I love Ann Patchett and I did not think this book was nearly as good as her others have been. In the back, they have a question and answer session with her and she said this is her favorite book, very surprising to me. She talks about how moral the main character is. Well, I found his choices, actually a total lack of reaction to a lot of ridiculous things, to be not so much moral as just plain blase. Wow. Her writing, as always, is great, but the story just seemed so weird to me. Not my favorite of hers by a long shot.
A great read! The one thing I am finding about Ann Patchett's books is I love the plot and the characters, I just hate the ending. She writes wonderful stories that draw you in, and characters that you just care about, but the endings are rotten.
I'm in awe of Patchett's narrative style and her ability to step into the voice of any character she creates. Bel Canto and Run are higher up on my list but this novel is really good also.
Ann Patchett is amazing, she writes so well no matter what voice, or subject, or format. I don't know the American South but reading Taft I felt it like I was in it. It was such an effortless, enjoyable read, I have to put all her books on my to-read list pronto.
The story is mostly about fatherhood but also touches on jazz and race and relationships in general. The story mostly takes place at a bar in Memphis that John (a black ex-jazz drummer) runs, where he hires a young white waitress named Fay. John's ex-girlfriend has taken their 9 year old son with her away to Miami, and when he learns that Fay and her younger brother Clay have lost their own father, somehow John begins looking after them, in a benign way at first but (in a brilliantly real and un-contrived sort of meandering fashion) then becomes dangerously involved and the suspense is awesome.
There are constant perspective shifts as the story goes back and forth between John's present and Fay and Clay's father's past; and it's interesting not knowing if the Taft story is actual or if it's John's interpretation or reconstruction of a life he never knew.
Enjoyed the journey the characters went through.
Patchette, a childless white woman, somehow gets into the head of an African-American father who has temporarily lost access to the son he adored -- and ends up mentoring two, troubled white teens. Brilliant portralas, provocative details, couldn't put it down. Highly recommended.
Not Ann's best but a good story.
