Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Books / Television Ann Patchett Talks Local Bookstores, and Nashville, on Colbert
Posted by Laura Hutson on Tue, Feb 21, 2012 at 10:42 AM
Ann Patchett nailed her appearance on last night's Colbert Report. She calls Nashvillians smart, book-buyin' folks, tells Colbert that buying from Parnassus will keep him from turning into the Unabomber, and name-drops Jack White, Patterson House and Goat Rodeo. Watch the appearance online, or (as further protection against future Unabombing) go to Parnassus Books at 1 p.m. today for an in-store watching party.
Comments (9)
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"If you never, ever talk to people and you meet all your needs on the Internet, you wake up one day and you're the Unabomber."
A brilliant appearance. Could Nashville ask for a better ambassador?
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To be fair, talking to people (specifically in a Harvard professor's really-messed-up psychological torture experiment) is generally regarded to be instrumental in creating the actual Unabomber, but it's still a fun sound bite, if completely inaccurate.
I though she was terrific. Better than I expected. And I expected her to be good.
It takes a bit of work to stop Colbert cold when he's on an interview parody tear -- and she did it successfully twice. Good for her.
Yes, that was indeed impressive, especially the way she completely hijacked his Amazon-bump ploy in mid-bluster — a beautiful demonstration of Southern charm disarming and derailing with one blow. His stunned expression was priceless.
And really: how awesome does that book signing sound? I can't imagine an author alive who wouldn't go for that. Patchett could've sweet-talked an appearance out of Kafka.
I was seriously impressed. I hope this brings good things to Parnassus.
She was fantastic. Earnest and funny and quick witted. I really do need to visit her bookstore.
Even if she were insincere, humorless and tongue-tied, I'd still visit the bookstore — it's a gem. It reminds me of the old days when I'd drive up from Murfreesboro in high school just to go to the old Davis-Kidd and Mills. The first time I walked in, I felt at peace.
