If You Love Ann Patchett, You Need to Read Annie Dillard’s Books

Pulitzer-Prize winning author and essayist Annie Dillard passed away earlier this week at the age of 81. To honor her, and the legacy she left on the literary world, we’ve rounded up some of her most iconic work, which is perfect for fans of Ann Patchett’s moving and poignant storytelling. Keep reading to learn more. 

Annie Dillard’s most iconic work 

From nonfiction to her memoir, here are the best Annie Dillard books to read if you like Ann Patchett. 

‘The Living’ 

If you’ve ever gotten lost in one of Ann Patchett’s sprawling, multi-generational stories, Dillard’s debut novel will feel like familiar territory. The story, set in the 19th-century Pacific Northwest, follows several families—including the Fishburns, Sharps, Randalls and Obenchains—facing the trials and tribulations that come with building railroads and surviving the highs and lows of the gold rush. It’s a delightful tale that, like many of Patchett’s novels, is less about plot twists and more about how families endure.

What readers are saying: “Annie Dillard is a famously great writer and I believe this is her best work. The language is powerful, but also lyrical. The story of a generation of people living during the early settlement years of the Pacific Northwest is engrossing. The power of fate and nature, and of love and courage are portrayed beautifully.” 

‘The Maytrees’ 

Patchett fans know she has a gift for quie stories about love and loyalty—and that’s exactly what Dillard delivers here. Dillard’s second novel follows Toby Maytree after he falls in love with Lou Bigelow, courting her with his poetry. Years later, their son Petie appears and their friend Deary steps in to help raise him—setting off small-town drama that echoes the tangled family loyalties Patchett writes so well.

What readers are saying: “Annie Dillard is a remarkable writer. Her second novel, The Maytrees, immediately engages primarily because of the language. There is no describing her ability to close in on an idea or a landscape or a person. Lou and Maytree remain remote and intimate at the same time, both to each other and to the reader. Attaching this novel to a particular genre is difficult. It doesn’t matter. It is a terrific read!”

‘Pilgrim at Tinker Creek’ 

This nonfiction book was published in 1974 and then went on to win the 1975 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction. In it, Dillard highlights a one-year exploration in the Virginia region near Tinker Creek. She notes how nature and animals change throughout the seasons and even examines some of the lake water under a microscope. It’s a timeless tale of how sometimes the simplest things in nature can be the most beautiful, and is filled with the same type of descriptive language Patchett uses.

What readers are saying: “A wonderful book full of information about what the author observes on Tinker Creek, the inter-species relationships there, and stories she learned along her personal life’s journey. Some of her sentences are structured in such a way that they paint word pictures and you can almost see Tinker Creek with its fish, mammals, birds and other creatures. You have to take your time with this book otherwise you might miss something.” 

‘An American Childhood’   

In her memoir, Dillard reveals what it was like to grow up in Pittsburgh during the 1950s and 1960s. She reveals how her parents encouraged her love of reading and writing, how she loved collecting and caring for her rock collection and how, even when times got tough, she loved spending time outdoors. A beautiful story that has the same deep understanding of middle American found in Patchett’s books. 

What readers are saying: “An American Childhood by Annie Dillard is a good book with many vivid details. It takes pictures of Pittsburg and gives them to the reader and it is given in such high quality. This biography is the first biography of a person which I have enjoyed and after this book being such a good read, I am going to continue reading Dillard’s books to see if they are as good as this book.” 

‘The Writing Life’ 

Patchett has written openly about her own writing process, and Dillard does the same in this collection of short essays exploring what it’s really like to be a writer. She reveals the discipline she thinks writers should have, the sacrifices writers have to make and how to get over the fear that comes with putting your work out in the world. 

What readers are saying: “In The Writing Life Annie Dillard has shared a glimpse into what it is to be a writer. She doesn’t share how-to tips or exercises, instead she shares what it means to write and live a life where writing is your goal and your passion. She provides encouragement, and maybe a little bit of discouragement, to aspiring writers. This is one of my favourite writing books, mostly because she is so honest and real.” 

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