Reviews

The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler

pbraue13's review

5.0

A beautiful and genuine novel about the complexities of relationships. The characters are so relatable and the dialogue so natural I felt like I was listening to a conversation on the street. Perfect for the start of autumn and a story that touched my heart deeply.

kalahcakes's review

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

0.5

sharonbakar's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

kitdunsmore's review against another edition

5.0

I saw the movie years ago and was completely unimpressed. Now that I've read the book, I understand why they tried. Tyler's book is complex and rich. I'm looking forward to reading it again with symbolism in mind. Everything that happens seems imbued with meaning, both literal and figurative. Watching the character change and grow is also wonderful. There is hope for us all.

brannonkrkhuang's review against another edition

3.0

I gave up on this book, then suddenly wanted to know how it ended very badly, so re-borrowed it from the library, listened through the final five hours, and was a bit let down by it all. A great opening, as usual, but at a certain point it devolves into dog training and the same sorts of unwilling travel sequences and the whole bit with the wife at the end was crazy. Like, what was bro thinking?

remigves's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

holly_keimig's review

4.0

50 Book Reading Challenge 2015: A book that came out the year you were born

This book was strange. I hated it at first but then it slowly became unputdownable as I kept reading it. It was really challenging to find a book that I wanted to read (that was not 1000 pages) that came out in 1985, but I'm glad I found this one. I love the idea that we are "accidental tourists" in life. This book is definitely worth checking out. The main characters stick with you long after you finish reading and the story makes you think about where risks may need to be taken in your own life.

serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 The Accidental Tourist -Tyler excels at quiet, ordinary characters with more than a tinge of melancholy who often struggle to connect with those they love and the world around them. In this book that is Macon, the world’s most unlikely travel guide writer given how attached he is to home and routine, who is grieving the death of his son. I enjoyed his journey - missteps and all - but wish I’d read it in print rather than listening to the audio since I found the male narrator’s voicing of Muriel really grating. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Animal cruelty

Moderate: Child death and Gun violence

ayamami's review

lighthearted medium-paced

3.5

Megan was so unlikeable as a character, I can't believe there are really people like that. It was strange that he could be do judgemental about everything but cannot judge or assess himself. That really bothered me 

sarahsupastar's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0