I picked this up from the library grab and go because I like Anne Tyler. I wasn't disappointed. It was an quick, easy read. It has a bit of a melancholy tone for most of the book but ends on a hopeful note.

This is the story of a young man (35), Aaron, who loses his wife, Dorothy, in a freak accident. They are both quiet, awkward people who seem a bit surprised that they found each other. After her death, Aaron sees her in random places, having conversations that only he is aware of. Tyler tells the story of a man mourning and reflecting on his relationship with wife.

It reads like a sweet book which could easily be a quick read but has a profound message about truly listening and understanding others that resonated with me. And will linger in my thoughts for a while.

This is the first Anne Tyler book I've been disappointed with, and I didn't think I would ever say that.

I have been a life-long fan of Anne Tyler and this book continues the tradition of presenting us with a character we have to love because he reminds us that we are all just so human.

I got this book as a digital loan from the library, and I'm glad I didn't buy it. Somewhat sweet story of a man who loses his wife and how he deals with his grief and loneliness. Everyone ends up happy in the end. Good, quick summer read.

I always pick up one of Tyler's books when I've read a few in a row that I haven't enjoyed because I know she won't let me down. The Beginner's Goodbye was no exception.

Almost all of Tyler's books are about living on the outside, feeling apart from those with whom we share our space. The central character generally attributes this sense of separateness to some personal attribute that cannot be changed, like race, past indiscretions or, in this case, physical disability. Despite the common theme, her characters, locations and circumstances are so different and perfectly rendered that each book is fresh and a delight to read.

This book was short and sweet and touches on the grieving process of loosing a loved one. However, I felt like it didn’t pack the emotional punch that makes me really feel for the protagonist. Aaron was only in his mid-thirties but from how he narrated the story, I pictured a much older man.

He also was a bit abrasive and it’s hard to related to with how he treated everyone in my opinion. I get not wanting to be held back or treated like an invalid due to a limp caused by bad genetics but he always wanted people to back off but then seemed to complain that they weren’t around. He thought Dorthy wasn’t supportive enough but then was thrilled that she didn’t smother him. He does improve by the end of the book though so he definitely developed as a character but overall he wasn’t as emotionally relatable as I tend to get with characters, especially in stories where they face loss and have to manage through it.

Overall though, this was a simple, short read that was pleasant enough but I just didn’t connect as much with the characters as past books.

Anne Tyler is my mom's favorite writer, so I've been reading her work for years and years. And every time I do, I find myself amazed by her ability to capture these incredibly human characters and tell these beautifully simple-yet-epic stories. I loved this book.

always love anne tyler

Anne Tyler is a gifted author. She really has a way with words, and this book is no exception. However, I personally did not like The Beginner's Goodbye. Specifically, I could not relate to the main character, who was extremely antisocial and stunted. In the end, I felt sorry for his wife Dorothy, that he was not a better husband while they were married. And it seemed odd that he was able to move on and get married to a seemingly normal woman and have a family at the end of the story.