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When American author Ann Patchett isn’t writing bestselling novels like Bel Canto, The Dutch House and State of Wonder, she’s working at her Nashville bookstore, Parnassus.
She curates the store’s selection and is always tapped into what exciting releases are coming out, often reading books months before they hit the shelves.
“I read constantly, but I read really far out,” she said on an episode of The Next Chapter. “So when the book that I loved six months ago is finally published, that’s a really happy occasion.”
Patchett is having a big year. Her latest book, Whistler, about two adults looking back at their life choices, came out this month, and she just won a major international peace prize, the Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke Distinguished Achievement Award.
She joined Antonio Michael Downing on The Next Chapter to share some of her favourite recent releases and one special book yet to come.
Kin by Tayari Jones
Kin is a novel by Tayari Jones. (Knopf, Julie Yarborough)
Patchett’s first recommendation is Kin by Tayari Jones, a historical fiction novel about Annie and Vernice, two motherless daughters who remain connected despite the different life paths they forge.
‘It is such a smart book and laugh-out-loud funny and poignant,” said Patchett. It’s a great book about female friendship and Tayari is just a brilliant writer.”
The author, Jones, is friends with Patchett, and they write letters back and forth to one another.
In one of those letters, Jones worried that Kin wouldn’t live up to her breakout success, American Marriage, said Patchett.
But Patchett says that reading the new novel exceeded all expectations.
“It’s just like 100 times better than anything she’s ever done — and everything she’s done was great,” said Patchett. “This book just shoots the light out. And I think it’s going to be a big winner this year. It was just a tremendous joy. She is at the height of her powers.”
John of John by Douglas Stuart
John of John is a novel by Douglas Stuart. (Grove Atlantic/Knopf Canada, Desiree Adams)
Patchett’s next recommendation is John of John by Douglas Stuart, what she calls a “gentler, more expansive book” compared to his Booker Prize-winning debut Shuggie Bain and second novel Young Mungo.
John of John is about a young man who returns to the Isle of Harris, his tiny, Scottish home island, after graduating. There, he’s back to living with his extremely religious father and grandmother, while trying to hide the fact that he’s gay.
“They all have their secrets and their stories,” said Patchett. “It’s a gorgeous, gorgeous book. It’s about island communities and a dying way of life.”
The Left and the Lucky by Willy Vlautin
The Left and the Lucky is a novel by Willy Vlautin. (Harper)
Patchett is a big Willy Vlautin fan and reads every single one of his books.
“We have a book club at the store, a first editions club, and I’m always wanting to pick one of Willie’s books, but they are so depressing,” she said.
“I honor him and I value so much what he’s doing — because he’s writing about people who never get their stories told.”
The Left and the Lucky also taps into untold stories of tough American life, but is “way more hopeful,” according to Patchett.
It follows Russell, a kid with a disintegrating home life, who runs away from his abusive brother. He finds refuge at his next door neighbour’s, a house painter, who takes him under his wing.
“It’s a story about human decency in the small and meaningful ways of looking after your neighbour. And if you give this book a try, if you start it, you won’t put it down.”
Music Against the Night by Yiyun Li
Music Against the Night is a novel by Yiyun Li. (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Basso Cannarsa/Agence Opale)
In true Patchett fashion, her final pick was a book that’s yet to come out.
Music Against the Night is a novel by Yiyun Li, releasing on Oct. 13, set in 18th century Dublin about two real-life aspiring musicians who are hoping to make it big.
“Music Against the Night is very likely the best contemporary novel I’ve ever read,” said Patchett.
“It’s just the most profoundly beautiful and insightful novel about human behaviour, and it never goes the way you think it’s going. It is an astonishing achievement of literature.”
