Wild Card with Rachel Martin Ann Patchett (Encore)
Dec 25, 2025
Ann Patchett, a best-selling novelist known for her acclaimed works like Bel Canto and The Dutch House, shares her unique journey in this conversation. She discusses revisiting her hit novel Bel Canto through personal annotations, revealing insights into her craft and decision-making. Patchett reflects on her evolving thoughts about God and acceptance, influenced by life experiences, including a memorable stint in Japan. With warmth and humor, she emphasizes the importance of comfort in being wrong and letting go of legacy.
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Moss, Pigs, And A Small-Town Childhood
- Ann Patchett describes growing up on a quirky, animal-filled farm near Nashville and even ran a moss-selling business at age ten.
- She recalls intimate childhood details like naming chickens after Nixon's cabinet and getting a pig because of Charlotte's Web.
Solitude Learned Abroad And Loved At Home
- Ann Patchett learned to be alone while teaching in a small Japanese town and later craved solitude as a parent.
- She recalls a restorative Christmas alone in Iowa where she knitted, read, and felt joyful and restored.
Distance Reveals Your Craft's Truths
- Revisiting Bel Canto allowed Ann Patchett to map where she improved and where she stalled as a writer.
- She found both proud passages and clumsy choices, using distance to analyze craft honestly.