Andie’s Book Club: ‘Run’ by Ann Patchett

Have you ever met someone and thought, we’re going to be best friends? Sometimes you just make a connection with another person and realize you align; your attitudes, your principles, your faith. If you are a reader, you might be lucky enough to feel that way about some authors. There are some writers you know you can count on to create something that moves you. That is how I feel about Ann Patchett.

My introduction to Patchett came with her 2019 novel The Dutch House. Admittedly, I read it simply because it takes place in the Philadelphia area, where I live. And I was mesmerized. Patchett drew me in with her natural writing style and emotionally complex characters that truly seem like friends. 

Since The Dutch House, I’ve read a few other Patchett novels, including Tom Lake, and The Patron Saint of Liars and loved each. Now I’ve moved on to Run (which I was able to download to my Kindle for just $1.99 thanks to BookBub). It didn’t take much arm-twisting to dive into another Ann Patchett story, and Run didn’t let me down.

The novel, set in Boston, which is a character of the story, revolves around the Doyle family and their journey of love, loss, acceptance, and grace. The book has gotten some criticism for spreading itself too thin by touching on several weighty subjects like faith, politics, racial equality, and healthcare, in addition to strong family relationships with a complicated dynamic. It's one of those stories you have to read to understand, so I won't give anything away in this review.

As for the criticism, I say shush. This story repesents real life which is messy and complicated and definitely more than one thing. I think Patchett does a splendid job of weaving these issues without preaching.

After reading my fourth Patchett novel, I realized I'm joining an unofficial society of readers who make their way through every Patchett book. Thank you, fellow readers. This is a place I feel welcome.