by Ann Patchett
Goodreads Synopsis:
When Daphne Fuller and her husband Jonathan visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art, they notice an older, white-haired gentleman following them. The man turns out to be Eddie Triplett, her former stepfather, who had been married to her mother for a little more than year when Daphne was nine. Now fifty-three, Daphne hasn’t seen Eddie for many years, not since the fateful event that changed the direction of both their lives. Meeting again, time falls away; while their relationship was brief, it had a profound impact on them both, and now that they are reunited, they have no intention of ever being separated again.
Whistler is a story about two adults looking back over the choices they made, and the choices that were made for them. It’s a story about bravery, memory, the often small yet consequential moments that define our lives, and the endless stream of loss that in time comes for us all. Beautiful in its simplicity, it is ultimately about how love endures, and how the feeling of being known by one other person, even for a short period of time, can change everything.
Helen says: 🤓🤓🤓🤓
I listened on Audible. Ann Patchett narrated it. I absolutely love her books and this one delivered. I had heard mixed reviews, but I was rapt. Why are her books so good and relatable? I guess I love a character driven novel the most. I feel like an in-the-know member of her family while reading her books…This started to drag a bit at the end…still a top notch story though!
Holly says: 🤓🤓🤓3/4
I enjoyed this story. Ann Patchett is the master of character development and bringing the small details alive. She creates a very meaningful story out of the basics of life. At first I was not sure about this book, but the more I read, the more I liked it. So many interesting and intertwined relationships. I thought this might end up being a book that I wouldn’t really remember, but actually the opposite is true – this one stays with you. After reading some of Ann Patchett’s books, I would be very interested to meet her mother, author Jeanne Ray, who wrote her first novel at age 60, and read at least one of her books…maybe in the upcoming months. I definitely liked this better than Tom Lake. I get an Upper East Side vibe from all of Patchett’s books that is kind of comforting in a weird way. Many of the characters are like people you would know in your own life.
Helen and Holly Hit the Books 