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Original poster

Which Anne Tyler?

23 replies

Footle · 08/02/2023 21:07

I think my 18yo GD might like her, but I'm trying to decide which book is most likely to grab her attention. Any opinions please?

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Clawdy · 08/02/2023 21:34

Most of her earlier novels are brilliant, especially "Dinner At The Homesick Restaurant " and "Saint Maybe". Such a great writer.

NannyR · 09/02/2023 00:30

I really liked "digging to America" - about family dynamics and adoption, really well written characters.

Original poster
Footle · 09/02/2023 07:31

Thank you both. Homesick was my first thought but Digging might be the one , for particular reasons.

I've just read Anne T's biography on Kindle - it's very recent. It's a bit tediously written but clearly had her cooperation , and lots of the detail is fascinating.

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Brontosaurus · 09/02/2023 11:12

The Accidental Tourist is my favourite. Full of eccentric, funny characters who draw you in and irritate you in equal measure.

Original poster
Footle · 09/02/2023 21:24

@Brontosaurus , Accidental Tourist was my first one and hooked me straightaway. It's hard to choose.

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Mimijamroll · 10/02/2023 10:06

Digging to America
A Spool of Blue Thread
Vinegar Girl , rewriting of Taming of the Shrew
Back when we were Grown Ups

Original poster
Footle · 10/02/2023 18:20

I'm going to start with Digging to America. Thanks all.

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PritiPatelsMaker · 11/02/2023 07:18

I haven't read an Anne Tyler for such a long time. I love her books so much that I made a decision not to rush through them but now I'm wishing that I had as I would be able to reread them at leisure.

MuseThrower · 11/02/2023 07:18

Vinegar Girl for an 18 year old, I’d say.

HowardKirksConscience · 17/02/2023 20:46

The Accidental Tourist, hands down her best. I thought A Spool of Blue Thread was slow.

InTheCludgie · 19/02/2023 12:32

A bit late to this thread but can second A Spool of Blue Thread and Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant. If your GD would be interested in reading about an infuriating man-child who thinks the world owes him a living then Morgan's Passing would be up her street, otherwise don't touch with a barge pole.

Lurleene · 19/02/2023 12:38

I was the same age as your DD when I read A Slipping Down Life, it grabbed me straight away as the main character is a similar age.

PritiPatelsMaker · 19/02/2023 14:32

Thanks to this thread I've started an Ann Tyler this morning. I chose Digging to America.

Raffington55 · 19/02/2023 14:33

Clawdy · 08/02/2023 21:34

Most of her earlier novels are brilliant, especially "Dinner At The Homesick Restaurant " and "Saint Maybe". Such a great writer.

Saint Maybe is lovely

Raffington55 · 19/02/2023 14:35

Lurleene · 19/02/2023 12:38

I was the same age as your DD when I read A Slipping Down Life, it grabbed me straight away as the main character is a similar age.

A Slipping Down Life is the first AT novel I read and I loved it. Saint Maybe and Ladder of Years are also really great. I love this writer.

Liz1tummypain · 19/02/2023 20:18

Raffington55 · 19/02/2023 14:35

A Slipping Down Life is the first AT novel I read and I loved it. Saint Maybe and Ladder of Years are also really great. I love this writer.

Show quote history

I was about to say "A slipping down life"too. Immediately sprang to mind. I hope your daughter likes Anne Tyler. I love her books.

beguilingeyes · 21/02/2023 09:18

The film of The Accidental Tourist is fabulous also. I love Geena Davis.

SenecaFallsRedux · 22/02/2023 14:29

Another vote for Accidental Tourist, but my favorite is Ladder of Years. It might not resonate as much with an 18 year old (it's about a middle-aged woman a bit overwhelmed by family life), but it is so good.

Original poster
Footle · 03/03/2023 21:26

Thanks for messages. Grandchild now has Digging but hasn't got round to it yet, busy with her course. Hoping she'll let me know how she likes the book.

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Squirrelsnut · 03/03/2023 21:29

A Slipping Down Life came free with a magazine back in the 90s. I read it and loved it. It's quite short.

Original poster
Footle · 05/03/2023 23:06

The biography I read quoted Anne Tyler as saying she wished she could destroy all the copies of her first four novels: that's Towards the End of the Morning, Slipping Down Life, Tin CanTree AND The Clockwinder. That's quite a chunk of her work.

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InTheCludgie · 06/03/2023 08:59

That's interesting @Footle . Did it give any reason why? I've not read any of those ones so can't judge on why that might be.

Original poster
Footle · 10/03/2023 10:52

@InTheCludgie, she recognises she hadn't got into her stride in her earlyish 20s. I'd disagree about Clockwinder, but it's true the earlier 3 don't flow as well. I'm glad I came across Accidental Tourist first, as I don't think I'd have been interested to carry on reading her if I'd started with Slipping Down, say.

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