Rating: 
Summary: Anne Tyler: Mistress of Quirk
Review: I've read all her books, and this is one of my favorites. It begins with Macon and his wife separating after tragedy drives them apart. Macon moves 'back home' with his 3 hopelessly out-of-touch-with-reality siblings, the oddest of which is his spinster sister, Rose. Enter: Muriel, an eccentric dog trainer, who gets right to work training Macon for re-entry into life.
Every nuance is in place in this quirky book full of odd characters who have trouble finding their niche till Tyler discovers them and sets them again on their crooked path.
Rating: 
Summary: Really enjoyed this
Review: If you saw and hated the movie, as I did, don't let that put you off. The book if fantastic. The relationships are fascinating. I really cared about the characters, and I could understand why Macon would be attracted to someone like Muriel, particularly after the loss of his son. Tyler writes characters in a way that I can believe; I felt like I knew the people in the novel. I laughed, I cried, I yelled, I pondered. All the things I hope a novel will encourage me to do. And most importantly, I never felt manipulated. Tyler didn't tell; she showed. I would have given it 5 stars, but I did feel that she could've expanded a bit more on Macon's relationship with his family, and particularly, his ex-wife. What was it about them they pulled apart rather than together in their grief? I still don't have a satisfactory sense of that.
Rating: 
Summary: Lost in his own world
Review: This is a story of a man who creates his own world of loneliness and satisfaction. He feels happy if he does not have to go out or speak to strange and unknown people. His reactions are very passive and he is undecided about most of the things. Unfortunately, he does not realise and admit that his world could not give him all protection he would like to. He becomes more and more depressive and unable to live a real life. Even more, he gets lost in his own world! It seems that nobody can help him - mostly because he does not leave anybody in his vicinity. Only a woman, who is in many things very different - is young, talkative (too much, I think), full of energy, daring and also thoughtless - could maybe change him and even she must be almost aggressive. I like neither Macon nor Muriel. I think, the author a bit exaggerates in description of their characters. They both look quite unreal to me. But it is worth to read this book and if you take some things from Macon's and some from Muriel's character, you could get an interesting person. And some descriptions of Macon's thoughts are also well written.
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Summary: This book will make you laugh and weep!
Review: This is one of my favorite books, Macon is a travel writer who would rather stay home. His books cater to people who must travel, hence the tips about how to bring home with you on your trip. He is staid, compulsive, and depressed. His son is killed, and his wife leaves him. This book describes his depression. Macon stops cooking and cleaning. He devises a way to make popcorn from his bed, he sews his sheets together to make it easier to make his bed. Finally He meets Muriel and she is his opposite. She is impulsive, messy and fun. Macon is repulsed and then entranced. Macon and Muriel learn from each other. Muriel trains the dog "Edward" even when she is flat on her back and he tries to bite her, she holds her hand up and says "absolutely not!" Edward obeys her. This is my favorite book because it makes me laugh and cry. The characters are a wonderful blend. Read this book!
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Summary: entirely enjoyable, humorous book
Review: When I was required to pick a book to read for a literary review in school, I chose to read The Accidental Tourist. Anne Tyler does a wonderful job portraying Macon Leary, a travel writer on the edge of an obsessive-compulsive disorder, and Muriel Pritchett, a kooky but enjoyable dog trainer needed to put happiness back into Macon's life. Although at first I did not like Macon, I soon grew to like him and the other characters quite a bit. Tyler does not use flowery language or describe for pages at a time, so there is just enough room for a vivid imagination to do its work. I loved reading the book, and laughed all the way through it. I advise, however, that if you enjoy the book not to rent the movie. I was thoroughly disappointed by the film interpretation of such a wonderful work because I felt that so much of the depth of the characters in the book was lost to editing of the script and portrayal by the actors.
Rating:
Summary: Kept me wondering to the very end... and beyond
Review: While in the library scanning books on how-to-write, I came across a strong recommendation for Anne Tyler's "Accidental Tourist" as a good example of what a novel should be like. After reading the book, I concur. The three main characters in the book are Macon - a reluctant travel guide writer, his wife Sarah, and the "other woman" Muriel. There are also members of Macon's extended family that are equally interesting. However, none of the characters are very appealing. They are a whiney bunch, introverted, and opinionated. But the author does such a great job describing the idiosyncracies of the trio, that I found myself deeply interested in what happens to them. There is also fascinating and intelligent dialogue throughout. After I was caught up with the fate of Macon and the rest, I had to keep reading to find out what happens to their lives, and the author keeps the outcome in question until the last four pages. It is a well crafted book. I'm glad I read it. It is a little muddy to me what inspired Macon to make his final choice; I would have gone the other way. That muddiness and the unattractive characters made me give this book four instead of five stars.
Rating:
Summary: A book so remarkable......
Review: you want to thank the author for writing it!! I love this book. I've read it many times and given copies to friends (they certainly aren't going to get my copy!). The two things I most admire about the book: its originality and its hopefulness. Living fully takes courage, humor, humanity. This book has those qualities in abundance.
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