Anne Tyler

[Bruisername]

I’ve heard of her but recently came across her again when I saw she had recommended a book by my favourite author. It made me wonder if I might like her work!

what do those who have read her think of her books and which would you start with?

I love Anne Tyler (and Ann Patchett and Elizabeth Strout). I think Digging To America would be a good one to start with.

Elizabeth Strout isn't a patch on Anne Tyler. Ann Patchett though is also excellent.

Hmmm, no one ever seems to have read any Greenan but my second place author is Kurt Vonnegut - I feel Elizabeth Strout and Ann Patchett are quite a way from there but is Anne Tyler?

Breathing Lessons is fantastic. Some of her later books are a bit weaker and, dare I say it, more "chick litty" (sorry to use that word).

If you like Anne Tyler you may also like Carol Shields.

I've got a lot of time for Ann Tyler, for I see glimpses of a slightly more modern and American Anita Brookner who was an absolute Queen. A bit more plot but the characters are nearly as well drawn and introspective often with that air of melancholy. AT's characters generally seem to push through life with the help of self analysis whereas AB's are a gently puzzled by the whole thing.

Thank you for the recommendation, I've just down loaded it.

I utterly love Breathing Lessons.

She’s very much not like Kurt Vonnegut. No macabre either as was mentioned upthread - tough topics sometimes dealt with but always in a fairly gentle way - not wishy-washy but on a personal level.

I love Anne Tyler and I’m never disappointed. Particularly loved French Braid.

The first Anne Tyler I read was Saint Maybe which I never hear mentioned as a favourite Ann Tyler book, I still really like it and go back to it every so often for a re-read. I read quite a few of the other favourites mentioned but couldn't get on with all of them. I enjoyed "Digging to America" and "Back when we were grownups". Didn't like "Redhead at the side of the road" at all

I like Saint Maybe. Also Dinner At The Homesick Restaurant, The Clock Winder, Patchwork Planet, Breathing Lessons, Ladder Of Years, Searching For Caleb, French Braid and The Accidental Tourist.

Our book club read The Accidental Tourist. Most of us found it rather dreary with over long descriptions of oddballs doing or agonising over things of limited interest. The good bits were overwhelmed by the silly or tedious elements. I shan’t be trying another.

I read this cover to cover whilst in hospital and adored it. I love her writing in general but this is one of my favourites.

Like her books too, and thank you for the other recommendations!