The Beginner's Goodbye: 11/05/16

Anne Tyler is one of those authors on the periphery of my reading. Every book of hers I've read, I've loved but I can (and do) go years between reading her work, even though she has been constantly writing and publishing for about thirty years.

The Beginner's Goodbye by Anne Tyler is the story of a man coming to grips with his wife's sudden and untimely death. Aaron, an unremarkable person except for mobility problems with and arm and a leg (which requires a brace) was married to a brilliant and outspoken woman.

They lived as happily married roommates, keeping to themselves at home and keeping busy with their careers. The chores were left mostly undone. A tree that needed removal, wasn't, and that ultimately came crashing down on the sunroom where Dorothy did her writing.

Dorothy was clearly Aaron's motivation to keep living. It's not that the book is about him contemplating suicide. Rather, it's about a person whose routine has been destroyed and is now just letting things wind down. He's lost what little motivation he had to take responsibility.

This book reminds me of:

• Good Grief by Lolly Winton
• The Hour of the Bees by Lindsay Eagar [LINK]
• The Widow's Season by Lauria Brodie

Five stars

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