I’ve become an Ann Patchett fan after reading Whistler, a story within a story. The main story unfolds on two timelines as the adult Daphne Fuller, by chance, reconnects with her former stepfather, Eddie, in New York City 40 years after he left her mother’s marriage. The loving relationship is rekindled as they recall their lives together and the almost fatal car accident when Daphne was 9 years old.
While they are trapped in a badly damaged Chevy station wagon, Eddie tells Daphne about a horse named Whistler that saves an injured rider’s life. It is a rich, complex tapestry involving multiple generations, memories, and life-changing drama.
The first Ann Patchett book I read was Bel Canto (2001), about a hostage crisis in South America, which is also highly recommended. Patchett knows how to tell a story and keep you asking for more.