You need to read this book to the end, to the very end to truly appreciate its beauty. Yes, it is a collection of essays, essays where some have been published as stand alone pieces, they are non-linear and the subject matter is varied - but there is something special about how these are held together. In my mind they are a series of tattered envelopes, held together by a velvet ribbon and pushed into a nightstand ready for discovery at a later date.
The fact that I adore the writing of Ann Patchett is no secret, I was over the moon to be granted this advance copy - but if I'm honest, at the time of asking I had not realised that this was non-fiction. I don't read NF; my reading time is used for escape, time for me to fly away, to dream. Well thank you Bloomsbury Publishing, my eyes are now fully open and I am converted.
There are so many stand out moments in this book, but for me the stars of the show are the essay about Ann's 3 fathers, the love that shines through for her husband Karl and last but by no means least, the friendship that Ann is capable of giving. I can imagine that to be a friend of Ann is a true blessing, a woman who sees who you are, a quiet presence, an unwavering love, a friend for life..
From the books that she writes, you know that she is a supreme observer of people, but here, through her joyfully tender writing, you start to understand that her writing comes less from observation, and more from real human connection.
The titular essay comes almost at the end, be warned - it is as devastating as it is touching; I am a crier, I am not too proud to admit it, and I sobbed.
Thank you #Netgalley and #Bloomsbury for this advance ARC - I'm off to read Ann Patchett's other non fiction titles!!!


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It was my first meeting with Ann Patchett even if some of her books are on my TBR.
It was an intimate, fascinating and unforgettable meeting. I savored it reading some essays and than stopping because I didn't wanted to end this book.
The style of writing is amazing, she's a master storyteller and there's a lot of emotions, feeling, memories.
My favorite was the one about Snoopy and how she was able to analyze a pop culture character and turn it into the paradigm of a writer's life.
I loved every moment and it's strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Reading These Precious Days was like enjoying a conversation with an old friend. Wise and witty, moving and thought provoking, Ann Patchett’s essays are as absorbing as her novels.

This time Patchett isn't bringing us a wonderful piece of new fiction such as The Dutch House or Bel Canto but These Precious Days is a collection of her essays that have previously been printed in newspapers and magazines etc.

The essays range in topics from her husbands love of flying, life-long friendships, death of a parent, de-cluttering and the importance of the moment. I don't normally like collections of essays by fiction writers, but Patchett turned every essay into a fascinating tale and has such a wonderful way of writing that I felt like I was right there with her sorting through those cupboards, or flying with her husband, or selecting that fabulous cover for The Dutch House.

If any of you are budding writers or are interested in the writing process, Patchett also takes us through how she writes and the development of some of her fiction works and what life of a writer is really like.

Do keep the tissues to hand and she does deal with some hard subjects and I did cry at one very moving section. I finished the book wishing that Patchett was one of my friends as she clearly has a real generosity of spirit.

@bloomsburypublishing were kind enough to provide me with an advance earc copy but it will be published on the 23rd November and may be the perfect book to end non fiction November with

Largely made up of essays that have previously appeared in print, These Precious Days leans heavily towards the twin themes of love and friendship, offering insights into Patchett’s career as a writer, and exploring the multiple roles she plays in her life: wife, daughter, sister, member of the community. Of varying length, almost whimsically wide-ranging, they touch on knitting, bookshops, dog ownership and literary greats, consumerism, flying, tornadoes, even Tom Hanks. Taken individually, as they were first published, many are gem-like in their intellectual clarity and luminous ability to capture the finer details. Read together, as a collection, they become extraordinary. From the heart-rending titular essay and its epilogue, 'A Day at the Beach', to Patchett's musings on knitting and the oratory tour de force that is ‘A Talk to the Association of Graduate School Deans in the Humanities’, I found much to love in this vibrant, meandering, eminently joyful collection.

Witty, relatable and just the right level of heart-warming, These Precious Days is a book for our times. A generous and spirited collection that illuminates life in all its wonder and absurdity, it also pays tribute to the possibilities of the essay form. Following almost two years in which, for many of us, death has come too close for comfort, Patchett takes us by the hand and shows us what makes a life.

