Truth & Beauty | 
pickThis is a lovely tribute to the friendship between Ann Patchett and Lucy Grealy. Before I read this, I read Lucy Grealy's memoir Autobiography of a Face, so I already had an understanding of her medical situation and how it affected her life. Ann and Lucy met in college, quickly became close friends, and Ann was Lucy's biggest supporter.
A little reading time this morning before my work conference started.
Finished These Precious Days and figured I'd stay on the Patchett bandwagon with another of her works that's been languishing on my TBR list. I'm into it so far- Ann and Lucy's relationship reminds me so much of the intense friendships of my 20s, but of course their own unique experiences make the book even more compelling. #CurrentlyReading
Thank you so much for this book to accompany the (previously opened 😁) coffee Catie!! I've heard this is a great book, and I'm really looking forward to reading it! Thanks so much for making my birthday even better! @catiewithac
"The thing you can count on in life is that Tennessee will always be scorching hot in August."
#firstlinefridays @ShyBookOwl
pickTruly, a memoir of a friendship. I read most of this in alternating chapters with Lucy Grealy's book. It was a lovely way to see these two friends, and when Autobiography of a Face came to an end chapters before Truth and Beauty I was forced to finish this journey as Ann was, without Lucy and feeling her loss. This becomes very difficult to read as Grealy's life unravels. Her brilliant talent, loving friends, and wild accolades could not help her.
Finally was able to visit my favourite used bookstore again. Bearly Used Books (located in Parry Sound, Ontario) is 4 hours away from me so I only get there once every few years, but love wandering through all the rooms for hours on end. Wasn't specifically looking for these books, but they caught my eye. #bookhaul #bearlyusedbooks
Some pre “move into the dorm I‘m staying in for two months” reading. #sandiegosummer
Snagged at Parnassus Books in the Nashville terminal. I love a signed copy. Flight was delayed so let‘s see how far I get. #sandiegosummer
" I used to think that once you really knew a thing its #truth would shine on forever. Now it's pretty obvious to me that more often than not the batteries fade, and sometimes what you knew even goes out with a bang when you try to call on it, just like a lightbulb cracking off when you throw the switch."
Pic of Ann at a Literacy Luncheon in Oak Ridge, TN in 2017. Beautiful book, beautiful friendship.
#InQuotes @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
Quick trip back east to visit family and I got to take a little Book Barn side trip ♥️
Picked up the tagged for my #AuldLangSpine reread! @HOTPock3tt @monalyisha
@HOTPock3tt So excited to read some really juicy fantasy in January (looking at all that Sanderson, who I‘ve never tried!) Tagged will be a reread for me, but I‘m stingy with my 5 stars and this was an easy 5 star book so I think it might be first (And if you haven‘t read Lucy‘s memoir, I loved it as a companion book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/534255)
#AuldLangSpine
Today‘s adventure….snuggling one of eight kittens at Otis and Clementine, a used book store in Tantallon, NS.
pickStill reeling a bit, feeling off-kilter somewhat as I process thoughts and contradictions of what friendship means, what messy humans we are. What is truth? And beauty is subjective, not all art is beautiful. Your story is always yours to tell but what is the aim? Does it matter? Does the consumer of art participate in the motivations? Actions and consequences… Messiness and pain. Redemption.
“Grief isn't something to 'be gotten through.' It has no life of its own like that, it's just plain and simply there. It's one of the things which tells us we're human.“ ~ Lucy Grealy
pickThis memoir is a gracious hymn to a beautiful and rare friendship. It‘s also an interesting perspective on the writing life. I‘m glad that I read it and have even more respect for Patchett as a writer — and as a person.
pickAnn Patchett‘s account of her friendship with fellow writer Lucy Grealy could have turned into a sentimental mess, especially in the passages dealing with Lucy‘s efforts to reshape her jaw following a bout with jaw cancer. Fortunately, Patchett is too clear-eyed and skillful a writer to fall into that trap. The result is a memoir that is not only beautiful, but wise.
Added two more books to the many that I have previously read by the incomparable Ann Patchett! Each one touched my heart! Thank you for encouraging me! @Soubhiville #authoramonth
pickWhat a story! A story of friendship. A story of love. A tragedy. I listened to the audio. Ann‘s kind voice was ideal. This was the only photo that I could find of Ann Patchett and her best friend Lucy Greeley together. Lucy underwent numerous surgeries during her life, and at times, Ann would literally carry her. My best friend of over 40 years died less than a year ago. I was reminded of the closeness that we had. #authoramonth
@Soubhiville
Just discovered that my Library offers both Libby AND Hoopla! First Hoopla borrow! I enjoy Ann Patchett‘s soothing voice as she tells her own story. #authoramonth #annpatchett
@Soubhiville
pickMoving story of friends Ann Patchett and Lucy Grealy: the two aspiring writers met in grad school and were close until Lucy‘s death in 2002; through Lucy‘s many surgeries, through both fame and success. 😥
#authoramonth2021 @Soubhiville
#bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks
pickI‘d never heard of Lucy Grealy before this week, read this one because of #authoramonth and such good reviews.
