Anne Tyler is the author of 18 novels, most of which are set in Baltimore. Tyler was born in Minneapolis in 1941 and still lives in Baltimore. She won a Pulitzer Prize for Breathing Lessons, but is probably best known for The Accidental Tourist because it was made into a major film with William Hurt, Kathleen Turner, and Geena Davis.
I came late to Tyler’s novels, after randomly grabbing the audio version of Digging to America off the library shelf. I was hooked immediately. Her stories are about real people and, while not rip-roaring exciting, are completely engaging – like finding out that your neighbors’ ordinary lives are really very interesting.
Those I have read are in red. Those on my TBR shelf are in blue. I plan to read all of her books eventually.
If Morning Ever Comes
The Tin Can Tree
A Slipping-Down Life
The Clock Winder
Celestial Navigation
Searching for Caleb
Earthly Possessions
Morgan's Passing
Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant
The Accidental Tourist
Breathing Lessons (reviewed here; Pulitzer Prize)
Saint Maybe
Ladder of Years
A Patchwork Planet
The Amateur Marriage
Back When We Were Grownups
Digging to America
Noah’s Compass
The Beginner's Goodbye
ANNE TYLER REVIEWS
(If you have reviewed any of Anne Tyler's books and would like your review listed here, please leave a comment with a link and I will add it.)
NOTES
Last updated October 4, 2012.
Anne Tyler has been one of my favorite writers for years, since I read Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant. You've nailed her appeal perfectly: "Her stories are about real people and, while not rip-roaring exciting, are completely engaging – like finding out that your neighbors’ ordinary lives are really very interesting."
ReplyDeleteI love Anne Tyler. I started reading her about 15 years ago with Breathing Lessons, then Accidental Tourist, St Maybe and Ladder of Years. Then for some reason, stopped there. I will read all her books eventually, too. Aren't her books quietly heartbreaking? They feel like sobs that remain inside your chest.
ReplyDeleteI am reading my first Anne Tyler novel right now, Back When We Were Grownups. So far it is very entertaining!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately Tyler and I don't click which makes me kind of sad because The Accidental Tourist is one of my favorite movies. I haven't tried to read her for over a decade. I am thinking I should give it another shot.
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