The Patron Saint of Liars

My first Ann Patchett novel was Bel Canto, and I was hooked. I could see Renee Fleming as the opera singer and wondered why it had not been made into a movie. I assumed Patchett and Fleming were close friends. Then I went on to read The Magician's Assistant. It's odd to describe a book in which nothing much happens as good, but it was. Seinfeld was about nothing much, and it was good too. Then came that stinker of a book State of Wonder where a woman calls her lover 'Mr Fox,' and he calls her by her first name. I read about 20% of it and gave up on it. But I didn't give up on Ann Patchett, and this book make me glad I didn't. I can't believe it's a first novel. Maybe State of Wonder was really her first novel that she pulled out of a trunk after her name had been made. This wonderful book is about something. It is about the unknowing of another person, no matter how intimately you live with them. No matter how you see them every day. The human spirit remains a mystery forever. The book is divided into three sections. In the first we meet Rose. Married and pregnant, she leaves her husband in California, gets in her car drives. She ends up at an old hotel that has been converted into a home for unwed mothers. The mother superior doesn't believe Rose's story about having a husband (all the girls claim to have had a husband), but she takes her in anyway. Rose is different from the other girls. Making herself indispensable in the kitchen, she keeps her daughter, and stays on at the home. The second part is about Son, the only male on the place. All-around handyman and nice guy, he comes to love Rose. He is stunned when Rose agrees to marry him, and give the baby a name. It is his name on the birth certificate. He has secrets of his own, and he doesn't like it when Rose gives the baby the name of his first girlfriend. Part three is told by her daughter, Cecilia. Growing up in an home for unwed mothers is strange enough without being mistaken for one of the unwed mothers by the new girls. Cecilia tries to cope with a distant mother who tolerates her, but doesn't seem to love her. For love she turns to her father and the nuns. This lovely story, told from three points of view, succeeds on every level. I wonder why they don't make this story into a movie. Not enough superheroes I guess, but all the characters are heroic enough for me.

Lovely comfortable writing. Felt like home. Characters are unusual but well portrayed. Quick easy read. Memorable plot line. Most enjoyable.

I have now read 4 of Ann Patchett’s novels, and although this was her first, it’s my favorite so far. A complex, flawed, almost unfathomable main character, Rose, looks for signs from God about the direction her life should take and then is relentless in her pursuit. An interesting, but also not-particularly-interesting setting—a former luxury hotel, now a home for pregnant girls in Kentucky. The time period is the 1960s-1970s. Girls come and go; a gentle giant of a property caretaker helps out; an elderly nun has super powers of her own, the ability to see one’s future and one’s past. All is made more interesting by the birth of Rose’s child, a smart and precocious little girl. The interwoven personalities, and sometimes the actions they take, leave you thinking about the book long after you’ve put it down. It’s complicated. It’s interesting. Not a bit suspenseful, but psychological. All in a low-key way that speaks to the talent of this writer. I could see it being a good choice for a book club discussion. I also listened to the audiobook. Julia Gibson is an excellent narrator, who brings the characters to life. I highly recommend this book.

The Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett is an exquisitely crafted novel that draws you in with its compelling premise and rich, atmospheric storytelling. The book’s strength lies in its captivating characters and the layered narrative that seamlessly weaves together the lives of Rose, Cecilia, and Son, all of whom are beautifully flawed and achingly human. The nuns at St. Elizabeth’s add a charming and unexpected warmth to the story, offering moments of grace and wisdom amid the turmoil. Patchett’s writing shines in how it unpacks themes of love, loss, and the search for belonging. Rose’s enigmatic character anchors the story, and while it’s understandable that her mystery remains intact, the lack of closure for other plotlines feels frustrating. The ending leaves too many questions hanging, making it hard not to feel a bit let down after such a well-structured and engrossing buildup. Had the ending offered more resolution or addressed some of the loose ends, this could have easily been a 5-star read. Instead, the lack of closure makes the story feel incomplete, leaving readers with a sense of unfinished business rather than a satisfying conclusion. Despite this flaw, The Patron Saint of Liars remains a worthwhile read for its nuanced characters and evocative prose. If you appreciate stories that embrace ambiguity, you’ll find much to admire here. Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Ann Patchett has a brilliantly straightforward writing style that kept me engaged even as I was first mystified and then frustrated by her characters' failure to face up to the messes they had made. Only after reading several reviews on Amazon was I able to formulate my own opinion of the message. Spoiler alert:: The first section introduces the place: a hamlet in Kentucky known for nothing but the hot spring that is discovered by a farmer whose daughter is cured by the waters healing properties. After a succession of miraculous healings, "Baptist miracles", a developer builds a luxury hotel that draws the rich and famous to partake. The Crash of 1929 dries up much of the flow of paying guests and a drought dries up the spring. But still the hotel serves as a haven for miracle seekers. The Catholic church takes possession, first to use as a retirement home for nuns, then as a home for unwed mothers. The rest of the story can be seen as a succession of pilgrims for whom the hotel, now called St. Elizabeth's, is a refuge from a world they cannot face because of their inability to handle their own lies. The characters are complex, the story intriguing as the unwed mothers and the nuns learn to rely upon each other. The format of three narrators fills in the storyline with depth and creates an urgency for the reader. But I shared with many other reviewers a frustration with Rose who could not love and with her husbands and daughter who could not stop loving her too much. Perhaps the enigmatic title refers to the dependence of the characters on a sign from God through prayers to one saint or another, signs that lead to decisions of desperation, clinging to a microcosmic escape from the tangled web of their lies. The ending, which was deeply unsatisfactory to many reviewers, seems to be a clue to the continuing power of the place to draw in workers who dream of a purpose beyond the untenable life outside.

Ann Patchett fans have probably already read this amazing book. It was Ms. Patchett's first novel. I can't believe that because it is so polished and well-done. I am not a full-fledged Ann Patchett fan because I found Commonwealth tedious at best and I only modestly enjoyed State of Wonder. But I loved Bel Canto and I have to say, I loved The Patron Saint of Liars. The story is about a young woman who felt trapped in her life. She's a devote Catholic and doesn't see divorce as an option. Instead she decides to leave her life and go as far away as possible. Unfortunately, she must leave not only people with whom she feels trapped but also her beloved mother. She leaves with no real plan except to find a good family who will take her baby. Not to spoil the story, I will leave it there. You'll have to read it to find out more. But, I will say that it is written in three clear and distinct points-of-view in sections. Each tells more about the inner workings of those three characters and their relationships to one another. That's one of my favorite kinds of books to read. That's why Susan Howach is one of my all-time favorite writers. Patchett writes with wonderful simplicity and clarity. Yes, there's a lot of inner dialogue and yes, there's a lot of backstory. But, the author handles both so well. This is the kind of book that is so touching, that tears form in your eyes as you read. Here are some especially stunning quotes: People think you have to be going someplace, when, in fact, the ride is plenty. There was a loneliness in being answered, as if God and I had less to say to each other now. It was a time in my life when a Junior Mint could meet the difference between happiness and unhappiness. If people do have more than one life in a lifetime, they should be careful to make sure the different versions of the past never overlap. ...missing people was a full-time job, being sorry about what was gone was going to take every waking minute now, so much time and energy that I had no choice but to stay right on that spot until they decided to come back. This is a book about loneliness. I felt the rawness of Rose's loneliness from the first page. She could love deeply and she could hurt others deeply. My only negative in this first novel is the redundancy. We heard how beautiful Rose was one or two or three times too many. As a reader, I wanted to say, "Okay, I get it!" But, overlooking that sleight, I can say this is a must-read and on my list of all-time favorite books.

