The Accidental Tourist: A Novel

Anne Tyler is the real meal deal. She won the Pulitzer Prize for Breathing Lessons and was a runner up with this novel - losing to "Lonesome Dove". She was also a runner up with "Dinner At The Homesick Restaurant"; losing to The "Color Purple."  It took two legendary novels to keep her off the winners podium.I read this novel after finishing her "Clock Dance" and was struck by the similarities in the two stories. In both the protagonists are drifting through life following a traumatic death. They are then jolted into the current world and are eventually faced with the decision to go back to their old life or move on with the new.As the story opens Macon and his wife Sarah are returning from a vacation a couple of years after their son died. "They might have been returning from two entirely different trips." [p 1].  Sarah is exasperated by the ultra-organized Macon and decides to leave him. Sarah doesn’t want to get caught up in Macon’s way of life. “You’re so quick to be sensible, Macon, that you’ve given up on just about everything.” [p 161]And she is right, Macon organizes everything in an attempt to get some space between himself and his life.In some odd way, he was locked inside the standoffish self he’d assumed when he and she first met. He was frozen there. It was like that old warning of his grandmother’s: Don’t cross your eyes, they might get stuck that way.” [p 59]In “Clock Dance” Willa is jolted from her life by the shooting of one of her sons’ ex-girlfriends. Here, Macon breaks his leg which leads him to getting help training his dog. Interestingly, Daisy in “Clock Dance” has a leg injury that precipitates the central change. The hobbled legs are symbols of the inability to move forward.In this case, Macon is caught up in the hurricane that is Muriel who takes on the job of training Macon’s dog. She is everything that Macon is not; the relationship puts Macon on a different course: "Then he knew that what mattered was the pattern of her life; that although he did not love her he loved the surprise of her, and also the surprise of himself when he was with her." [p 242]The Macon at the beginning of the novel would never love the surprises that Muriel brings. Eventually, Sarah returns to Macon forcing him to make a choice - something he has spent his adult life avoiding. "He couldn’t think of a single major act he had managed of his own accord. Was it too late to begin? Was there any way he could learn to do things differently?" [p 402]That is Macon’s big question; is his fate due to entropy or purpose? Well, you’ll have to read it to find that out.If you’ve read any of my other fiction book reports you know I’m a fan of similes - and this book has some gems. - "The urge to sleep was like a great black cannonball rolling around inside his skull, making his head heavy and droopy. - “The sky was bright but flat, the color of oyster shells.” [p 304] - On his cast: “The hardest blow felt like a knock on the wall from a neighboring room.” [p 68]Finally, I found this passage - in a book written over 30 years ago - speaking to me about our current situation. “It’s just free speech, that’s all we’ve got. We can say whatever we like, then the government goes on and does exactly what it pleases. You call that democracy? It’s like we’re on a ship, headed someplace terrible, and somebody else is steering and the passengers can’t jump off” [p 208]

I remember getting the advance copy from the book club back in 1985. That version had a special typeface which made the story glide across the pages. I still have that copy, but got this Kindle version because it's obviously well-worn.(The 1985 copy has spelling errors, too, that were fixed in later editions.)The 1988 film is a good adaptation, but it slightly misses the point, Kathleen Turner is miscast, and many characters are gone.

I almost bought this on an impulse based purely on reading the back blurb. While I love supporting local bookstores (shoutout to The Wild Detectives!) I'm glad I didn't follow through.Okay mainly it was my friend restraining my impulse, but same outcome.It took me awhile to understand the setting of this book. Yes, they're in Baltimore, but when? How much time passes? Is the Leary family to be lauded for practicality or derided for unfeeling rituals? Not comprehending Macon, Muriel and the Leary siblings' ages until halfway through didn't help matters. Age may only be a number, but it really mattered to these people.The story is in third person, entirely Macon's POV. We start with him and his wife, Sarah, separating a year after their son's murder. Macon goes a little stir-crazy and gets uber-practical with his cleaning and hygiene. I did enjoy his focus on the pets, that was sweet.Then we begin to dive into the Leary family's history and the deep bond between these oft-abandoned adult siblings. They only suit each other...unless someone chooses to stick around.Anne Tyler wonderfully portrays how grief can sneak up on you amidst daily life and forever change you. She also showcases the downside of closing yourself off from change.Last silly note: I'm a world traveler that actually LIKES leaving the US. I know it was an inherent character flaw that he was slowly realizing, but Macon's guidebook premise really irked me. Too many Americans DO think like him, tourists and business travelers alike.Like my title says, this book deserves 3.5 stars, but just didn't do it for me. There were too many insular references to technology, dating, and habits of the region (Northeastern US) and the time (80s?) that I just couldn't decipher or connect with.

