Truth & Beauty

A Friendship

By: Ann Patchett

Narrated by: Ann Patchett

Length: 8 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

The author of Bel Canto, winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award, the Orange Prize, and long-running New York Times best seller, turns to nonfiction in a moving chronicle of her decades-long friendship with the critically acclaimed and recently deceased author, Lucy Grealy.

What happens when the person who is your family is someone you aren't bound to by blood? What happens when that person is not your lover, but your best friend? In her frank and startlingly intimate first work of nonfiction, Truth & Beauty, Ann Patchett shines light on the little-explored world of women's friendships and shows us what it means to stand together.

Ann Patchett and Lucy Grealy met in college in 1981, and after enrolling in the Iowa Writer's Workshop began a friendship that would be as defining to both of their lives as their work. In her critically acclaimed memoir, Autobiography of a Face, Lucy Grealy wrote about the first half of her life. In Truth & Beauty, the story isn't Lucy's life or Ann's life but the parts of their lives they shared together. This is a portrait of unwavering commitment that spans 20 years, from the long cold winters of the Midwest to surgical wards to book parties in New York. Through love, fame, drugs, and despair, this is what it means to be part of two lives that are intertwined.

This is a tender, brutal book about loving the person we cannot save. It is about loyalty and about being lifted up by the sheer effervescence of someone who knew how to live life to the fullest.

Don't miss our free Ann Patchett interview. Patchett is an Audible CelebrityListener - find out what she's listening to here.

©2004 Ann Patchett (P)2004 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Critic reviews

• Alex Award Winner, 2005

"This gorgeously written chronicle unfolds as an example of how friendships can contain more passion and affection than any in the romantic realm." (Publishers Weekly)
"An electrifyingly intimate portrait of a remarkable human being, and a profoundly insightful chronicle of an incandescent friendship." (Booklist)

Ann Patchett does it again! Superb!

Loved the story. The characters and the reading! Truly enjoyable with wonderful classical and well know references

well done

Ann Patchett does a remarkable job of describing her friendship with Lucy Greely, painting a vivid portrait of Lucy and her own masochistic love for her. I highly recommend reading Lucy Greely's own autobiography, "Autobiography of a Face" prior to listening to this - Audible doesn't have it yet, but it might be hard to understand this description of Lucy's later life without knowing the background. Otherwise, empathizing with their friendship could be difficult since she does not really describe the events which made Lucy the tragic heroine that she is. I reserve 5 stars for the best of the best, but this is a good listen; she does an excellent job narrating her book and it is heart rending, and even compelling at times.

Hard to Put Down

This love letter to a dear and flawed friend is bittersweet (wabi sabi). Their love for one another is undeniable. Lucy was a brilliant, charismatic soul, who searched for beauty. Ann wrote a touching biography of her conflicted friend. Lucy was Ann’s alter ego, at times they seem interwoven, 2 halves of a whole. The tragedy is that Lucy questioned everyone’s love. Ann was the “best” and most patient friend to Lucy and their love for one another is prodigious. Honest, raw and loving all at the same time. What a powerful listen!

Truth And Beauty

Captivating work beautifully read by the author.

Such a moving story, so beautifully read!

I really couldn't stop listening to this book. When I was finished I started reading it again. Ann Patchett is a wonderful writer and hearing her read this story of such a meaningful friendship in her life was so moving I couldn't stop. Though I have much compassion for Lucy Grealy, I have to admit I didn't find her such a likable person, but that was part of what I liked so much about the book. It was so true it was raw, and that made its beauty. Highly recommended.

Tear Jerking

I listened to Truth and Beauty that unfolds the life of the beautiful Lucy Grealy, her closest and most dear friend, and directly after that I listened to Autobiography Of A Face by Lucy...all three phenomenally written and expressed.


I would definitely consider these books a three part series. If you listen to one, listen to the others.

other book: (This is the story of a happy marriage)

“This was my mistake”

This closing statement is so real, as anyone in AlAnon or AA would tell you, and who have all had or seen this experience. But she did her best and loved unconditionally. One just doesn’t know what they don’t know.

amazing audio / first review

haven't written a review before. felt the need to write one here--this was one of the best audiobooks I've ever listened to, bought it maybe 5 yrs ago and have listened to many since. still love this one. hated for the novel to end. story about a woman's friendship--very intimate, almost like lovers (as a lesbian and close friend to plenty of straight ladies, I found this aspect especially truthful--as female friends very often toe the line super close to lover)
anyway, beautifully narrated by author. what else...
i suppose I should mention other audio titles I have hated to have end. All sedaris (Amy and David) titles, and that first book in Strain series. pretty much it.

Well written and read - a perfect example

What made the experience of listening to Truth & Beauty the most enjoyable?

That the author read her own work.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The relationship between the author and her subject comprise the main "character."

Which character – as performed by Ann Patchett – was your favorite?

All

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Friendship is beautiful.

Any additional comments?

This is how all audio books should be produced. Well-read and professionally recorded.

Nonfiction by a Fiction Writer

Ann Patchett is one of my favorite authors. Listening to this in her voice made the story so much better, but it was already well-written because Patchett has been writing for years. It almost came off as fiction until the last chapter, which was too real and almost made me cry.