Hooray – I knew I remembered this book in my Anne Tyler 2021 project, recalling clearly that it involved a man losing his wife in a house accident. When I read on the blurb that she comes back from the dead, I remembered that bit, too. But whereas last time I read this book, in 2015 (my review here), I really didn’t like it, and found it depressing, this time I really enjoyed it!
If you’re reading along with the project or just this one or whatever, please do share your thoughts in the comments at the bottom or add a link to your review on your blog or Goodreads, etc.. I’m adding links to these reviews plus all the reviews I am alerted to to the project page, so do pop there to see what other people have thought, too.
Anne Tyler – “The Beginner’s Goodbye”
(21 January 2015)
For an instant she was standing under the shelter of my arm, and although there was not one single point of contact between us, I felt I was surrounding her with an invisible layer of warmth and protection. (p. 139)
The first thing to say about this book is that I was shocked to read the protagonist, Aaron, is around 35 at the start of the novel – yet I found myself surprised by that last time, too, and had forgotten in the intervening six years. Last time, I was horrified at Dorothy’s dying at my exact age; this time I’m of course well past that and can look at their relative youth more benignly. I was already married by the time I read it last time, but it’s worth noting that I have managed to mellow in my issue of having trouble reading books with marital troubles in once I’d got married. Not that there are particular huge issues.
Anyway, it was interesting to consider whether Dorothy did come back from the dead or whether Aaron imagined her. Early in the book, he sees people blanking him because they see them walking along together, but maybe they’re just blanking him out of concern at not knowing what to say. He says himself later in the book he’s not sure, but then she tells him things he thinks he didn’t know … but did he, deep down?
Aaron and his sister work at the family firm, and Aaron is married to matter-of-fact doctor, Dorothy. Then one shocking day, there’s an accident at the house, he’s bereaved, his house is wrecked and he faces a life back in the family house in his old bedroom. But it’s better than fending off well-meaning casserole dishes and invitations to dinner, right? When Dorothy reappears, he gets the chance to reassess his marriage, but how will this help with the ages of life stretching before him?
I loved the set-up at the family publishing firm, a vanity press that also puts out the “The Beginner’s x” series of books to help people through life. Charles, the only staff member who has a “normal” family life, is always suggesting marketing ideas and I loved the interactions and staff meetings, the little awkwardnesses of office life. The story we get in the middle of the book of Aaron and Dorothy’s courtship is lovely and touching, and I love Dorothy’s uncompromising attitude to life and logic (her aggressively ugly haircut reminds me of Bitsy from “Digging to America”). I also really loved the quirky characters of Aaron’s sister Nandina and his repair contractor with a heart of gold, Gil.
Of course there are classic Tylerisms to enjoy. Nandina is still living in her and Aaron’s parents’ house and she plays the bossy sister well. As well as the haircut point above, there are other reminders of the rest of the oeuvre – there’s a revelation about the central marriage late on that echoes the one in “The Amateur Marriage” and of course Aaron is now an amateur at bereavement, too, after never quite getting a hold on being married. There’s an echo of “The Accidental Tourist” in the publisher and their series of books, too, and of course it’s yet another family business that an ailing father has persuaded his offspring to join. We’re in Baltimore, we’re in a first person narrative, which we haven’t had for a while, but works really well here, and we have the sudden narrative jumps we often find in Tyler, here at the end.
Unlike the previous novel, there’s hope at the end of this one, not sad resignation, and while that’s quite unusual, it’s refreshing and positive. New life can happen, and we can move on, even after the devastation of bereavement, which is so beautifully told in this book:
“In a way,” I told Peggy, “its like the grief has been covered over with some kind of blanket. It’s still there, but the sharpest edges are … muffled, sort of. Then, every now and then, I lift a corner of the blanket, just to check, and–whoa! Like a knife! I’m not sure that will ever change.” (p. 177)
So, a change in my attitude on this one, which I am glad about, as I went into it a little unenthusiastically, sure I wouldn’t think much of it.
Have you read this one? What did you think?
Ruth
Oct 10, 2021 @ 10:31:21
I didn’t enjoy this one that much as I found it rather gloomy. I was glad it was quite short! I did enjoy the end though as a hopeful message is more inspiring (for me anyway).
I did enjoy the quirky bits too though. I always want to continue reading Anne Tyler’s books even when i don’t like it that much. There is always something interesting to get hold of and she always writes beautifully in my opinion.
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Liz Dexter
Oct 10, 2021 @ 10:49:30
I didn’t find this as gloomy as I did last time, interestingly, and yes, certainly the ending was more upbeat than the last one. You’re right, though, always worth reading her. Thank you for keeping going with the project all the way through so far, too! We’ll have to read her new one together when it’s out in paperback!
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Ruth
Oct 10, 2021 @ 11:47:23
Yes for sure. Good plan! No problem at all I’m really enjoying it. I finished this one last night when I couldn’t sleep and then started the next one too. Looking forward to reading it!
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wadholloway
Oct 10, 2021 @ 11:20:55
I listened to The Beginners Goodbye this morning (6 hours). So pleased to have coincided with your review for a change. I didn’t think it was particularly gloomy, though I thought the reader was.
I agree with you entirely about Dorothy’s reality or otherwise. Didn’t you love the old widow who got the hump because Aaron suggested his wife came back to him because he needed her.
The strongest part I thought was A’s gradual realisation that Dorothy had been unhappy in the marriage because of his inability to understand what was being suggested to him (a fault I own to myself). I thought his redemption and subsequent happy ending were both unrealistic. The girl whom he had scorned all his life should be careful what she wished for.
