Reading fiction not only develops our imagination and creativity, it gives us the skills to be alone. It gives us the ability to feel empathy for people we've never met, living lives we couldn't possibly experience for ourselves, because the book puts us inside the character's skin.
Ann PatchettI decided to make my living as a magazine writer. And I found that it was really easy and fun.
Ann PatchettHe used to say we all had a compass inside of us and what we needed to do was to find it and to follow it.
Ann PatchettIf you're trying to find out what's coming next, turn off everything you own that has an OFF switch and listen.
Ann PatchettListen she said, everything ends, every single relationship you will ever have in your lifetime is going to end.... I'll die, you'll die, you'll get tired of each other. You don't always know how it's going to happen, but it is always going to happen. So stop trying to make everything permanent, it doesn't work. I want you to go out there and find some nice man you have no intention of spending the rest of your life with. You can be very, very happy with people you aren't going to marry.
Ann Patchett