Hi. I hope everyone is doing well. We had a nice hike Sunday morning in the nearby mountains along the river with the dogs. It was not too strenuous, which is good because unfortunately my knees are not too good anymore. I’ve been told I will need knee replacements in a couple years. Ugh. It’s hard to believe but something I have to deal with. I’ve been playing sports and running most of my life so now in middle age things fall apart, which is a bummer. I’m still able to play competitive tennis (doubles) three times a week wearing knee sleeves, but we’ll see how long I can continue.
Meanwhile, did you watch the Super Bowl out somewhere? Or just stay at home? Maybe you skipped the game for the Puppy Bowl or just watched the half time show. What was that half time stage, like a doll house? We watched the game at home, and have been watching the Olympics most other nights. The cross-country skiing has been awesome and some of the figure skating too, particularly Nathan Chen’s performance (Wow), though I’m surprised and dismayed that they decided to let the young Russian skater (Kamila Valieva) compete after testing positive for a banned substance on Dec. 25. That’s the big news lately. Good grief, what does that say to others in the future? Or others who’ve been thrown out in the past? Most athletes want to keep the Games clean, so this will be an affront I think. It’s too bad too because obviously the girl can skate like a dynamo, but cheating shouldn’t be overlooked, or else it just diminishes the whole competition’s worth.
On the reading side this past week, I finished one novel for PW and one audiobook & read combo for me. I’ll leave my thoughts below.
These Precious Days by Ann Patchett / Harper / 320 pages / 2021
Perhaps it’s just me but I’ve always liked Ann Patchett’s nonfiction more than her fiction. Her first essay collection This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage (from 2013) I remember liking a great deal, and this new one has some memorable moments as well. I loved the audio version of These Precious Days read by the author, Wow.
And I’m still wondering how Ann got through reading the title essay — without losing it — about Tom Hank’s assistant Sooki, an artist, who becomes her friend and is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and comes to stay at their house while receiving treatment in Nashville during the pandemic. I’ll never know. It gutted me. It was like a wave that took me to its peak and threw me down onto the beach with great force. Though despite the terrible sadness of the situation, it’s told very well and beautifully. I also read parts of the hardback copy too and liked Sooki’s paintings on the book’s front and back cover.
Ann talks about various things in this collection: her family, her schooling and Catholic upbringing, her trips and friends, her love of books and her bookstore in Nashville, her husband’s flying, her knitting and writing. Some chapters went by me without a huge connection or interest. Then there were others chapters that really hit me. My favorites of the bunch: Three Fathers, Sisters, There Are No Children Here, Two More Things I Want to Say About My Father, and of course the ones about Sooki: These Precious Days and A Day at the Beach. It was these six essays out of the 23 that really sealed the deal for me, though other ones had their moments too.
Her essays about her father and mother are very poignant and moving, and I loved her essay talking about being a motherless person and all the flak she’s received because of that. People will say some of the craziest or harshest things or give advice if you’re a motherless person, despite if you’re unable to, or whatever your personal reasons might be for not having, or wanting children, and Ann captures that so well. She’s pretty straightforward about it in one of her more lengthy chapters.
And once again, as with the last collection, I was a bit stunned how open and honest Ann is in writing about her life and personal life. She just lays it out there. It’s obvious in these many essays (most of them are pretty short) that she’s a very gracious person, who adores animals and is very close to her family, friends, and dogs (past and present). She seemingly does so much for her friends and has a goodness about her and also some fun wry humor. Various times she made me laugh out loud. Other times she writes about the sad deaths of those she’s lost, such as her father and friends. But the touching tributes she gives them are also filled with light. Maybe that is how she got through reading the audio. All in all, I found her words and grace beacons to savor.
That’s all for this week. What about you — have you liked Patchett’s books and what do you think … about “this, that, and the other”? (A Seinfeld-ism). Happy Valentine’s Day!
I’m glad you enjoyed your hike! I didn’t watch the Super Bowl, but I did eat a lot of party snacks while reading a book. 🙂
You are too good AJ! Reading a book instead of the Super Bowl. Good going! You deserve party snacks. Have a great week.
What a beautiful view! Was it cold on your hike? I suppose you warm up rather quickly as you are moving around. I went out yesterday for my regular walk and the wind was bitterly cold. My left knee gives me trouble every now and then, but nothing too serious. I just know that I can no longer run, but walking and cycling are ok. For now.
Nope, we watched another episode of Hope Street, which is a rather silly show. After four episodes, I think we’re going to move on to something else.
I have a copy of These Precious Days and I’m waiting for that perfect moment to start reading it. I know I’ll love it and I want to be sure I’m not in the middle of something that might distract me from that joy. Do you ever feel that way when picking out your next read? I never start something I know I’ll love if we’re getting ready for house guests or a big trip. And speaking of Patchett, we just booked our flights to Nashville to visit our daughter and SIL in early April. One of the things I want to do while we’re there is visit Patchett’s bookstore. Hmmm, maybe I should read the book before that trip.
