This is the Story of a Happy Marriage is a book of collected essays by Ann Patchett. I read State of Wonder a non-fiction work by Patchett and was deeply disappointed with the last 20% of the story. I swore off her books then. However, some top 10 books to read list recommended “anything by Ann Patchett.” So I relented and tried again. This time non-fiction.

The essays span her career and provide peeks into her development as an author. Patchett wrote non-fiction to pay the bills. Despite being non- fiction the essays are also about Patchett. She writes about her best friend, her ex and current husband, writing her first novel and delivering a contested commencement address. Her essays about writing and how she got good at her craft were the most interesting.