Ann Patchett's latest novel, Whistler, revisits the themes of reunion and familial bonds, but this time the saccharine sweetness may be too much for some readers. The story centres on Daphne Fuller, a high-school English teacher whose life is upended when she encounters Eddie Triplett, her favourite stepfather, whom she hasn't seen in 40 years. Their meeting at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York rekindles a deep bond, but the novel's relentless optimism raises questions about whether happiness can be too perfect.
A Familiar Yet Flawed Premise
Patchett's previous novel, Tom Lake, was a pandemic-era tale that painted a crisis as an Edenic family reunion. Whistler follows a similar pattern, swapping a cherry farm for the leafy suburbs of Westchester County. Daphne and Eddie's relationship unfolds over champagne brunches and chardonnay lunches, as they share secrets and a slow dance. Yet, the novel lacks the underlying tension that made Tom Lake compelling. The lurking terrors of the Anthropocene are replaced by a world where death is coming, but life is catered.
Characterisation and Symbolism
Patchett's characters are almost too neat. Daphne's husband, Jonathan, is a 'manic pixie dream girl' in stable form, while her sister Leda is a daredevil who buys a David Hockney painting. The surnames themselves are symbolic: Fuller for a cup overfull, Triplett for three father figures. The meet-cute in front of a conveniently symbolic sculpture feels forced. Patchett flirts with darker themes, such as the possibility that Eddie's affection is inappropriate, but never fully commits. The novel reads more like a gratitude journal than a nuanced exploration of love and loss.
Fans of Patchett's nonfiction, which is often wry and flinty, may miss that edge in Whistler. The novel is top-shelf comfort food, but it lacks the friction that makes her other work memorable. A bag of sweet red cherries makes an appearance, likely picked by a woman who sounds like Meryl Streep—a nod to Patchett's previous audiobook narrator.
Ultimately, Whistler is a pleasant but forgettable read. It will appeal to those who enjoy saccharine tales of reunion, but others may find it too perfect for its own good.
