Taft
A Novel

A Girl walked into the bar. What a great opening line. Right away it had me asking questions. This is the fourth Patchett novel I have read and one of her earliest. While not as good as Bel Canto or State of Wonder it is still a very enjoyable read. John Nickel lives in Memphis and is an ex jazz drum......more

I came across my first Ann Patchett novel in the early 2000s–her fourth and possibly most popular novel, Bel Canto. Since then I have sporadically read some of her more recent novels, but I had never read her earliest works. This fall, when Hurricane Irma was threatening south Florida and the school......more

Ann Patchett's, "Taft," is the third book that I have read by this supremely talented writer that I wish never ended. All and All, I have read seven of her books and the one thing they all have in common is fantastic characters, wonderful stories, and superb writing. One of the main features of Leona......more

There's a reason this novel hasn't received the acclaim of Patchett's other masterpieces (Bel Canto, State of Wonder, Patron Saint of Liars, and most recent, Commonwealth). This book lacks the gravitas for which Ann Patchett is so well known -- particularly when it comes to her ability to evoke emot......more

The writing is a 4, the story, more 3/3.5 for me. I really like the writing in this book and connected immediately to John Nichol, the narrator. John is a drummer who is managing a bar to provide income for his child and ex. He hires a young waitress, Fay and her, Carl, starts hanging around. Fay and......more