Hi Lesley, gosh going to Patchett’s bookstore while you are in Nashville would be ideal! Very cool. I hope to go someday. I know what you’re saying about getting the perfect open time for a particular book. I do that as well. The audio is pretty good and it’s not too long. You might also like her last collection if you haven’t already listened to that one.
It’s been mild here for this time of year and all the snow has gone away which is unusual for February. It could change & get colder next week. We’ll see. We’re getting close to having winter over …. I booked a flight to SoCal in mid-March to visit my folks again. Maybe that will warm my bones. Have a great week.
I wasn’t happy about their decision to let the young Russian figure skater keep competing in the Olympics either. Especially when Russian athletes can’t even compete under their own flag because of Russia’s state sponsored doping program for all those years! But I’m happy for all of our athletes who are doing so well. 🙂
I agree Lark. Unfortunately this latest episode tells me Russia is still up to their old tricks regarding doping. And it lets Russia continue their ways.
I am enjoying some of the other events and athletes too. Have a great week.
That photo of your hiking path looks lovely. I can relate to the knees giving out but then I’m also much older than you I suspect. I do hope to avoid replacements if at all possible. That Ann Patchett book was excellent. I loved all her books – Her honest memoir on marriage was excellent as well. I find Joyce Maynard is also very open and honest about her life and had a couple very personal books as well. Hope you have a good week.
Thanks Diane. I still need to get to Maynard’s last novel from 2021 but I plan to. Glad you also liked Patchett’s essay books. That’ll be good if you can avoid knee replacements … I’m really trying to delay it and I’m not looking forward to such a thing. It’s depressing …. as the recovery I’ve heard is very lengthy. But others have said it works and is worth it. We’ll see. take care. & Happy reading.
I just finished Patchett’s book last week. Review is forthcoming, although I have four other books ahead of it.
I’m not an Olympics watcher or a Super Bowl/Puppy Bowl watcher. Life is too short and I have all these books to read.
Ha Dorothy. You are good to stick to books! I usually watch TV with dinner but then not much after. I fade quickly, ha. I look forward to your review of the Patchett book. I might have liked her earlier nonfiction collection a bit more – or with more of the essays. In this one — I really liked 6 of the essays a great deal and the others in bits & pieces. Have a great week.
Chen was definitely spectacular. I’m not sure what to think about the Russian skater situation since her positive test was over a month before the Olympics started.
I’ve yet to read Patchett
Wishing you a great reading week
Thanks Shelleyrae. I’m glad someone saw Nathan Chen’s performance! Holy smokes — it was fantastic — how it was timed with the music so well. Beautiful. The Russian girl’s doping I wish had never have happened but more should be figured out on who is giving her this stuff. Happy reading & watching to you.
These Precious Days was on my list of 2021 favorites… so well done! I probably prefer Patchett’s nonfiction, too, and want to listen to This is the Story of a Happy Marriage again one of these days. I’m curious – have you’ve listened to Anna Quindlen’s Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake? It’s one of my favorite essay collections ever.
We had the Super Bowl on, but were not paying very close attention. I would have liked to see the Bengals win though.
Beautiful photo from your hike! Sorry to hear about your knees… hope they hold out for many more years.
Thanks JoAnn: I’m trying to hold out with the knees for longer. I have not read or listened to Quindlen’s essays yet … but now I will look for it at the library. Thanks for mentioning it’s a favorite of yours. I’ve only read her fiction. I did like Anne Lamont’s Bird by Bird book. So I think Quindlen’s will make a strong impression on me. Enjoy your week.
Sorry to hear about your knees. My mother had problems last year with her right one and she was in lots of pain, but it has healed somewhat after surgery. I haven’t watched the Olympics or watched any part of the Superbowl, though in the past I’ve always tried to keep up, at least, with the figure skating competition, since I love the sport. Anyways, it’s good to know you liked the Patchett book a great deal. I adored The Dutch House, and have Taft on my TBR. I wasn’t crazy about Bel Canto, though I know a lot of people loved it.
Hi Carmen, I admit I put Bel Canto down when reading it, but perhaps I didn’t get far enough into it? The one fiction I liked of hers was State of Wonder but I didn’t read Commonwealth which apparently is Ann’s favorite. I wasn’t overly big about The Dutch House which I know others loved. I think the mother & stepmother in the story sort of turned me off, but my favorite part was the Big House at the beginning which is cool.
You should watch some of the Olympic figure skating – on YouTube — Nathan Chen’s skate was terrific with the music. And I can relate with your mother about knee problems. I’ve had a couple surgeries in the past. I will try to hold on longer! take care.
Susan, I thought I was the only one who liked Patchett’s nonfiction better than her fiction. Glad I’m not the only one.
My dad’s wife just had knee replacement surgery before Christmas and she is ninety-two! It has helped her a lot.
We have only been able to see little bits of the Olympics and we completely missed the Super Bowl!
Thanks Deb. I’m glad you mentioned the knee replacement surgery has been a success there — I’m trying to find others who’ve gone through it. And it’s helpful to hear that it works!
I’m glad too to hear you like Patchett’s nonfiction better. I liked her State of Wonder novel but have struck out with two of her other novels. And her nonfiction is so good. I think she will keep writing essays, yay.
