I read Anne Tyler’s The Accidental Tourist in 1985 and enjoyed it, but for some reason hadn’t read any of her books since then. It seems I’ve been missing out. Redhead by the Side of the Road is lighthearted and bighearted at the same time, full of warm humor, and ultimately uplifting. Tyler has a unique ability to tell “small” stories that capture nuanced tribulations. Her prose is concise and clear — a rare gift in this age of word vomit from word processors.
Redhead by the Side of the Road is the story of middle-aged Micah Mortimer, the “Tech Hermit” who has trouble with understanding relationships, especially with the women in his life, past and present. His progress toward realizing what’s truly important are revealed in a way that creates anticipation from one page to the next. “Suspense” doesn’t have to include murder and mayhem. Redhead by the Side of the Road is just the sort of book we need in 2020.