(Please feel free to edit or exclude my comment if you think I have skated too close to any spoilers!)
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Liz Dexter
Oct 11, 2021 @ 09:37:39
Thank you for your comment and I’m glad you were able to read it at the same time as my schedule! Yes, it was a bit realistic: although redemptions do happen in AT they are rarer than sort of fading away or being subsumed back into your previous life, so it’s a bit odd (but nice after the miserable fading of the last one!). And I think you’ve skirted spoilers well enough there!
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Jeanne
Oct 10, 2021 @ 12:50:01
I think Aaron imagined Dorothy and already sort of knew the things she “revealed” to him. It’s a very realistic novel, as all of Tyler’s are, and there would be consequences for actual necromancy that are at odds with the spirit of this novel.
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Liz Dexter
Oct 11, 2021 @ 09:38:20
That’s a very valid theory and one I could go with. There don’t tend to be magical happenings in Tyler, so yes. A good conceit well done, though, I thought.
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kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 10, 2021 @ 16:24:49
Oh lovely! It’s great when you go back to a book and it’s better than you remember! 😀
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Liz Dexter
Oct 11, 2021 @ 09:38:45
It is, and that’s the second of hers I’ve done that with, so she has redeemed herself for me!
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heavenali
Oct 10, 2021 @ 18:26:35
I hadn’t even heard of this Anne Tyler novel. It sounds really good, the theme of bereavement particularly strong it seems.
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Liz Dexter
Oct 11, 2021 @ 09:39:24
it’s odd as it came out to not much fanfare in 2013, as far as I can remember, even though she was an author beloved by many by then.
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Brona's Books
Oct 10, 2021 @ 21:01:51
My review of this five years was pretty basic, but I did love it – https://bronasbooks.com/2012/02/17/the-beginners-goodbye-by-anne-tyler/
I found the ghostly aspect really moving and touching.
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Liz Dexter
Oct 11, 2021 @ 09:45:57
I enjoyed your review and will add it to my project page as it’s so lovely. It was moving, wasn’t it, I think I got overwhelmed by Dorothy being my age last time (I’d just read One Day which had similar issues, too!).
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Brona's Books
Oct 11, 2021 @ 10:43:02
I think for me it was being fairly newly married. The thought of losing ones life partner so young was something I wasn’t prepared to think about!!
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Liz Dexter
Oct 11, 2021 @ 10:48:40
Oh that is interesting!
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Rebecca Foster
Oct 11, 2021 @ 10:44:43
This was my first ever Anne Tyler! Back in 2012, reviewed here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/339280197
I thought then, and still think now, that it wasn’t a great one to start with, but luckily I enjoyed the writing and themes enough to keep going with her and discover ones I love much more!
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Liz Dexter
Oct 11, 2021 @ 10:50:59
Oh, wow! I agree, that would be an odd first one to start with, but it is one that I appreciated a lot more when I went back to it! I’ve linked to your review on my project page as it’s such a good one.
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conmartin13
Oct 11, 2021 @ 19:14:37
I have not read this one and I don’t like books where key plot elements might be in someone’s imagination (really annoyed by a Jodi Picoult where the whole plot turned out to have been in a child’s imagination – although I suppose it might have been better if that were ambiguous).
Anyway, I thought you would be amused to hear I used to work for the Dummies books, which were well written and edited and served a useful purpose in helping beginners navigate a topic (possibly being spoofed in this book). They were initially popular as computer books, then we expanded to many topics. Anyway, in late 1999, the religion/new age buyer for the then-largest retailer in the US suggested we do Nostradamus for Dummies. Because it wasn’t her idea, the ninny who was then heading that editorial division delayed so long that the book did not come out until after the Millenium, thus losing us untold volume and revenue. In addition to being stubborn and not very bright, I think that despite my efforts, she simply had no knowledge of what sold in bookstores. This is a shortsighted attitude for any editor and made me crazy over in the sales department.
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Liz Dexter
Oct 13, 2021 @ 07:28:33
Oh, that is so interesting, thank you for sharing that! How funny! They mention the Dummies books in the book and the ones the company publishes are sort of sub-Dummies. And the supernatural element can be explained away, as I do, as sort of wish-fulfilment, thus poignant rather than annoying – and I say this as someone who can’t bear to read books “written” by a character after their death!
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Ste J
Oct 11, 2021 @ 19:42:36
within minutes of starting to visit blogs and I already have two books added to my list, and both authors are new to me as an added bonus. A few years ago this may not have appealed as much but now it will most likely be more affecting.
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Liz Dexter
Oct 13, 2021 @ 07:29:41
Aha, the terrible risk of reading blogs! Lovely to see you back here again, though. I wouldn’t say this is the best of hers to read first (and the bereavement theme is quite strong in a lot of hers) but give it a whirl or have a look through the previous reads for one that might appeal, too. And of course let me know what you think. Happy reading!
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buriedinprint
Oct 13, 2021 @ 17:56:11
How fun that you had such a different reaction this time ’round. That is one of the joys of rereading. And, to think you’re almost done your project!
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Marshall sobin
Feb 03, 2024 @ 02:27:11
Have not read this yet , just took it from the library, but just from the cover, I am reminded of PETER S BEAGLES A FINE AND PRIVATE PLACE
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Liz Dexter
Feb 03, 2024 @ 18:44:33
I didn’t know that book but I looked it up and it looks intriguing. I hope you get to read this one and enjoy it.
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