Redhead by the Side of the Road

I should have read the reviews more closely. The book is 192 pages and was $14.00! It was a great story with characters I was getting attached to, then without warning, it ended. It was just the start of a novel. It wasn’t a novel. It was a longish short story. I just feel screwed over. As if the author and publisher took advantage of life long fans. That’s not the way you treat the people who made your books popular through the years.

Full disclosure, and borrowing from Stephen King’s “Misery” – but not in a CREEPY way – I’m Anne Tyler’s biggest fan. I think she’s the Jane Austen of our time. So it’s no surprise that I was poised to love her newest novel, “Redhead by the Side of the Road”, and love it I did! I read it in one day with that familiar push-pull of wanting to both devour and savor…think of a thick slice of your favorite cheesecake. Micha Mortimer is a 40-something handy man with a “side gig” called The Tech Hermit – a business offering personal IT/Tech help to the public. He’s written a manual called “First, You Plug It In”. I guarantee, most of us will see something of ourselves in Micha’s clients! Tyler’s strength is in her character development. We are privy to Micha’s thoughts, but we know when he’s totally miss-reading a situation. We know what Micha’s long-term girlfriend is getting at when she tells him that she’s afraid of being evicted from her apartment. But sadly, Micha is clueless; Micha doesn’t always see things as they are – hence the titular “redhead by the side of the road” – I won’t spoil that delightful detail! Micha’s family has labeled him “finicky” and a “fussbudget”, and I admit that some of his habits resemble my own (I prefer the term “organized”). The Mortimer family will remind readers of many of Tyler’s trademark families: “Like most families, the Mortimers believed that their family was more fascinating than anybody else’s.” How universally true is that? The fact that we love Tyler’s families is because we often see our own reflected. This description hit home with me: “As a rule, conversations in this family didn’t so much flow as spray up in bursts here and there, like geysers…” This too-short-I’m–not-ready-to-let-go, novel is BRIMMING with characters, some of whom we only know for a few pages. Only Anne Tyler can make you fall in love with, or be annoyed by, or detest, a character in such a short time. Creating rich and interesting characters (I refuse to say “quirky” because Tyler herself says “Aren’t we all?”) Now, THAT’S TALENT. Tyler fans will delight in this perfect story, and for anyone reading this review who has yet to read an Anne Tyler novel, this is a perfect one to start with! You are in for a treat!

I\’d been waiting for the release of this book. I very much enjoy Ann Tyler\’s writing. I settled in, expecting (and needing, in this Covid-19 atmosphere), a tale that would be like sitting down to a fine dinner and nice glass of wine. At best, this was the appetizer course, and I was so disappointed to glance at my Kindle and learn that I was 81% through the book. What happened? There was so much more to learn about Micah, and the abrupt Cass ending was disappointing. I felt I was just getting to know and appreciate this quirky, delightful character and it felt unfulfilling. That explains the 3 stars for a story that, had it been fleshed out, would easily have earned 5 stars.

Would recommend all of Anne Tyler’s books to anyone who love strong characters and unique stories. This one was too short, wanted more.

Ann Tyler is my favorite contemporary author. Since I bought Morgan’s Passing at a yard sale over 30 years ago, and promptly purchased every other book she had written at the time, I eagerly anticipated the next book. I’m a prolific reader but with Ann Tyler, I’d buy the next book immediately and save it for a little while (ok, maybe a week back in the printed book only era) so I could savor it. As soon as I read the first chapter of her latest in the New York Times, I knew I couldn’t wait. I downloaded it immediately. I actually waited 12 hours ( since yesterday!) and now, I’m done. Sad it’s over but honestly, I think this may be my absolute favorite. As a Baltimore girl, her stories truly capture the beauty of the seemingly unremarkable individuals who are actually quite captivating. Ann Tyler is an American treasure.

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