Oh what a marvellous memoir this is. It’s so rich in detail yet deftly and lightly written. Here we find essays on life which transcend the mundane even if they’re describing everyday activities, such as knitting, cooking or decluttering. Because the warp and weft of this beautiful book is people oriented and relationship focused. Professional associates, friends (canine and otherwise) and family all have a starring role to play.

Patchett isn’t averse to getting real, up close and personal but she shines her light on life with delicacy and laces it with humour and warmth. Each vignette story adds to the next. Though they might intersect or leap across different time and subject threads, the narrative never loses its sparkle and verve.

One can only wonder at the wide and varied life she has led and the fascinating array of experiences and friendships she has had. Whether depicting the minutiae of a writer’s life and her forays into bookselling or describing the slow, slow decline of her beloved friend, Sooki, the reader is drawn into a world which is honest, heartfelt and absorbing.

As a gifted novelist, Ann Patchett has already given readers much to delight in. But this essay-filled memoir stands above her previous books in terms of giving us a glimpse into her active writing/speaking/award-winning life, while revealing the golden heart of the author herself. Grateful thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. I absolutely loved it!

Ann Patchett is a wonderful novelist, but in my opinion, her non-fiction is even better. I adored her memoir Truth and Beauty and her previous essay collection, This is the Story of a Happy Marriage, so I was keen to get my hands on her new collection of essays, These Precious Days. All I can say is, Patchett really has a gift; she manages to make the most trivial essays about her life, things that would seem self-indulgent in the hands of most other writers, somehow work. Knitting, decluttering, cooking Thanksgiving dinner for the first time for a group of stranded college students, not getting a tattoo in Paris; these snippets of prose are all easy and fun to read. I preferred the balance of pieces in This is the Story of A Happy Marriage, which featured fewer, longer pieces of work, as it’s in long-form essays that I think Patchett really shines.

Fortunately, there are some of those longer pieces here as well. I think most readers will find the title essay, ‘These Precious Days’, about Patchett’s almost accidental friendship with artist Sooki Raphael, to be the stand-out, and it does stand out; it’s beautiful and moving and actually helps me make sense of what people mean when they say writing is ‘luminous’. It’s a comforting beacon of an essay about human goodness, life and death. But there were other stand-outs for me as well. I loved Patchett’s wry, thoughtful reflections on choosing not to have children in ‘There Are No Children Here’, and, weirdly, her homage to the children’s writer Kate DiCamillo, ‘Reading Kate DiCamillo’, even though I haven’t read anything by DiCamillo myself and am not sure I intend to. ‘Flight Plan’, which is mostly about her husband Karl’s love of flying planes, demonstrates Patchett’s ability to weave all sorts of disparate material together into a coherent emotional whole, something many essayists attempt but few achieve. There are fewer big hitters here than in This is the Story of a Happy Marriage, and overall, I think it’s a slighter collection. But it’s still so worth reading. 4.5 stars.

In the collection of essays contained within 'These Precious Days', Ann Patchett reflects on diverse topics ranging from her husbands love of planes, her three fathers, her favourite authors, the choice not to have children, lost documents, book covers, the acquisition of material things and her love for friends and relatives. Underneath all of her explorations are reflections on love, loss, our expectations of our lives and expectations of others. There is also a great deal about Patchett's love of writing and her experiences in the book world.

I am a fan of Ann Patchett and this essay collection didn't disappoint. All of the essays are beautifully crafted, with the right mix of apparently real events and Patchett's thoughts on them. Whilst some of the essays stood out more than others, none of them felt like padding. At the end I felt like Patchett had about Sooki - like I knew her far more than I probably did.

Ann pratchett is such a fantastic writer. I absolutely loved her musings here, the writing is as fantastic and off beat as you would expect for Ann. A great read.

If you like short stories, essays and memoirs that pack an emotional punch, you will enjoy this book. Its the kind of book you can dip in and out of, so its lovely on a coffee table to pick and enjoy. Warm, witty and funny, it covers everything from the importance of knitting to memories of Paris.

