The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the beloved Pulitzer Prize–winning author—an irresistible novel exploring the slippery alchemy of attracting opposites, and the struggle to rebuild one’s life after unspeakable tragedy

Travel writer Macon Leary hates travel, adventure, surprises, and anything outside of his routine. Immobilized by grief, Macon is becoming increasingly prickly and alone, anchored by his solitude and an unwillingness to compromise his creature comforts. Then he meets Muriel, an eccentric dog trainer too optimistic to let Macon disappear into himself. Despite Macon’s best efforts to remain insulated, Muriel up-ends his solitary, systemized life, catapulting him into the center of a messy, beautiful love story he never imagined. A fresh and timeless tale of unexpected bliss, The Accidental Tourist showcases Tyler’s talents for making characters—and their relationships—feel both real and magical.

“Incandescent, heartbreaking, exhilarating…One cannot reasonably expect fiction to be much better than this.” —The Washington Post

I went in expecting a light read, and while I mostly got that, I also didn't expect a sometimes tender, delicate portrayal of a middle-aged man struggling to cope with the failure of a marriage and the death of his only child. A bit overstretched for the most part; however, there's a really good novella to 200-page story here, but certainly not a 350-page one.

This novel is a subtle romance by an author who understands the complexity of human relationships. When Macon's wife Sarah walks out, he's stunned and slightly clueless. Sure, nothing was perfect in their marriage, especially lately. Very little in fact. After their only child died, they really were going through the emotions. Macon moves back in with his quirky siblings, bringing along his dog, Edward.

Edward seems as thrown by life events as Macon. So much so, he's started biting. Enter an unusual dog trainer, Muriel. Unlike Macon, Muriel has perfected rolling with the punches to an art form. When nothing really works out in your life, you start to accept that as normal and find a way to go on.

The book goes on to pose, and eventually answer, the question, who is Macon? Is he the stable, unemotional guy Sarah knows or is he the lover that Muriel invents? Anne Tyler's ability to give us all the clues we need to understand the answer is what makes her a remarkable author and a master observer of human behavior.

One of the interesting side notes of this book, is Macon's profession as a travel writer. It's Tyler's attention to deadlines and how he creates that makes him more believable. She knows whereof she writes in this case.

Pick up this book, sit down, and enjoy a little journey in your favorite armchair. You'll be glad you did.