Whistler is a lovely, contemporary literature novel about reuniting with beloved members of your past and finding the deep connection is still there. Daphne was a child when Eddie was briefly married to her mother, but the impact they had on each other was profound and stood the test of time. Their reunion story is interwoven with scenes from the past that give the reader an understanding of why their bond is so strong.

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Let’s start with a quick Whistler summary.

Fifty-three-year-old Daphne Fuller lives in New York City with her seventy-year-old husband, Jonathan. It’s a running joke that older men gravitate towards her, and that’s what they think is happening when Jonathan spots an older man following them through the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

As it turns out, the man is Eddie Triplett, Daphne’s former stepfather, who was married to her mother for just over a year when Daphne was nine years old. Now fifty-three, Daphne hasn’t seen Eddie in decades, not since a fateful event changed the course of both their lives. Eddie was following Daphne because she looks so much like her mother.

It’s immediately obvious that Eddie is a good person. Although it’s clear he wants to reconnect with Daphne, he leaves the decision in her hands when he gives her his phone number.

Daphne has nothing but fond memories about her former stepfather, although she hasn’t thought about him in years. It’s an easy decision to pick up her phone and call him. Their rekindled relationship is still strong but different this time – Daphne is a grown woman now with mature wisdom shaped by years of life experiences.

What follows is a deeply moving story about two people looking back on their lives, the choices they made, and the choices that were made for them. It explores bravery, memory, the seemingly small moments that end up shaping our lives, and the inevitable losses that come with growing older. Whistler isn’t a story that relies on action or suspense to keep readers engaged. Rather, it explores love, understanding, and acceptance in a deeply touching way.

I liked Whistler for its strong theme of human decency and its underlying wisdom. Ann Patchett is a smart writer, and I have appreciated that quality in the few books I’ve read of hers.

This is the type of story that makes me marvel at the author’s imagination. Never would I have thought of dreaming up the different story lines and connected them in such an effective manner. On the surface, it’s a very simple story, but there is real creativity at work here.

I also like that the author narrated the audio version of Whistler. I suspect that many writers couldn’t pull that off, but Patchett has a good reading voice, and it was interesting to hear the story unfold as the author intended it to.

I recommend Whistler to people who like smart stories about love and relationships.

If you’ve read Whistler, I’d love to hear your opinion. And if you’ve visited Ann Patchett’s bookstore (Parnassus Books) in Nashville, please share your experience so I can live vicariously through you!

Check out my reviews of Bel Canto and The Dutch House, also by Ann Patchett.