A memoir in the form of an essay collection, this volume spans Patchett's life from her young, hungry days working for Seventeen and other magazines to her new role as proprietor of an independent bookstore. In between, the award-winning author of Bel Canto, Run, and State of Wonder recounts valuable lessons learned from caring for her grandmother and getting to know an intimidating nun, pays tribute to Eudora Welty and the short story, and describes her two very different marriages.Founded by Carla Cohen and Barbara Meade in 1984, Politics & Prose Bookstore is Washington, D.C.'s premier independent bookstore and cultural hub, a gathering place for people interested in reading and discussing books. Politics & Prose offers superior service, unusual book choices, and a haven for book lovers in the store and online. Visit them on the web at http://www.politics-prose.com/