The Latest Breaking News from Ann Patchett

The best literary comfort reads rebuild our strength so we can face reality, argues novelist Francesca Segal. She picks her ultimate reading list – with help from Nick Hornby, Sathnam Sanghera and Naomi Alderman

When a writer holds the power of the narrative, what moral compass guides them through the ethical issues of writing ‘true stories’?

The human brain can change – but usually only slowly and with great effort, such as when learning a new sport or foreign language, or recovering from a stroke. Learning new skills correlates with changes in the brain, as evidenced by neuroscience research with animals and functional brain scans in…

In the new novel Tom Lake, a mother bonds with her daughters who are home for the pandemic. But how much of her past is she expected to share?

This week’s bookcase includes reviews of Fair Rosaline by Natasha Solomons and Open Throat by Henry Hoke.

Martin Chilton reviews the biggest new books for August in our monthly column

An American fruit farm is the setting for a bittersweet tale of family heartbreak and hope during the pandemic

Patchett’s new novel, in which a mother tells her daughters about her early romance with a famous actor, is a gentle but revealing meditation on lost love and destiny

The Nashville author’s essay, These Precious Days, prompted a global outpouring of love, and her new book celebrates the wonder of ordinary life. She talks about running a bookshop, resisting censorship and taking inspiration from Madonna