Portrait of Ann Patchett
Author and bookseller

Ann Patchett

Ann Patchett is the author of Bel Canto, The Dutch House, and Tom Lake, and co-owner of Parnassus Books in Nashville. As a working bookseller she recommends titles constantly in interviews, cover blurbs, and PBS NewsHour's summer reading segment. Picks below come from her own words.

24
Recommendations
2025
Most recent list
Literary Fiction
Most-recommended
AuthorEntrepreneurLiterary Fiction
On the record

All Ann Patchett book recommendations.

Buckeye cover01
Literary Fiction

Buckeye

by Patrick Ryan2025

“This is just such a terrific novel. It goes from the First World War through Vietnam, showing the effects of war and love.”source

The Satisfaction Cafe cover07
Literary Fiction

The Satisfaction Cafe

by Kathy Wang2025

“A very quiet, funny, smart book... Think Anne Tyler, just beautifully written, quiet, simple, and very, very smart, very entertaining.”source

In the Wild cover10
Young Adult

In the Wild

by Zadie Smith, Nick Laird2024

“Zadie Smith, our greatest writer, has written about a weird little guinea pig in a judo suit. It is such a strange, terrific book. Love it. Love it.”source

Sandwich cover14
Contemporary Fiction

Sandwich

by Catherine Newman2024

“I am very excited about Sandwich by Catherine Newman. If you want a book that has you from hello, this is the one.”source

Consent cover16
Memoir

Consent

by Jill Ciment2024

“It is her looking back on her life and thinking, it was a happy marriage, but, knowing what I know now, maybe there was something a little wrong about that.”source

Ferris cover17
Young Adult

Ferris

by Kate DiCamillo2024

“It's a story about a happy family. Call me crazy, my favorite.”source

James cover18
Historical Fiction

James

by Percival Everett2024

“James is funny and horrifying, brilliant and riveting. In telling the story of Jim instead of Huckleberry Finn, Percival Everett delivers a powerful, necessary corrective to both literature and history. Who should read this book? Every single person in the country.”source

The Night Watchman cover20
Historical Fiction

The Night Watchman

by Louise Erdrich2020

“This is my very favorite of her books. It's a novel based on her grandfather's story about helping Native American people hold onto their land.”source

Here for It cover21
Memoir

Here for It

by R. Eric Thomas2021

“It's a book of essays. He writes for Elle, writes a lot of political things, but these are just really laugh-out-loud funny.”source

It cover24
Literary Fiction

It

by Stephen King1986

“Writers & Lovers made me happy. Even as the narrator grieves the loss of her mother and struggles to make art and keep a roof over her head, the novel is suffused with hopefulness and kindness. Lily King writes with a great generosity of spirit.”source

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