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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I can't even count how many times I've read this book. The first copy I got literally fell apart over the course of long boring summer where I read it again and again.
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's been a while since I read an Anne Tyler book (I think the last one was the marvellous [book:A Spool of Blue Thread|22501028] when it on the Booker shortlist) and I was quite excited to come to read this one! Reading an Anne Tyler book is like listening to Beethoven; you can relax because you just know it's going to be good and you can sit back and let the author take you places.
This novel follows Macon, whose wife Sarah leaves him a year after their son, Ethan, is killed in a drive-by shooting. (That's not a spoiler, don't worry). He's a quirky character, simultaneously sympathetic and irritable, adorably indecisive (though methodical) and a bit whiny.
After the break up, Macon moves back in with his siblings - two brothers (one divorced with children) and their sister Rose who is an 'old maid', staying behind to look after them, making sure they don't descend into a pigsty; no one has much confidence in their ability to be adults. The whole Leary family are in a kind of suspended animation, not changing, stuck in the same roles they were as children. Macon is so passive that he barely decided on his own marriage, and his job was something he 'fell' into - writing guides for business people who are forced to travel for work, but really would rather stay in America, hence 'The Accidental Tourist'. He tries to find the most American restaurants, diners and hotels so travellers can feel like they've barely left their homes.
Macon's life becomes quite neatly summed up by this quote from chapter 8, when he has had his leg put in a cast: 'It was hard to imagine resuming his travels. Sometimes he wished he could stay in this cast forever. In fact, he wished it covered him from head to foot. People would thump faintly on his chest. They'd peer through his eyehole. 'Macon? You in there?' Maybe he was, maybe he wasn't. No one would ever know.'
Personally, I found Macon's view of the world quite relatable (though sad), but I'm aware other reviewers have found his inactivity a real put-off, which I can also understand. Into Macon's world walks out-going Muriel, with her strong opinions on everything, her very different background to Macon and her (gasp!) awful grammar errors. She doesn't fit into the Leary family, and nor does her young son. But she's decided very firmly to put Macon into her life and Macon is a natural follower.
It's a very human book: the characters feel real and, although there is humour, the novel feels like a low-level tragedy. Not an awful lot happens, and it's quite slow-paced, but the ending was a surprise - no spoilers ;)
A quiet, domestic story that tugs at the heartstrings, even though it feels dated at points.
This novel follows Macon, whose wife Sarah leaves him a year after their son, Ethan, is killed in a drive-by shooting. (That's not a spoiler, don't worry). He's a quirky character, simultaneously sympathetic and irritable, adorably indecisive (though methodical) and a bit whiny.
After the break up, Macon moves back in with his siblings - two brothers (one divorced with children) and their sister Rose who is an 'old maid', staying behind to look after them, making sure they don't descend into a pigsty; no one has much confidence in their ability to be adults. The whole Leary family are in a kind of suspended animation, not changing, stuck in the same roles they were as children. Macon is so passive that he barely decided on his own marriage, and his job was something he 'fell' into - writing guides for business people who are forced to travel for work, but really would rather stay in America, hence 'The Accidental Tourist'. He tries to find the most American restaurants, diners and hotels so travellers can feel like they've barely left their homes.
Macon's life becomes quite neatly summed up by this quote from chapter 8, when he has had his leg put in a cast: 'It was hard to imagine resuming his travels. Sometimes he wished he could stay in this cast forever. In fact, he wished it covered him from head to foot. People would thump faintly on his chest. They'd peer through his eyehole. 'Macon? You in there?' Maybe he was, maybe he wasn't. No one would ever know.'
Personally, I found Macon's view of the world quite relatable (though sad), but I'm aware other reviewers have found his inactivity a real put-off, which I can also understand. Into Macon's world walks out-going Muriel, with her strong opinions on everything, her very different background to Macon and her (gasp!) awful grammar errors. She doesn't fit into the Leary family, and nor does her young son. But she's decided very firmly to put Macon into her life and Macon is a natural follower.
It's a very human book: the characters feel real and, although there is humour, the novel feels like a low-level tragedy. Not an awful lot happens, and it's quite slow-paced, but the ending was a surprise - no spoilers ;)
A quiet, domestic story that tugs at the heartstrings, even though it feels dated at points.
I felt like a tourist in Anne Tyler’s writing taken a long through a magnificent journey. Witty and laugh out loud funny, poignant and purposeful, Accidental Tourist is as greatly entertaining as it deftly the topics of grief, love, loneliness and change. The characters in this book will stay with me for a long time.
It was depressing an didn't feel like it was leading to anything. Very bland
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
emotional
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I like this book and can't think of any strong criticisms but I am still only giving it 3 stars because it all seemed just okay. I couldn't get hooked into the characters or the story. It wasn't exactly unpleasant and I liked the ending, but it just wasn't enough to get my blood going. I suppose this is the problem with writing a book about a man who isn't the protagonist in his own life, who lets things just happen to him.
At the midpoint I wondered to myself "what is the point?" I continued reading to see if something of a plot line would arise. The only bit that had me intrigued was with Muriel's son. Even that was only a brief glimmer of hope before I was once again buried in details that seemed to be without point. Maybe it's just not my cup of tea but it wasn't the funny book that everyone raves about.
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes