Books & Books and Miami Book Fair Present

A Virtual Evening with

ANN PATCHETT

In conversation with SCOTT SIMON

discussing

These Precious Days: Essays

(HarperCollins, $26.99)

Tuesday, November 23, 6:30PM ET | VIA Crowdcast

GET TICKETS HERE

Tickets are $26.99 (+ tax/fee/shipping)and includes a copy of These Precious Days.Once you make your purchase, we will send you a Crowdcast registration link that will give you access to the event via private link. See below for detailed information on tickets.

About the Book:

“Any story that starts will also end.” As a writer, Ann Patchett knows what the outcome of her fiction will be. Life, however, often takes turns we do not see coming. Patchett ponders this truth in these wise essays that afford a fresh and intimate look into her mind and heart.

At the center of These Precious Days is the title essay, a suprising and moving meditation on an unexpected friendship that explores “what it means to be seen, to find someone with whom you can be your best and most complete self.” When Patchett chose an early galley of actor and producer Tom Hanks’ short story collection to read one night before bed, she had no idea that this single choice would be life changing. It would introduce her to a remarkable woman—Tom’s brilliant assistant Sooki—with whom she would form a profound bond that held monumental consequences for them both.

A literary alchemist, Patchett plumbs the depths of her experiences to create gold: engaging and moving pieces that are both self-portrait and landscape, each vibrant with emotion and rich in insight. Turning her writer’s eye on her own experiences, she transforms the private into the universal, providing us all a way to look at our own worlds anew, and reminds how fleeting and enigmatic life can be.

From the enchantments of Kate di Camilo’s children’s books to youthful memories of Paris; the cherished life gifts given by her three fathers to the unexpected influence of Charles Schultz’s Snoopy; the expansive vision of Eudora Welty to the importance of knitting, Patchett connects life and art as she illuminates what matters most. Infused with the author’s grace, wit, and warmth, the pieces in These Precious Days resonate deep in the soul, leaving an indelible mark—and demonstrate why Ann Patchett is one of the most celebrated writers of our time.

About the Author:

Ann Patchett is the author of eight novels—The Patron Saint of Liars, Taft, The Magician’s Assistant, Bel Canto, Run, State of Wonder, Commonwealth,and The Dutch House—four works of nonfiction, including This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage, and two children’s books, Escape Goatand Lambslide. Her books have been both New York Times Notable Books and New York Times bestsellers. She has been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and has won numerous prizes, including the PEN/Faulkner Award and the Orange Prize for Fiction, and her work has been translated into more than thirty languages. Patchett is the co-owner of Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee, where she lives with her husband, Karl VanDevender, and their dog, Sparky.

About the Moderator:

Scott Simon is one of America’s most admired writers and broadcasters. He is the host of Weekend Edition Saturday and is one of the hosts of NPR’s morning news podcast Up First. He has reported from all fifty states, five continents, and ten wars, from El Salvador to Sarajevo to Afghanistan and Iraq. His books have chronicled character and characters, in war and peace, sports and art, tragedy and comedy.

Ticket Guidelines:

• Tier 1: U.S. GA (Includes book and U.S shipping): The purchase of this ticket admits (1) one person into the virtual event and includes (1) one copy of These Precious Days: Essays (HarperCollins, $26.99 + tax and fee). Please note that a fee of $6 is included for U.S. domestic shipping of the book.

When completing your order, please make sure that you include your complete shipping address and phone number.

Located Overseas?

• Tier 2:International GA (Includes Book + Shipping): The purchase of this ticket admits (1) one person into the virtual event and includes (1) one copy of These Precious Days: Essays (HarperCollins, $26.99 + tax and fee).

**Please Note: This option includes a flat rate international shipping fee of $25 USD for all overseas orders. Due to the pandemic, delivery timelines will vary. Please be advised that we cannot guarantee when you will receive the book, and we thank you for your understanding.

All books will be shipped AFTER the event.

When completing your order, please make sure that you include your complete shipping address and phone number.

Please note: Due to the pandemic the post office is being challenged by increased volume, staffing issues, and safety measures. Most orders within the U.S. deliver in about 10 business days from the date the book ships. International orders usually take longer and vary depending on the country of destination. We cannot guarantee the exact date of delivery, however, will do our best to make it as swift as possible. Thank you for your understanding.