imagine that in every collection of essays there will be some you like and some you don’t Some you resonate with and some you just can’t connect with. This collection was no different for me. I struggled with some of the earlier essays, but once I got to ‘These Precious Days’, which just so happens to be the title essay, I was hooked.

While many of these essays are preoccupied with death and mortality they ultimately struck me as life-affirming. Patchett writes about her family, in particular of her relationship with her three fathers. She looks back to her ‘youthful’ days. Patchett also gives us insight into her married life, writes of her love for dogs, of her relationship to Catholicism, of that year she gave up shopping, and of authors.

“Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.”

Patchett has a clear eye on herself and others. I personally enjoyed the little glimpses into her everyday domestic life, as well as her work behind the scenes at Parnassus Books. The one essay that meant the most to me, though, was “There Are No Children Here,” which matter-of-factly covers everything I’d ever like to say or hear about childlessness.

Everyone will find something they resonate with in this collection of essays. They are about a life well lived, despite any hardships.

Ann Patchett's musings on writing, on family and friends, on books, on memory, combine to form what is part-memoir and part- essay collection. Rather than a book to sit and read cover-to-cover, These Precious Days is instead ideal to dip in and out of. I was particularly taken with the chapter about Snoopy cartoons - such that I immediately wanted to go and seek out a Peanuts collection - and the sections that act as personal memoir of the young adult Patchett.

I’ve read or savoured this collection from Ann Patchett over the last couple of weeks. Rationing out one essay and enjoying every word.
I love her writing and this collection was a joy to read - life, loss, art, writing and mortality all examined . Wise, moving and incredibly readable. It’s one I’ll return too. A beautiful read.

4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What a truly wonderful book! I’m supposed to write a review but what more could I say? Just get your hands on this and read it!
Ann Patchett is so generous in letting us into her head and heart, sharing her life in her beautiful prose.
This is a precious book - warm, witty and joyous. Read it!
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. All views are my own.

These Precious Days by Ann Patchett was a beautifully written book not my usual read, but I was drawn to the cover. Yes I know "Don't judge a book by its cover" Well I did and I loved it.........You will need tissues when you read this book as it's written from Ann's heart. This book is a is a lovely collection of reflective essays written by Ann over many years and when you read these you can reflect on your life with them as I did with some of these.

I will be looking out for more books by Ann in the future. A lovely book and one of my Favourites for 2021.

A book written from the heart!

Thank you Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the advance copy, which was provided in exchange for an honest review

On a beautiful and heartfelt set of essays exploring family, friendships, marriage, failure and success to the inevitability of death and why it is important to see it as part of life. I saw Ann Patchett’s ‘Bel Canto’ in literally every book store I entered into, and I actually own a copy of ‘The Dutch House’, which I'm embarrassed to say that I haven't actually read, so I can’t say that I’m her fan, but I couldn't resist this. Because her set of 23 essays are based on personal reflections, and are effectively her memoir. You know I like reading about people's lives.⁣
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Within the book, Patchett reflects on all of the themes I mentioned above, but there are moments particularly memorable. From her relationships with her three fathers (her biological father, her stepfather to her mother’s third husband), how Snoppy influenced her life, not wanting to have children, to her chance encounter with Tom Hanks. The latter she has written about in the essay in which the book is titled after. Too many highlighted passages, like the following. ⁣
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“How other people live is pretty much all I think about. Curiosity is the rock upon which fiction is built. But for all the times people have wanted to tell me their story because they think it would make a wonderful novel, it pretty much never works out. People are not characters, no matter how often we tell them they are; conversations are not dialogue; and the actions of our days don’t add up to a plot. In life, time runs along in its sameness, but in fiction time is condensed—one action springboards into another, greater action. Cause and effect are so much clearer in novels than in life. You might not see how everything threads together as you read along, but when you look back from the end of the story, the map becomes clear.”⁣
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I think it’s a particularly generous and moving set of essays. What a pleasant book to read.

I read the title article from this new collection of essays some time ago now, and was floored by how beautifully written and engaging it was. The rest of the book is equally wonderful, with essays about family, grief, death, love, and what it means to be human. I was absolutely gripped by each essay, and didn't want the book to end. It felt like I had had the best and most life affirming conversation with a friend and I didn't want it to be over.

A glittering collection of essays and I would highly recommend this beautiful book.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher who provided me with a free ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have enjoyed Ann Patchett novels most recently The Dutch House and this non fiction memoir book was a lovely insight into friendship and writing as well as recent experience of lockdown and any book about bookshops is an insight. Her passion and energy really shines in these emotional tales.

A delightful, whimsical collection of essays and snippets that were unearthed from previous magazine entries and new ingenuity. My favourites revolved around family, writing, the fear of irrational death, creativity, craft etc. These Precious Days is perfect for cosy nights with soft lights when you want to delve into someone's mind and relish seeing how they perceive their own worlds, problems and life. The essays were creative, passionate and had a knack for sharing snippets and interesting tidbits ( eg. maturing as a person alongside 3 fathers) that left you intrigued for more.

I received an advance review copy of These Precious Days from Netgalley. I am a huge Ann Patchett fan so I was delighted to get it. Bel Canto is one of my all time favourite books and I thoroughly enjoyed The Dutch House which I read recently.

This book is a collection of essays about Ann's life, her friendships and her love of writing/books. As a book lover I loved all the book references and when Ann was talking about her bookshop. I was taking notes of books to add to my to be read list and I also discovered that Parnassus books (Ann's book shop) is on Instagram with lots of extra recommendations.

I didn't want this collection to end. Even though some of the essays had a serious subject they were all full of heart, funny and made me love Ann more. I haven't read This is the story of a happy marriage yet but if it is half as good then I need to be bumping it right up my list!

I was sent a copy of These Precious Days by Ann Patchett to read and review by NetGalley. I love Ann Patchett’s writing, though I have previously only read her novels. This book of essays/memoir was equally as good. Beautifully written and very candid around her thoughts and feelings, it was wonderful to learn how she got to be an acclaimed writer and how she lives her life. I will certainly be searching out her previous memoire This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage. Highly recommended!