Interesting and thought provoking. A perfect coffee table book!

This extensive collection of essays of are essentially a non-linear memoir, the life and times of Ann Patchett, who generously opens up about herself, her blended family, friendships, other writers, her marriage to Karl, how she gets the kernals of ideas for her novels, the writing process, and her experience of the publishing industry. To my surprise, when I had finished reading this, I found I had made copious notes, most of which I will not be using for this review, but they do indicate just how much reading this meant to me and the high regard I have for the author. Ann, a vegetarian who does yoga, writes tenderly, with compassion, and humanity about the unexpected turns that life can take, the joy, love, grief, the challenges, and the unavoidable presence of death, the latter hits her hard at the portrait gallery of The American Academy of the Arts and Letters, a living reminder that one day she too will join the ranks of dead writers.

There is a lovely photograph taken at the time of her sister Heather's wedding where Ann managed to persuade all her 3 fathers to come together for her, all of whom loved her dearly in their different ways. As a Catholic, there's the long lasting influence of Sister Nena and the unforgettable impact of Father Charlie Strobel and his incredible work with the homeless. The lesson of learning how to discard so much of what is accumulated in our homes goes hand in hand with the joy of those who become recipients of many those unwanted items. Patchett has always known that she has never wanted children, writing comes first for her, this is something many in society have never understood or accepted that she knows her own mind on this subject, although there is the frustration she felt at the obstacles placed in her way when she wished to adopt Stevie and his brother, a frustration that was channelled into her novel 'Run'.

The title essay explains how Sookie Raphael, assistant to Tom Hanks, came to stay with Ann and Karl whilst part of a clinical pancreatic cancer trial in Nashville. It documents how a tentative friendship developed into so much more, particularly with the pandemic and lockdown. Sookie has a beautiful spirit, spending a lot of time painting, a talent she has long neglected in her life, doing kundalini yoga with Ann, an Ann that buzzes with the spirit of adventure when both of them take Psilocybin, only to find herself trapped with unnerving and harrowing hallucinations of death. These essays, on life, love, death, friends, family and more, are a wonderful collection written in a style and with the intimacy of someone we know well, this is the extraordinary wonder and charm of Ann Patchett. I think fans of the author, and even those readers who have yet to become acquainted with her novels will love this too. Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

Almost unbearably tender, generous, and joyous, despite the presence of death

Ann Patchett’s series of essays on many things – but always richly extolling the joy of creativity, in all its forms, but particularly the power of writing, the wealth of delight in reading – and the enduring power of friendship, makes this a remarkably life affirming read, even though death and loss are companions only ever slightly far away.

I would say it is Patchett’s ability to look death and loss firmly in the face that allows the intense sweetness of joy and the ability to fully realise and appreciate the bliss of being here.

At the tail end – and indeed, the driving towards destination of this book, is the celebration of the life, and the relationship Patchett developed, with Sooki Raphael. Raphael, like Patchett herself, was/is a woman with a remarkable capacity for deep friendship, life long growth, blazing creativity, living through the heart, as well as treasured independence.

Raphael was for many years, personal assistant to Tom Hanks. Patchett met her when Hanks book of short stories came to Patchett’s attention, and she interviewed him. A very brief face to face meeting led to a friendship purely through, at first, professional email connections. Then Raphael had a dreadful medical diagnosis. Patchett’s husband Karl is a consultant in the relevant field, and managed to get Raphael on a specific treatment programme. Ann and Karl, both of whom seem to be extraordinarily generous people, invited Sooki to stay with them, whilst she was having a three month course of chemo.

