Taft

A Novel

By: Ann Patchett

Narrated by: J.D. Jackson

Length: 9 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

John Nickel is a black ex-jazz musician who only wants to be a good father. But when his son is taken away from him, he's left with nothing but the Memphis bar he manages. Then he hires Fay, a young white waitress, who has a volatile brother named Carl in tow. Nickel finds himself consumed with the idea of Taft - Fay and Carl's dead father - and begins to reconstruct the life of a man he never met. But his sympathies for these lost souls soon take him down a twisting path into the lives of strangers.

©1995, 2011 Ann Patchett (P)2019 HarperAudio

Excellent performance

The actor’s performance is one of the best I’ve heard on Audible with beautiful accents to match the characters.

I did find it challenging that there was no verbal cue between the present and past but after awhile I was more attuned to it.

A great story.

She’s the best

I love this author. I can’t stop listening to her books. Narrator mispronounces her name!

When is she writing the ending?

Intriguing book with a terrible ending.... make that no ending! I love Ann Patchett’s books. And at the beginning and end the narrator called her Ann Pratchett at least four times. What’s up with not correcting that?

Trouble with the plot

I realize this is one of AP's earlier works. Her writing is beautiful, but I had such a hard time with parts of this story line. I don't want to give anything away, but I will say, despite his many good qualities, I found it difficult "like" the main character, John Nichols. And the ending did not feel like an ending at all. Still, I became engrossed in the story. The narration was well-done despite the repeated mispronunciation of Ms. Patchett's name during the intro and credits!

Patchett's Novel's all Available on Audio Now

This title was released just weeks before her newest novel, The Dutch House (on Audio). It was originally published in 1994 and has been one of her lesser-read novels. For me, it was the last of her novels that I have read (minus her new one).
She successfully takes on the role of a black, male narrator, and does it smoothly. This is something she did really well in Run, too, which I think was over all a better novel.

The sub-plot which involved the Title character didn't do much for me and I honestly could have done without it. I did enjoy the main plot though. Patchett's writing is still in its early stages here and there are some cliches used but there are also hints of her later brilliance on display.

I thought the narrator did a good job. He made a less than perfect novel quite enjoyable to listen to.

Great narrator! Gentle thoughtful story.

A favorite author, and I’ll be looking for more books from her. I hated it to end but it wrapped up well.

The author is Ann Patchett not Pratchett

Good story and the narration was not bad but it is disconcerting to have the author’s name mispronounced at the very beginning and at the end too. How is that not caught and corrected before the audible book is put out?

Memphis TN 101

interesting story with excellent narration. a blend of perspectives on important issues of our times.

Lazy editing

Bad enough to leave narrator's mispronunciation of the author's name. But no excuse for leaving zero chapter breaks between the segments on the 2 different characters. Not even a one second pause, they just run into each other.
The title itself was not author's best work. Mainly because it was too long winded. Her talent is evident nonetheless.

Nickel, Not Taft

The book's title should have been Nickel, not Taft. Nickel was the main character of this Ann Patchett novel from 2019. I have read almost all of Patchett's books and was not disappointed with her development of the protagonist, John Nickel, a complex man with a sweet heart. There was a lot of tension throughout the story, fearing what might happen and hoping what will turn out to be best for John Nickel. Not my favorite Patchett, but still an compelling read.