Recs 122: New Ann Patchett, pool mom season, and a comedyThe weekly roundup of things to read, watch, do
Happy Friday! We're in what I've now dubbed “pool mom season” and it runs every weekend from now until September. I love this season. There's the coconutty smell of sunscreen sticks, fresh watermelon slices and sticky juice running down arms, one or two meltdowns thwarted by the promise of popsicles, and scooting our lounge chairs every half hour to chase the shade as the sun moves across the horizon. Fourteen weekends of lounging, lazing, and letting the kids get their wiggles out while I get lost in a leisurely book. Speaking of pools and good books, Pool House by Mary H.K. Choi was just released this week and the cover called to me at the bookstore. More on this below in today’s letter…
If you’re in need of more summer reads, we recently shared a list of 12 unexpected summer reads, thanks to some fabulous Downtime guest contributors, so be sure to check that out. Okay, onto this week’s recs…
A tender, big-hearted new releaseThis week I finished Whistler from beloved author Ann Patchett. This was one of the most anticipated releases of the year for me and it did not disappoint. I read and loved Patchett’s The Dutch House and Tom Lake, so I had high expectations for this one. I think I loved it more than Tom Lake??
Whistler is about a woman named Daphne, a 53-year-old schoolteacher who takes a trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art one day with her husband. After a while, they notice an older gentleman following them. Her husband decides to confront the old man, and the puzzle pieces from Daphne’s past begin to click together: she knows this man. His name is Eddie Triplett and they shared an impactful, albeit brief, time together over forty years ago when she was nine. The museum becomes a metaphor for observing the artifacts of their shared history in a new light. It’s an intense moment for Daphne.
The novel unfolds from there as these two characters suddenly find themselves back in each other’s lives even after so many years apart. Together, they excavate their past and fill in the gaps of what they’ve missed. What I love about Patchett’s writing is the winking, conspiratorial quality, and Whistler is full of it. Conspiratorial (or maybe “confessional?”) is the best word I can think of — she trusts you completely as the reader to understand what’s really happening in a scene. It’s fun to read!! In this same scene, it’s clear this is a big and emotional realization for Daphne, but with Patchett’s authorship, it’s not one without a comedic quality:
Ughhh so good! The book continues on in this same tone - a good mix of high drama and graceful wit. If you loved the quiet charm of Tom Lake and enjoy a hopeful family drama, you will love Whistler. There are unanswered questions baked in that will keep you motivated to finish the book. I keep recommending it to friends who loved The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (though it’s not quite as devastating) or the domestic comedy of Catherine Newman’s books. Whistler is about childhood, it’s about aging, it’s about fathers and motherhood and communal healing. It’s about…life, which is what Ann Patchett is so dang good at writing about. If you’ve read this, what did you think? [One note: I read this on audio and enjoyed Patchett’s narration. But, if you can, I recommend picking up a physical copy because I found the dialogue (which there’s a lot of!!) a bit confusing to parse at first from the characters’ internal thoughts.] Next up, I’m reading Land by Maggie O’Farrell, another most anticipated new release. What have you been reading and loving?
Continuing our summer series styling outfits paired with summer reads. (See part one here.) This Week’s Book: Pool House by Mary H.K. Choi. This new release first grabbed me with its cover and then reeled me in with the blurbs. Michelle Zauner, author of Crying in H Mart, describes it as “Grey Gardens set against the tarnished glitz of Hollywood’s C-list.” Sign me up!! The protagonist, Stevie, wants to move out of LA, where she grew up, but finds herself instead sharing a pool house with her out-of-work actress mother, Moon, while their home is rented out to pay the bills.
The Look: 1) Coverup blockprint dress, 2) Sunglasses, 3) Turquoise gemstone necklace, 4) Brown swimsuit, 5) Cream coverup skirt, 6) Tinted SPF, 7) Blue jelly fisherman sandals, 8) Dark brown raffia tote bag. P.S. - I’m on ShopMy - you can download the app, create a Shopper account, and add me to a “Circle” to follow me. It’s perfect for saving wishlists and seeing what your favorite people are saving.
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