A casual professional encounter, was changed by the close presence of death, or the presence of death imposing itself in what had been a professional connection; two people who liked each other, but were in no way entwined in each other’s lives

Sooki, with huge awareness, lived every second, and all around her came into understanding ‘these precious days’ Patchett’s writing surely has shown she understands ‘gather ye rosebuds’ anyway. The very first book of hers I ever read, the wonderful Bel Canto, absolutely revealed that

It's well worth searching out Raphael’s artwork – this was her first ‘life’s work’ and her illness took her back into a huge re-inhabitation of these gifts and skills. Life blazes from her canvases, in intense celebration of what it means to be within our precious days, embodied

I’m grateful to the publishers, via NetGalley, for allowing me the digital ARC

A warm and witty set of essays forming a memoir of the author's life, friends and family. An interesting read, especially her friendship with Tom Hanks assistant and artist Sooki Raphael who stayed with her during the pandemic to continue with her cancer treatment and with whom she shared a hallucinogenic experience.
Thank you to netgalley and Bloomsbury for an advance copy of this book

I really enjoyed the first 3 essays, but after that I found myself skipping pages without properly reading.

I didn't finish this book, but I might at some point get back to it. The writing is really clear and enjoyable, but for me there were too many mentions to religion. I get that this is autobiographical, and the author was raised religious, but it's just not for me.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

I have just finished These Precious Days- a collection of essays by Ann Patchett which I was delighted to access via @netgalley (thank you netgalley & @bloomsburypublishing!)

I had heard good things about this and I love Patchett's writing (one of the best writers on the planet IMHO!) But, I thought- y'know, essays. A bit like short stories but non-fiction; all good while you're waiting for the next novel.

But I take it back. I have finished this book and I am bereft. It is outstanding. To start with, I enjoyed it because I was getting an extra insight into those great novels- The Dutch House, Commonwealth, State of Wonder, even Bel Canto- by finding out more about the author who wrote them. But then I got to the essay These Precious Days and I was floored. It became clear for me that actually the early pieces are just preparing you for this, the climax of the book. By this point, you have got to know Ann- a little of who she is, the people she loves, what she values, and the things she has discovered about life, love and friendship through the years, and because of that you understand why she feels so deeply in this beautiful story of friendship that made me weep.

I was really surprised when I got to the end of the book and it listed publications where a few of the essays had previously been published. I couldn't believe it because this almost felt like a novel to me- one piece of work, greater than the sum of its parts. A work that made me think about life and death and the brilliant and precious bits inbetween. I will be buying myself a copy of the hardback and already look forward to rereading this special book. Hugely recommended.

I usually avoid memoirs, especially those from writers, because they are usually so completely consumed with their story, which is invariably less interesting than their work. I thought to give this one a chance, and on the whole it was worth it. She is not telling us the story of her life, or even the story of her career. These are sometimes just snapshots of things so far, her three fathers, her mother, her friends and people (often literary giants) who have influenced her. This makes it sound very dry, but it has the conspiratorial tone of a diary, without the most personal stuff. There is a heavy smattering of unapologetic name dropping, but these are most often her literary heroes, which she later rubs shoulders with. She has many friends, who I Imagine will still be, since there are no beans spilt here. Some are lost to the natural passing of time or succumbing to terminal illness, and this is dealt with great sensitivity. We do learn about Ann the writer, finding out how she manages her daily life, a lot a space given to her decision to not having children, and how her books are put together, all very interesting to anyone who aspires to that career. On the whole I liked it, although the title and cover are overly sentimental.

I am a great fan of Ann Patchett’s fiction. The essays about her life are engaging and well written. She confides fully in the reader and her quirky sense of humour and her compassion come through clearly.
Autobiographical writing is a brave thing for a mainly fiction author to do and this isn’t the first time that Patchett has opened up to her readers in this way.
There were some pieces that really held my interest and the relationship with her three fathers was particularly intriguing and insightful. She writes with warmth and perception about herself and others.
There were a small number of essays that I found less engaging but my preferences rather than any reflection on the quality of writing.
I would recommend this to readers who are intrigued by human nature and enjoy good prose.

I am grateful to NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. 

“These Precious Days” is a collection of essays by the well known writer, member of the American Academy of Arts & Letters and bookstore co-owner Ann Patchett. They are all personal recollections of people, events and experiences that have made her the writer she is today.

The essays are set California, where Ms Patchett grew up, Nashville and the surrounding areas where she later moved to and lives today. Along the way there are youthful trips to Europe, later travel in the US during her younger adult years at college and other institutions of learning. Even later in her life, there are frequent travels and of course stories as she finds her place as a successful writer and supporter of other writers. Enduring friendships and close family relationships remain important, throughout her life.

