French Braid by Anne Tyler

Anne Tyler is a national treasure, having written over 20 novels in her life and winning the Pulitzer prize for Breathing Lessons in 1988. I can honestly say that I have enjoyed every one of these novels and always scramble to get it as soon as I hear a new one has been released. This one is classic Anne Tyler! Set in Baltimore (like all of her books) this story delves into family dynamics and the human condition. The story follows the Garrett family from late 1950’s until the pandemic in 2020. Tyler writes as a wry observer chronicling the family interactions and the times without judgment. Following the mother Mercy as she quietly packs up and moves her things bit by bit into her artist studio in the 1960’s after her last child leaves home, her befuddled husband Robin, sensible daughter Alice, boy-crazy daughter Lily, and sensitive David, the book continues through the decades as each branches off and makes her or his own life. Tyler always injects little nuggets of wisdom through her characters. A granddaughter Serena, after visiting a boyfriend’s family, notes in her head that the trouble with wide-open families is that they’re often very narrow about their attitude towards closed off families. Mercy telling a granddaughter about life in general that one would be wise to never look over one’s shoulder and just run the race on one’s own. There are absurdities that had me laughing (scattered right alongside the poignancy) such as the family determining that Mercy is a bad driver after she very slowly backs into a friend standing in the driveway that clearly could have very easily moved away in time. The characters in this book (along with all of Tyler’s characters) always have me catching myself wondering what they’re up to after I’m done reading and before I catch myself realizing these people are fictional. Their quirks and colloquialisms make them come alive. This book (like all of Anne Tyler’s) is accessible, funny, and moving. Highly recommended!