Anne Patchett’s Ode to Friendship

Earlier this year I was invited to join a book club that, tragically, never ended up meeting. The intended book to read and discuss was Truth and Beauty, a memoir on friendship written by Anne Patchet, an author who I had not previously heard of. Although the group never convened I nevertheless took it upon myself to read the book in its entirety, and I’m grateful I did. 

I didn’t quite know what to expect from this book, but I found myself unable to put it down at times. It’s not an edge-of-your seat read that contains any elements of suspense, but the story of Patchett’s long-time friendship with fellow writer Lucy Grealy was really quite intriguing, and admittedly refreshing in an age of loneliness following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The book follows Patchett’s and Grealy’s relationship from college acquaintances all the way to inseparable best friends. As Patchett recounts her many fond memories with Grealy, I was reminded of the often-overlooked beauty of friendship. Patchett’s many recollections of her memories with Grealy demonstrate how true friends journey through life together, even when separated by distance. At many points in their relationship, Patchett and Grealy still managed to provide immense support to one another from afar, no easy feat in an era before cell phones and the internet. Friends truly are the family that we choose in this sense, and the companionship provided through these relationships can shape an individual in profound ways.

For Patchett and Grealy, their friendship was defined by the two attributes expressed in the title of the memoir itself: Truth and Beauty. While the two certainly experienced highs and lows in their relationship, their candor toward one another never wavered. Through this vulnerability their friendship deepened, by allowing Patchett and Grealy to be both fully known and fully loved. Patchett and Grealy’s friendship was never perfect, but it was defined by a mutual degree of admiration and honesty that allowed it to withstand the test of time. 

Ultimately, Truth and Beauty is a reflective ode to friendship, reminding us to invest more in these deeply meaningful relationships that guide us throughout life