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Patchett's essay collection falls short
AP review by Kim Curtis
[November 21, 2013] (AP) — "This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage" (Harper), by Ann Patchett
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In the introduction of her new collection of
essays, "This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage," Ann Patchett
declares herself a writer of fiction novels. She explains that
writing nonfiction essays for magazines ranging from Seventeen
to Gourmet to The New York Times Magazine served as a necessary
evil intended to pay her bills. She said "yes" to everything,
"no" to nothing, and would write the required number of words on
absolutely anything. So why, then, did Patchett pick 22 of her magazine pieces and
put them in a book? It's like a long-distance runner who decides
to embrace sprinting. A writer may be a writer, but when one is
an award-winning, best-selling author, the choice is more than a
bit bewildering. Patchett does offer credible bits of wisdom for aspiring
writers: don't go into debt for a master's degree or write your
book in chronological order. She also provides reflections on
her parents' divorce and her love of dogs — all interesting
slice-of-life pieces. But there's not much here for readers to
sink their teeth into. The book's title essay is, by far, the book's strongest, as
Patchett reveals herself, her fears and expectations about life
and love and her unwillingness to fail at marriage twice. "Divorce is the history lesson, that thing that must be
remembered in order not to be repeated. Divorce is the rock upon
which this church is built," she writes, explaining her current,
successful relationship. Patchett says her breakout novel, "Bel Canto," enabled her to
buy a house in 2001. It provided her with the freedom to quit
her day job, but she loved it and felt bad leaving magazine
writing behind. Even the most die-hard Patchett fans will
reassure her: that's just fine. ___ Online: [Associated Press; KIM CURTIS] Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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