St. Elizabeth’s Home for Unwed Mothers in Habit, Kentucky is where parents discreetly sent their errant daughters, who would return seven months later to resume their life, after “visiting far-away relatives”. The Home was run by nuns and the girls were actually treated quite well. This is where Rose Clinton ran away to when she found herself in a family way. Actually, she was married, and her husband would have loved to find out he was going to be a father. But Rose didn’t love him, and she knew she couldn’t give a baby the care and love it would need. So, her plan was to stay at the home only long enough to have the baby, give it up for adoption, and then keep going. But instead, she ended up keeping the baby, marrying St. Elizabeth’s handyman, and working in the kitchen, preparing the meals for the girls. This story is told in three segments. The first part is told from Rose’s point of view, and continues until the birth of her baby. The middle segment is told by her husband, “Son”, the handyman who took on the role of Dad to Rose’s daughter, and who continues the story until the daughter, Cecilia, is in her teens. The last segment is told by 15-year-old Cecilia. I enjoyed this book very much. I loved the writing. It engaged my emotions. Rose was maddening. I was exasperated with her inability to show any affection for either her daughter or her husband. Not only did she not give them her time or notice, she refused to reveal anything about herself or her past to either of them. My heart ached for Cecilia who sucked up any morsel of attention she could squeeze from her mother. And I wanted Son to demand more of Rose, but he just accepted her for who she was. I could never be that accepting. This was the first book by Ann Patchett I’ve read, although I’ve had several of her books on my Must-Read list for a long time. Now that I’ve got one under my belt, I intend to eventually read every book she’s written. Five stars. (Because four aren’t enough.)

I’ve read and enjoyed several Ann Patchett novels. This was her debut, and it’s an impressive beginning to an impressive career. I had intended to give it a 5/5 rating until the end, and without giving anything away, suffice it to say that the end didn’t stand up to the rest of the book, which is too bad. The book has lots to say about relationships formed especially among unlikely acquaintances. It also has much to say about secrets and lies; hence, the title. Overall, as I said, it is an impressive debut novel, but don’t judge Patchett on this one. Read the rest to see her real genius.

Ann Patchett writes a well crafted story that meanders through the lives of ordinary people. It’s a very satisfying read.

Some people are a mystery. What they think, what motivates them to act in the way that they do and why they tell the half-truths or lies to those closest to them. The reasons for all of the above are only known to themselves. In Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett, Rose is a mystery. Rose is married to a sweet man, who allows her the freedom to spend all day doing what she loves – driving. For Rose the destination isn’t important, just the journey and the freedom it brings. Rose discovers that she’s pregnant and takes off driving across to the other side of America. She leaves her husband a simple note. Rose heads for St. Elizabeth’s. St. Elizabeth’s is a former hotel, that is run by Roman Catholic Nuns. It is a place where women go to complete their pregnancy, give birth and then give their baby up for adoption. But nothing works out like Rose planned. Rose meets Son, a handyman more than twenty years her senior. She finds a place in the kitchen, helping Sister Evangeline out with the cooking. Sister Evangeline and Rose become close friends, but that’s because Sister Evangeline accepts that Rose will never open up about her past or herself. Rose also meets the kind June Clatterbuck, who owns the land St. Elizabeth’s is on and lives across a field. There’s nothing I could writes in this review to explain the brilliance of this Patron Saint of Liars. The first person perspective is perfect and the changes between the three main characters happens at exactly the right times. The description is ideal, informative and ignites the readers imagination. The pacing, set over a lifetime is impeccable. Each of the characters and their development is superb. Patron Saint of Liars is a pleasurable read, that captivates throughout and will leave the reader wanting more. It is Patchett’s writing at her very best. It would make a blockbuster of a film. I don’t grade reviews, but if I did Patron Saint of Liars would get 12 out of 10. You simply must read this fantastic and life-changing work of fiction. Review soon, Antony

Left me flat

I am sure rose had aspergers. How she couldn’t relate to anyone and the need to cook very day. She hurt many people

Was very disappointed with this book. I loved the Dutch House but this did not compare. I couldn't empathise with any of the main characters - particularly Rose who was selfish and cruel. I found all the characters very 1 dimensional and couldn't understand how everyone loved Rose who was just cold and indifferent to the needs of others. I really didn't see the point of the story and found it all very frustrating.