Wonderful story! Loved it! Read the book twice!

I wanted to love this as it was recommended to me. So far- I'm a quarter of the way into it- I'm not motivated to read on. Why? Same reasons as other critical reviews here.Macon ( Mack-on? May-con? May-son?) is not a character I'd warm to in real life. He's simply not that interesting. It's become obvious from very early on that Muriel is out to 'catch him' and it's only a matter of time before he succumbs.Meanwhile we have to go through the dog-training scenes for what seems like forever, with his slightly odd siblings in the background.Tyler does convey emotions and behaviour in detail with some fine observations but- and it's a big 'but' - the detail is overdone. Less it more, often. I found myself skimming paragraphs waiting for some action.I also find American language hard going. More than once I had to re-read a sentence, after thinking 'What IS that?' Like Julian, described as a 'boater'. What was a boater, I puzzled? My immediate vision was of a hat! Oh I see- it's a 'yachtsman' or 'sailor'. There were so many examples like this that my reading felt stilted; I was constantly translating into 'English' English.Overall, I've not found any of the characters believable. I don't care about them or feel empathy. Macron and Muriel- opposites attract. They will have a relationship, will it survive and, more to the point, will I care?

It's extremely rare that I enjoy a book from beginning to end. I think our mood sometimes has a lot to do with our enjoyment of a book, or a movie, but I read this over the length of a week or so (I like to read slowly, savouring words) and each time I picked it up was as enjoyable as the last. In fact, the last time I enjoyed a book this much was The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger. The Accidental Tourist was made into a movie and I remembered it favourably so, when the book crossed my path, I bought it. While reading, naturally, I visualised the characters from the movie.The main character is a middle aged man called Macon (pronounced like bacon). For me, he wasn't particularly a likable person nor was his love interest, Muriel, but the way their minds worked was fascinating. Muriel in particular is an particularly colourful character. Maddeningly funny.It's a slow paced drama (which I think has put some people off) about a marriage breakdown, about loss, about change, about the decision to take a different path in life, getting out of awkward situations, and regrets for getting into them. It's also extremely witty in a very dry kind of way. I had very many laugh out loud moments. Of course, if you haven't a particularly good sense of humour, if dry wit isn't your style, this might not be the one for you. It's the sort of book that needs to be absorbed, relished, taken in and thought about.I didn't want the book to end. I could have gone on reading it much longer, rolling my eyes and laughing at the exploits of Macon and his quirky friends and relatives. The characters are something special: Julian, Macon's boss and publisher, was my favourite. He gained my sympathy.The Accidental Tourist is exemplary writing and was nominated for a Pulitzer 1986. It didn't get it. Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry won instead.

I recently discovered Anne Tyler and am now a big fan, enjoying her work enthusiastically. This one, although perhaps her best known and although an excellent read is not my favourite to date. Interesting , quirky characters, amusing, but something I can’t put my finger on is lacking. Perhaps it’s the very pedestrian pace of the early chapters.A few of my book worm pals share my views and indeed some gave up on it. I’m now reading and thoroughly enjoying her Abide With Me which for me has all the AnneTyler positives with no negatives what so ever.

When I started this book I didn’t think I would like it much. The main character, an introverted travel writer, was so far from my experience he didn’t seem like a real character. However, as the book went on, I became fascinated by him and his outlandish family and (semi) girlfriend. The characters in the book are so precisely drawn you can easily see them in your minds eye and the story is so different to anything I have read before. I loved it and will be reading more from this writer.

I ultimately really enjoyed this book.To begin with, it was slow and I could not see the purpose of it nor had I any idea of where it was leading to.But so many people had recommended Anne Tylers books to me that I was determined to persevere and I was mightily rewarded by doing so.It's a brilliant tale of the unpredictability of life with all its uncertainties, unforeseen traumas that alter the course of people's lives and then the incredible confusion that comes along with that. The book portrays perfectly how such a life changing event can open a window or even windows, into a completely different way of life, a different way of being, of perceiving and find ourselves ever changed for it.A brilliant read with wonderful characterisations of people leading every day lives with surprises along the way.