Have a great week.
The only book I’ve read of Pratchett’s is the Dutch House, which I didn’t love. So I’m really curious now to see if her essays would grab like they’ve grabbed you. Those sound lovely.
Glad you were able to get a hike in. I need to do some more of that. It’s been a tough season for me. I’m so sorry about your knees! Amazing, though, that you can still play tennis like that.
I hope you have a lovely week!
Thanks Heather. Yeah I think tennis is a life line for me — so I continue on until my knees are too terrible to play. We have fun.
I’m sorry it’s been a tough season for you and I hope it improves. I didn’t love The Dutch House either! But Patchett’s nonfiction books are better.
Happy reading to you.
Oh no, knee replacement doesn’t sound fun. If you can still play competitive tennis, it can’t be that bad? In any case, it’s depressing to realise we can’t do the same we could at 20 years old. The hike looks nice. 🙂
I am amongst those who loved The Dutch House, but I am also keen to try some of Patchett’s essays, so I might pick up These Precious Days. Quite a few people have been talking about the essay about Sooki.
Hey Stargazer. Yeah it is depressing not being able to do things as we once did. I’m assuming you’re still young though right? My tennis is great fun & we play hard on the court but then I’m very creaky after and have to recover with medication for the knees etc. But we will see how long I can last.
I think you probably would like These Precious Days and her previous collection of essays might even be better? But the ones about Sooki are good. Listening to Ann’s narration on audio really put me there. Enjoy, if you get to it.
Haha, young enough not to have problems with training, but my time will come. 😉 It’s great when the author narrates their own book, although not all authors have a suitable audio voice. You may know that Tom Hanks narrated The Dutch House, which was a match made in heaven! Many readers enjoyed the narration as much as the actual story.
Yeah. I listened to The Dutch House and Tom Hanks’s narration was excellent. That was a great match for sure for that book. In These Precious Days, Ann talks a bit about how she met Tom and how she asked him about reading for the audio … it was pretty cool how it all came together. He was game to do it.
Hi Susan! Glad to hear you had a good hike, but do hope you take care of your knees. Yes, things start falling apart the older we get.
I haven’t read anything by Ann Patchett yet, but do want to try her work. I love the cover for These Precious Days and glad to hear you’ve enjoyed it.
I hope you are having a good week so far and the weekend is just around the corner. Can’t believe it!
Hi Mareli — yeah I’m glad the paintings of Sooki which adorn Ann Patchett’s book cover (both front & back) have a lasting essence to them. You might like her essays of nonfiction more than her fiction – if you try her. I find her audios good too. I hope you are having a great week. Thanks for stopping by.
That is great that you are playing competitive tennis regularly. My aunts both had knew replacement surgery and are doing well after. If you do need it down the road, I hope the same for you. The older I get the more aches and pains I have too. It seems inevitable, doesn’t it?
No Super Bowl or Olympics for me. I have read a headline here and there about the Olympics but just can’t drum up any interest in them this year. I’m sure not having access to watching any of the Olympic games plays into that.
I do like the sound of Precious Days. I have only ever read one novel by Patchett, which I really liked.
I hope you have a great weekend!
Hey Wendy, thanks. I’m glad you mentioned that your aunts are doing well after knee replacement surgery … that gives me hope that it’s not the end of the line for mobility. I still want to be able to hike and do activities afterwards.
The Olympics has gone by quickly and I haven’t seen as much as I wanted. Precious Days was a good one … and I hope you like it if you get to it. Enjoy your weekend too!
I’ve also enjoyed the cross country skiing, but haven’t watched as much Olympics as I would have liked; somehow life has taken over in the evenings.
Patchett’s collection of essays sounds excellent, I’ll have to add it to my list.
Hi Helen, I have missed quite a bit of the Olympics too — not on purpose though. It just got by me. Still what I saw was good! You might like these essays. I especially enjoyed 6 out of the 23 as my favorite ones. Have a great weekend.
Just catching up to this post. Love the title from Ann Patchett’s book. I have put it on my WTR. I think these essay collections can be all over the place, but Ann does seem to lay things bare and delve into life’s struggles and questions a little deeper. I saw that Dwight Garner of NYT basically trashed Margaret Atwood’s recent essay collection. As you would say, Uh Oh.
I think you have to start (if you can given health care, etc.) thinking of the knee solution in terms of months not years. WHY WAIT to live your best life?
Hey thanks for your thoughts. Yeah this essay collection was a bit all over too (several didn’t grab me) … but 6 of the 23 were strong enough on me to make a positive impression. I’m glad you told me about the new Atwood essay book. Interesting I just read Garner’s review. He really hated “the speeches” in it, which sound dull dull. The three he mentions that are decent (non-speech ones) could be worth a perusal. I’m not a big essay reader (though another blogger told me to read Quindlen’s Lots of Candles collection) … and Atwood is quirky.
I’m trying to start the knee process here … but it’s complicated to get seen and accepted .. then the wait list is said to be years for the procedure. I need to push to get in the queue. My GP has recently made a referral but not heard a thing. hmm. Keep me posted on your reads & everything else!