These Precious Days

 

These Precious Days: Essays by Ann Patchett. New York: HarperCollins, 2021. (Large Print) 424 pages. *****

I received These Precious Days as my March read for The Colony of Readers in the Book Hive Book Club. It came in the Large Print Edition which was perfect for me to breeze through it. The Essays are well-written and from the heart. Ann Patchett has a gift for self-analysis and the ability to see her relationships through the lens of self-awareness. 

I thoroughly enjoyed each and every one of her essays and highly recommend this book for Book Clubs. I envision a lively discussion of which essay is a favorite and why. 

Three Fathers touched me and reinforced the notion if only we could take the best of people and fashion them into one. Each of her mother's three husbands fulfilled a role in Ann's life to support and love her. 

In There Are No Children Here Ann points out the idiocy of the notion she can't be a real writer until she has children. " Ann was told, "Because until you have children, you don't know what it means to love." 

I was most impressed by the fact that in The Moment Nothing Changed, Ann mentions that she turns her cell phone on about ten times a year.  What? How? Definitely makes me rethink my cell phone habits. 

If you are looking for an entertaining, pick up and put down read, this book has it all!

Ann Patchett is the author of eight novels, four works of nonfiction, and two children's books. Her work has been translated into more than thirty languages. Time magazine names her one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee, where she is the co-owner of Parnassus Books. 

For more information on Ann:  http://www.annpatchett.com/about

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One Breath At A Time

 

One Breath At A Time: The Autobiography of an Artist by David Gerbstadt. Create Space, 2011. 222 pages.

Written in a stream of consciousness, this is the story of a man riding a bicycle who gets run over by a tractor trailer. David sees the blood and instinctively rams his left hand into his wound and over his femoral artery saving his own life until the EMTs arrive. David believes he died in the ambulance and experienced "a deep sense of peace and warm love let me know everything will be okay in the end." What follows next is a long mental, physical, and spiritual journey that would be difficult for anyone and especially someone in recovery from drugs and alcohol. His dialogue is raw and at times painful to read, however, compelling in its honesty. 

I became aware of David's art when a friend purchased "I read banned books" button that he created. Following him on Facebook, I purchased a yard sign, Be Kind Buttons and an original art work. 

His work is so inexpensive I knew that there is a to be a story to be told. (he will mail an original piece of art to anyone who sends him a stamped self-addressed envelope for 1.00) I discovered he had written books and learned a little about his story and wanted to know more. I often wonder if people who have a near death or death experience are changed by it and are more creative afterwards.

Upon further research, I found that he has written a book for children and adults, The Red Heart Book. The original book was a miniature hand drawn version given to his friends for the Christmas Holiday 2007. He sustained his injury right after his generous gift. People saw the little hand drawn book and encouraged David to publish it. His simplistic drawings express love and friendship and will make a perfect gift for everyone you love. 

His books are available through Amazon

I don't think any words of mine will do justice to his message and his need to share his art. It is breath to him and a joy to all who experiences it. 

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