The essays, both old and new, sometimes rewritten, are charming, delightful, funny and sad. Often thought provoking; always heart-warming. Themes of family & enduring friendship, love, beauty, life & death are visited and revisited throughout these stories. There are occasional cameos from the famous or even infamous ! Some lovely references to children’s literature and to well loved family pets. The events and people in these essays, are presented with honesty, love, tenderness, humour and frankness.

Another frequent theme is that of becoming and being a writer. The essays often touch upon different parts Ms Patchett’s journey as a writer. Her influences, both growing up and later in life, her desires and ambitions to write, her contemporaries and friends. I particularly enjoyed learning how she goes about the craft of writing. From the physical aspects of writing, to her methods of gathering the words and characters, building plots and the other aspects we see in her fiction and non-fiction works. Ms Patchett also discusses the issue of book cover art; selection, her role and how this has changed over the years.

Several essays are about memories; recalling the past, people, events large and small. A particularly poignant and to me, authentic piece of writing surrounds the aspects of a child’s life a parent may cherish and collect as that child grows, leave home and make their way in the world. Towards the end of a parents life, there may be boxes of these memories; photographs, cards, letters, notes, articles and so on. It can be easy to be dismissive of these boxes of life’s detritus. But as Ms Patchett wisely reflects “…children don’t care…until they do”. We see her gratitude for “…mothers and others who keep things, make memories possible, vivid and real…”.

I think this book will appeal to many readers on several levels. In particular those who have enjoyed Ms Patchett’s books and writings, or perhaps those seeking to become a writer or a better, more successful writer. For people of a certain age, the issues of ageing parents and the quality of life towards the end, may find a particular resonance. In these times of covid, loss and disruption continues to be around us and Ms Patchett is not spared. She bares her soul in many of these stories, in particular the heartwarming title essay, “These Precious Days”.

Having now read this fine collection of essays, I look forward to going back and reading a lot more of Ms Patchett’s books and other works. I plan to seek out some of the authors and books she has mentioned, both older writers as well and her contemporaries; also some of the wonderful writers of children’s literature. And of course, next time I am in the Nashville area, I plan to visit the bookstore Ms Patchett co-owns ! As a location in some of the stories, it seems a warm and welcoming refuge in these days of drive-thru, take-out and online retailing.

To quote from one of the early stories in this book, one should, “…make good use of the days we have…”.

I wish Ms Patchett and those involved in bringing this book to publication, all the very best.

A collection of essays, each based on true events from Ann Patchett’s life. At times amusing, sometimes sad, but overwhelmingly heart-warming. Patchett is refreshingly open about her decision not to have children, and gracefully relays both her successes and her failures with equal candour. The tender retelling of her dear friend Sooki’s battle with cancer is a wonder to read from the sheer joy and celebration they feel sharing this portion of their lives together.
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A book that makes you not want to take even a moment of life for granted! Everyone should read it.

I have long appreciated and enjoyed Ann Patchett’s novels and so was looking forward to read this set of memoir essays. I have to say I wasn’t disappointed. Her engaging manner of writing is clearly evident, along with the usual thoughtful insights and themes present in her novels that make you pause to consider their importance. In this case there is also a somewhat casual manner that give a sense of a conversation with a reader, as if Ann Patchett was reflecting on the matter at this moment. In particular, the essay “These Precious Days” that also provides the book’s title, is an extremely moving account of a particular friendship that in the giving returned so much to Patchett herself. It’s also an account of coping and understanding how to support someone dealing with a life threatening illness and examining the possibility of loss. These themes are present in the other essays and are woven in her life experiences with her father and stepfathers and others. There are also essays that discuss her writing and publishing life and the bookshop that she owns, all of which have enabled her to encounter so many varied people. These essays on the surface are of great interest to me as a writer, but they also had deeper themes about understanding who you are and taking responsibility and defending your own work. Those elements in particular resonated with me. All of these essays make for an extremely pleasurable read either to dip and out and consider slowly or just sit back and enjoy the conversation.