“Reading fiction is important. It is a vital means of imagining a life other than our own, which in turn makes us more empathetic beings. Following complex story lines stretches our brains beyond the 140 characters of sound-bite thinking, and staying within the world of a novel gives us the ability to be quiet and alone, two skills that are disappearing faster than the polar icecaps.”

American author

Ann Patchett is an American author. She is known for her novels, including Bel Canto, for which she received the PEN/Faulkner Award and the Orange Prize for Fiction in 2002. Her other novels include The Patron Saint of Liars, Taft, The Magician's Assistant, Run, State of Wonder, Commonwealth, The Dutch House, and Tom Lake. Her work has earned major recognition, and The Dutch House was a finalist for the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.