What would it feel like to bring back someone back from the dead? In the novel Taft by Ann Patchett, the main character, John Nickel, tries to reconstruct the life of a dead father, Taft, by telling stories that involve him and his two children, Fay and Carl. This romantic novel should be one of your next book reads. To start off with, Ann Patchett uses very descriptive words to describe events that happen inside the story. You can clearly visualise what happens in the story and sometimes get feelings about those events. An example of this is when John drove Fay and Carl home one night, and Fay showed affection for him by putting her hand on his neck for a long time: "It seemed like the hand stayed there a long time, but then I heard her door open and close and I saw the shape of her walking up the driveway to the house and still I felt that hand there and I put my hand on my neck to cover the place where she had been." (pg. 69) I could imagine how John felt that night, and it made me feel calm. Additionally, this romantic novel combines tragedy and comedy together to give the reader mixed feelings. The story had both a sombre and bright mood, but overall it made me feel relaxed. The story changes from John's unmarried wife, Marion, moving away and Fay's and Carl's father dying (tragic), to exciting, unexpected love between John and Fay and other whimsical events that happen between John, Fay and Carl (comical). Last but not least, the multiple themes of this story are inspiring and very crucial to learn. The author shows these themes mostly through John Nickel's actions, words and feelings. For instance, the soft-heartedness that John Nickel feels for Fay, Carl and his own son, Franklin, reminds us that beauty is only skin deep. I really enjoyed reading this creative, romantic novel from Ann Patchett because of the descriptive words, the tragedy and comedy, and the themes. Once you read this book, you will be in for a real treat.
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