my buick bucket list trip: parnassus books

Parnassus BooksEvery once in a while, things miraculously come together in a perfect storm of timing.

Iโ€™ve wanted to visit Parnassus Books, the indie bookstore author Ann Patchett opened, ever since she built it a few years ago. When I recently reviewed The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, a gorgeous ode to bookstores, I looked up Parnassus to mention it in my post and saw that it was located in Nashville.

โ€œHmm,โ€ I thought. โ€œMaybe we can visit it on our Buick Bucket List trip.โ€

Then, of course, our schedule got completely booked up and I put the idea out of my head until Sunday when we checked out of the Sheraton Music City and had a few hours free before we could check into the Gaylord Opryland Hotel.

I casually suggested to Michael we check out Parnassus. I went on the website and discovered that Graeme Simsion, author of The Rosie Project, ONE OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS, was going to be reading at 2 p.m.

OMG!

I Tweeted Graeme โ€“ yes, weโ€™re on a first name basis now โ€“ that I was excited about seeing him and he Tweeted back that he would be there early and I should come in to chat before he spoke.

We got in the Encore, set the GPS and made our way to the cute shopping center where Parnassus was located next to a Chipotle and this donut shop. If you donโ€™t know me, letโ€™s just say I am obsessed with donuts.

Parnassus - Lois in car

โ€œWow,โ€ Michael said. โ€œWe really could live here.โ€

I know that secretly he was thinking of his next appearance on the Grand Ole Opry stage but he was right. Books. Chipotle. Donuts. Thatโ€™s pretty much all I need.

We had lunch in a Chinese restaurant โ€“ trust me, we werenโ€™t expecting to be eating Chinese food in Nashville, either, but it turned out to be one of our most meaningful experiences! We had such a wonderful conversation with our waitress about children, responsibility, aging, culture, that we all ended up hugging each other good-bye like long-lost friends.

It was truly amazing.

We walked, smiling, over to Parnassus, where Michael made himself at home in one of the comfy reading chairs and I went to tell Graeme just how much I loved The Rosie Project. He was warm and funny and as awkwardly charming as his main character.

Parnassus - Lois and Graeme

He kept the full house laughing as he told stories about his childhood and the writing of the book.

Parnassus - Graeme

I canโ€™t wait for the sequel to come out.

I would have loved to have met Ann Patchett — next time, on my sequel visit! —ย but am so thrilled that I got to see her beautiful store and hear Graeme Simsion.

The afternoon had been an unexpected gift and we were on to Gaylord Opryland next, where more adventures lay in store โ€ฆ

48 thoughts on “my buick bucket list trip: parnassus books

  1. I am loving your Buick bucketlist travels. You’re getting to really experience a lot. I’ve never heard of that author before but I’m glad you were able to meet one of your favorite author.

  2. What a fantastic experience! It must have been such a great feeling to have had the chance to meet your favorite author. Such a terrific reminder about the power of words.

  3. Sounds like you had and amazing adventure! I love random stranger conversations that make you feel like you just made a life long friend. Love it!!

  4. Getting that personal connection with an author is great. I love hearing about them and then finding out how and why they choose to write the books they do.

  5. Thank you so much for taking us all on the ride, in your beautiful Encore. A book store, a private conversation with an author and a doughnut… the stuff dreams are made of!

  6. I’ve heard my cousin rave about Parnassus Books before. Actually, it’s on the list of places she has to take me when I make it down for a visit. Now I’m adding donuts & Chipotle to the list too. ๐Ÿ˜‰

  7. I always say that if you follow an author reading, a good time will unfold before your very eyes. Funny how that works. Awesome for you! Thanks for sharing it all with us!

  8. going to author speeches are always so enjoyable to learn how they started and how they became successes makes me work even harder at my goal to some day be one of them. I love writing.

  9. In my next lifetime, I want to come back as Lois Alter Mark!! How fabulous to ride along with you on this journey! Thank you for the invitation. ๐Ÿ™‚

  10. You are entirely awesome that awesome isn’t a strong enough word to use! Wow. How remarkable and what an extraordinary time you must have had!

    Of course, a Lois day would not be complete without donuts. No Starbucks I see….

    I am blown away by you.
    Signed,
    President of your Fan Club

  11. after such a ghastly day I loved seeing your cute face in that adorable car. And what is better than a bookstore? We ate lunch in a cafe in Iowa…all the walls were bookshelves! Don’t we love books? I hope they don’t take them away from us..

  12. How fun to get to meet one of your favorite authors! I have a few that I would like to meet, but haven’t been so lucky yet. And the car is really nice too!

  13. How amazing that the timing worked out so perfectly and you not only got to visit the book store but met an author friend!
    I am really enjoying your bucket list posts.
    Love the photo of you in front of the donut shop (I LOVE donuts!)

  14. We are so similar! Books, Chipotle and donuts sound perfect to me. Oh…and the beach…we must add that. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Your Buick Bucket List trip is getting better every day!

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