I did enjoy it, (yes, there‘s a but) but found the friendship actual hard work and a bit exhausting!! Has made me think a lot though.
Not reading Grealy‘s book at the moment because too many sad NF in a row and I‘m not sure I‘m ready for Lucy yet.
pickIf only we all could be blessed with a friendship as deep and abiding as Ann and Lucy‘s (but maybe less codependent). Lucy‘s is another death that began with the opiate crisis. (F**k you Sackler family!!) But her personal and literary star burned brightly during her 39 years. She overcame a great deal and touched so many lives. I‘m glad to have read her story from her eyes ⬇️ and Ann‘s! #audiobook #hoopla #AuthorAMonth #aam
pickThere was something so intimate and personal inside this memoir of friendship between Ann Patchett and her dear friend and fellow author Lucy Grealy. If only everyone could be blessed with such a friend. It‘s hard to describe how emotionally invested I was, it felt like Ann Patchett was allowing me into her life ~ sharing pieces of herself. This was my first experience reading NF from Ann Patchett but it certainly won‘t be the last.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
While I wait for #BookSpinBingo I‘m starting my #AAM #June #AnnPatchett 🙌🏻💕so far it‘s GORGEOUS but I can tell heartbreaking 💔 @TheAromaofBooks @Soubhiville
pick4⭐️ || I absolutely love Ann Patchett‘s writing. This one was more unsettling than I was expecting, however. I know I‘ll be thinking about it for quite awhile.
pickA love story to Ann's best friend. A story too about how much the human spirit can endure.
Look at the neat little homemade bookmark my friend just dropped off. 🥰
I'm feeling a little reading burn out....I also can't figure out what to read next. My friend suggested a memoir/nonfiction to break my fiction reading up a bit.
I've had this lovely signed first edition on my shelf forever, so I'm going to read this next.
“Writing is a job, a talent, but it's also the place to go in your head. It is the imaginary friend you drink your tea with in the afternoon.” ~ Ann Patchett, Truth and Beauty
Pretty sure Ann Patchett could write a book about watching paint dry and I‘d read every. single. word. 💕 This won‘t be my favorite of hers (Bel Canto still has my whole heart), but she‘s such a captivating storyteller and reading about her beautiful and odd friendship with Lucy Grealy is fascinating. Also, Truman says hi. 😹 #catsoflitsy #bookhousecats
Eager to start this song to friendship.
pickAnn Patchett became life-long friends with Lucy Grealy at the Iowa Writer‘s Workshop and remained quite close with her until Lucy‘s death from heroin. Here she tells the story of their friendship and their coming of age as writers together. It is by turns sweet, sad, and touching.
pickWhat a lovely, heartbreaking book about a very special friendship. I‘m a fan of whatever Patchett writes and this was no exception. As with Happy Marriage, she reads the audio beautifully.
This book follows the #trueblue friendship between Patchett and her friend Lucy who lost part of her jaw from early childhood cancer. After taking pain killers following reconstruction surgery as an adult, Lucy developed a drug addiction that ultimately led to her death. An amazing & heartbreaking 💙
#movember
pickI love Ann Patchett but have avoided reading this for years because I wasn‘t sure if I could handle it. It was so good though. Worth the the heartbreak and sadness.
A fantastic read! I just flew through the pages, and was sad when it ended.
so-soI have mixed feelings about this book. I‘m an Ann Patchett fan, and the writing here was excellent as usual. But there was something a little cold, a little removed, in this book about a friendship. Lucy seemed like, frankly, a drag, and there wasn‘t a lot of introspection from Ann. But I found it to be a quick and interesting read.
so-soI don't know how I feel about this one... Ann Patchett writes well, but I struggle with getting into it. Maybe it's knowing how it ends or something, but I'm just sort of meeh to the whole thing. (Which makes me feel like a horrible person🙈)
#Scar #MarchIntoOz
Immediately thought of Ann Patchett‘s book detailing her twenty year friendship with Lucy Grealy, who lost part of her jaw to childhood cancer. This book, a library find in the new fiction section (2004),made a deep impression on me. It was my first encounter with this author. 💕📚
pickI love Ann Patchett and her writing voice and this memoir was no exception. This is a beautiful (if sometimes graphic and heart-wrenching) retelling of Patchett's 20-year friendship with the poet Lucy Grealy. As an aspiring writer, my favorite part was following along with the career trajectories of both of these literary women. A great memoir.
pickOh, what a wonderful read this was. Bittersweet as it was a sad subject, but full of the whims and treasured conversations and anecdotes about friendship over time.
I adore Patchett 's books, and was fortunate enough to hear her speak at Bath Literature Festival last year. She comes across as very down to earth and is inspirational in this.
This book details her friendship with another writer, dating back to their college days.
#saturdayreads #femalewriters #femalefriendship
pickI was finding the audio a little too slow,so I switched to my eReader to finish the last section. A fascinating story of the friendship between Ann Patchett and Lucy Grealy. I will have to read Lucy's book as well soon. 🤓
