BOOK BRIEF

The Beginner's Goodbye

Anne Tyler
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The Beginner's Goodbye

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2012

Book Brief

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Anne Tyler

The Beginner's Goodbye

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2012
Book Details
Pages

198

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Baltimore, Maryland • Contemporary

Publication Year

2012

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

The Beginner's Goodbye, by Anne Tyler, follows a grieving man after losing his wife. As he struggles to cope, he encounters her spirit, providing an unexpected path to healing and personal growth. The narrative explores themes of love, loss, and renewal, highlighting the protagonist's journey to acceptance and understanding.

Melancholic

Bittersweet

Contemplative

Heartwarming

Reviews & Readership

3.9

22,862 ratings

59%

Loved it

31%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Anne Tyler's The Beginner's Goodbye explores themes of loss and healing with her trademark emotional depth. Critics praise her nuanced character development and graceful storytelling. However, some note the plot's predictability and occasional lack of tension. Overall, it's a poignant examination of grief that resonates with Tyler's signature warmth.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Beginner's Goodbye?

A reader who enjoys The Beginner's Goodbye by Anne Tyler likely appreciates character-driven stories that explore themes of grief and recovery. Fans of The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling or The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce may find similar satisfaction in its warmth, humor, and focus on life's small, transformative moments.

3.9

22,862 ratings

59%

Loved it

31%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

Fun Facts

The Beginner's Goodbye was a 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction finalist, showcasing Anne Tyler's recognition in the literary world.

Anne Tyler's work, including The Beginner's Goodbye, is often celebrated for its exploration of themes like family and personal loss in her distinctively warm and insightful style.

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The protagonist's profession as a vanity press editor in The Beginner's Goodbye mirrors Tyler's own background, as she comes from a family with editorial ties.

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Book Details
Pages

198

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Baltimore, Maryland • Contemporary

Publication Year

2012

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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