Redhead by the Side of the Road
Ratings21
Average rating3.7
15
Ratings21
Average rating3.7
From the bestselling author of A Spool of Blue Thread- an offbeat love story about mis-steps, second chances and the elusive art of human connection Micah Mortimer isn't the most polished person you'll ever meet. His numerous sisters and in-laws regard him oddly but very fondly, but he has his ways and means of navigating the world. He measures out his days running errands for work - his TECH HERMIT sign cheerily displayed on the roof of his car - maintaining an impeccable cleaning regime and going for runs (7-15, every morning). He is content with the steady balance of his life. But then the order of things starts to tilt. His woman friend Cassia (he refuses to call anyone in her late thirties a 'girlfriend') tells him she's facing eviction because of a cat. And when a teenager shows up at Micah's door claiming to be his son, Micah is confronted with another surprise he seems poorly equipped to handle. Redhead by the Side of the Road is an intimate look into the heart and mind of a man who sometimes finds those around him just out of reach - and a love story about the differences that make us all unique.
Reviews with the most likes.
sweet
What a lovely story about a man and his relationships. Not just relationships with people, but with the objects in his house. Well written, exquisitely paced, and a super short novel worth every moment of your time.
“If ever there was a perfect time for a new Anne Tyler novel, it's now — and this one doesn't disappoint . . . Heartwarming and very funny — one of Tyler's best yet.” —People
Agree, agree, agree.
Micah Mortimer is a fellow who has his life completely organized. He is a self-employed tech guy, working when he gets a call, and he manages the apartments where he lives, getting an apartment for free in the bargain. Every day is a day to do a different household task—cleaning out a cabinet, mopping the floor. Organized to the nth.
There's his love life, and maybe that's not as organized as he had hoped. And who is this eighteen-year-old boy showing up at his house unexpectedly? His sisters and their families? Well, maybe his life has a few places he could work to improve.
Someone had told me that Anne Tyler wasn't going to write any more novels after her last book, Vinegar Girl. Maybe that was her intent, but, in any case, I am thrilled she wrote this little gem. Her writing is wonderfully quotable; you read her character's thoughts and you nod your head. She knows her people.
Some quotes:
“Like most families, the Mortimers believed that their family was more fascinating than anybody else's.”
Tyler, Anne. Redhead by the Side of the Road . Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
“'What's the point of living if you don't try to do things better?'”
Tyler, Anne. Redhead by the Side of the Road . Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
“Women kept the world running, really.”
Tyler, Anne. Redhead by the Side of the Road . Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
‘“He asks Joey, ‘Do you love her?' And Joey thinks awhile and then he says, ‘Well, sometimes.' ” “Sometimes!” Micah said. “Oh,” Ada said breezily, “all in all, I guess that's about the most a couple can hope for.”‘
Tyler, Anne. Redhead by the Side of the Road . Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
“Sometimes when he was dealing with people, he felt like he was operating one of those claw machines on a boardwalk, those shovel things where you tried to scoop up a prize but the controls were too unwieldy and you worked at too great a remove.”
Tyler, Anne. Redhead by the Side of the Road . Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
I'm a big fan of Anne Tyler and i loved this book. The central character of Micah is someone comfortable in his own skin. He has his quirks which are something of an Anne Tyler specialty. The family scenes are all great, and the book is filled with plenty of humour as well as great heart.
