A Post: Bookstores in Other States - Nashville, Tennessee & A Giveaway

My weekend, which had been planned for at least 4 months, was cancelled because of an unexpected change in the weather and a few feet of snow. I wished and wished for snow, and Portland got it, but I wasn't there to see. J, the always amazing super sidekick, surprised me many months ago with tickets to see my favorite singer/songwriter, Jeff Mangum (former Neutral Milk Hotel frontman), in Portland, Maine. He thought it would be a good opportunity to explore an area we sort of neglected during our northeast tour this past summer, and enjoy a nice 3 day weekend. Thankfully my mother contacted us that morning to make sure that we brought tons of layers if we were, in fact, planning to brave the historical blizzard.

After much googling, we realized if we went, we'd be staring at a tv in some hotel suite and couldn't even see Mangum if we had braved it because the show had been cancelled. We could have been stuck in Maine or Massachusetts or on a highway somewhere. So. We did a little brainstorming and decided that a short drive to Nashville would grant us the opportunity to get away from the A for a bit, and give us a chance to explore a city that we often only drive through.

It was wonderful. Top ten vacation material there.

We visited a nice French-inspired spot for some brunch (hello, croissant french toast), and even got a little taste of the high life at a speakeasy. The Patterson House is an unassuming little building that doesn't promise much; however, when you're inside, you'll find fancy cocktails served by handsome fellas in suspenders, while oldies play softly in the background, and striking chandeliers provide a dim light for complete intimacy. We cancelled our dinner reservations and spent the night toasting one another and laughing into each other's ears. If you're in Nashville, find it, consume cocktails, and quote your favorite Fitzgerald lines.

We also made it a priority to to visit Parnassus Books, you know, the bookshop owned by Ann Patchett. It was beautiful and perfectly arranged and made me want to spend all of my money on the shiny books that I often lust over on goodreads. I'm definitely going all in and naming it one of the best independent stores I've visited yet!

Here are some photos that should convince you to visit:

This a top secret space that's just big enough for the kiddos. Look at that treasure trove of books! Seriously, I would have died of delight if I had stumbled upon this when I was a wee gal.

And, of course, the damage. You had to know it was coming. How could I not splurge and get myself some new books?

Last one, I swear. I snagged this beauty for my niece because she's learning numbers and because it was so darn awesome. Check out the Babylit site for more options! 

I enjoyed State of Wonder so much, you can read the review here, that I've decided to host a giveaway to celebrate finally visiting the shop and to simply share a good read!

 

You can enter to win a signed copy of Ann Patchett's State of Wonder below!

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A Review: State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

"Instead of growing up inquisitive and restless, she had developed a profound desire to stay, as if her center of gravity was so low it connected her directly to this particular patch of earth."

Dr. Marina Singh is sent to the Amazon to uncover details regarding the death of Dr. Anders Eckman, her friend and coworker. Leaving his grieving family and her own life behind, she must attempt to stay sane and healthy while tracking down the doctor Ander's was initially sent to find. In the heart of the jungle, Dr. Annick Swenson, Marina's one time instructor, is working on a drug that will allow women to give birth much later in life.  Desperate for answers surrounding Eckman's death and the discoveries Swenson's been hiding for years, Marina must keep her objectives insight before she, too, is lost.

I'll admit that I was really intimated by Ann Patchett. Reviews or comments I'd encountered in passing had left the impression that her work, while enormously admired, would be over my head and a bit on the wordy side. While Patchett may spit words out on the page as if they were disappearing tomorrow, she is, by far, one of the best storytellers I've read in years. Carrie at nomadreader got me with her review and, so, like any good blogger, I immediately put a copy on hold at the library. 

Patchett manages to open the novel with Eckman's death (no worries about spoilers.. it's on the cover) in a way that, I felt, was appropriate for the story that follows. When Marina is given a note informing the pharmaceutical company of Eckman's death, the entire experience is surreal. Marina is lost, the audience is lost, because at this point in time, you're unaware of Eckman's travels deep into the Amazon while questioning Dr. Swenson on the progress of her drug development.  When Marina realizes that she must accept Karen's request and Mr. Fox's (Vogel's CEO and her lover) desire to get the answers they seek, the entire journey almost seems like a terrible dream, something that would never actually materialize.  

Patchett also managed to include snippets of the baggage other characters carried throughout the story with such grace that it simply completed them and made them whole without taking away from main events and losing the reader.  While Marina's motivations and general thoughts were just so unpredictable that I couldn't get a grasp of her personality as a whole, there were moments of clarity that seemed to be exactly the way an individual in her position would react, which, in my opinion, made it much more meaningful. I enjoyed her personal story and cared for her struggles.

The entire story line was fascinating. A rare bark that allows women to conceive up into their 70s, along with a hallucinogenic mushroom that may or may not thwart malaria, are two very interesting subjects. And while I'm generally not too terribly fond of medical terminology and science based reads, I felt that Patchett made it palatable without oversimplifying. I won't lie... I'm completely ignorant as to the life and times of a doctor, or pharmacologist, but it didn't seem so far fetched.

The interactions between Signh and Swenson were tense and I felt Marina's doubt and insecurities.  As a college grad, I certainly had one professor, in particular, that was so brilliant that I often went tongue tied when called upon, despite getting some of the best grades in the class.  It was wonderful to feel that all over again, basking in the intelligence of someone you admire, knowing you were apart of their lectures (and survived!). Someone that may or may not have inspired you to do greater things (perhaps not so much in Marina's case). 

I was somewhat disappointed with certain aspects of the conclusion (I'll leave at that for all of you rushing to find a copy), which lead to my four star rating on Goodreads.  If you haven't given Patchett a shot, this is your book. If you've been disappointed in the past, give this one a chance.  I don't think you'll regret it.

State of Wonder is on the Orange Prize for Fiction longlist, 2012.

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