"Mrs. Nixon: A Novelist Imagines a Life" (Scribner), by Ann Beattie: One of the most poignant parts of Ann Beattie's new work, "Mrs. Nixon," is a page at the beginning listing the nicknames of Thelma Catherine Ryan, who was born on March 16, 1912, wanted to be an actress, and whose most enduring role was being married to the only U.S. president to resign from office.

Pat.....