"These Precious Days," by Ann Patchett

I –- like many other readers -- am a big fan of Ann Patchett’s novels. I am also a fan of her wonderful essays. On 12/8/13, I wrote of how much I admired her collection of engaging essays, “This is the Story of a Happy Marriage” (2013). I have now just read her new essay collection, “These Precious Days” (HarperCollins, 2021), and was equally enchanted by the new essays. Reading them, I felt that Patchett was speaking directly, conversationally, to me, much as a good friend would do. Of course there is much writerly craftmanship involved, but it doesn’t draw attention to itself. The author is generous in sharing her life, her experiences, and her feelings, but also is always aware of the reader and of the larger world. Her topics include family, travel, why she has chosen not to have children, her love of Eudora Welty’s writing, Snoopy, cutting back on shopping/consumerism, the privilege and joy of spending time with and helping her friend with cancer, flying, and so much more. By the way, if you think you don’t particularly care for reading essays, don’t let that stop you from reading these ones; they are as much memoir and stories as they are what you might consider traditional essays. I know it is a cliché, but I promise that by the end of the book, you will feel as if you know and relate to the author of these irresistible essays.