Hanging in the air at every high school and college graduation is a seldom-voiced question: What now? In the life of Ann Patchett, the answer to that question has led her down many winding, even detoured roads. Before she became an award-winning novelist, this Californian transplanted early to Tennessee was a waitress, a line cook, and a very perplexed student. In What Now?, the author of Bel Canto opens her life to readers to show that sometimes exploration is its own reward.
""The best graduation present on the market.... A wise, generous and compact primer for life that could well become a touchstone, readers will return to this book, and probably find something new each time they do; deserves to be given often and enthusiastically."" --Publishers Weekly
Based on her lauded commencement address at Sarah Lawrence College, this stirring essay by bestselling author Ann Patchett offers hope and inspiration for anyone at a crossroads, whether graduating, changing careers, or transitioning from one life stage to another. With wit and candor, Patchett tells her own story of attending college, graduating, and struggling with the inevitable question, What now?
From student to line cook to teacher to waitress and eventually to award-winning author, Patchett's own life has taken many twists and turns that make her exploration genuine and resonant. As Patchett writes, ""'What now?' represents our excitement and our future, the very vitality of life."" She highlights the possibilities the unknown offers and reminds us that there is as much joy in the journey as there is in reaching the destination.
""The best graduation present on the market.... A wise, generous and compact primer for life that could well become a touchstone, readers will return to this book, and probably find something new each time they do; deserves to be given often and enthusiastically."" --Publishers Weekly
Based on her lauded commencement address at Sarah Lawrence College, this stirring essay by bestselling author Ann Patchett offers hope and inspiration for anyone at a crossroads, whether graduating, changing careers, or transitioning from one life stage to another. With wit and candor, Patchett tells her own story of attending college, graduating, and struggling with the inevitable question, What now?
From student to line cook to teacher to waitress and eventually to award-winning author, Patchett's own life has taken many twists and turns that make her exploration genuine and resonant. As Patchett writes, ""'What now?' represents our excitement and our future, the very vitality of life."" She highlights the possibilities the unknown offers and reminds us that there is as much joy in the journey as there is in reaching the destination.
Editorial Reviews
Product Details
BN ID: | 2940173844644 |
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Publisher: | HarperCollins |
Publication date: | 04/15/2008 |
Edition description: | Unabridged |
Sales rank: | 939,342 |