Anne Tyler Popular Books

Anne Tyler Biography & Facts

Anne Tyler (born October 25, 1941) is an American novelist, short story writer, and literary critic. She has published twenty-four novels, including Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant (1982), The Accidental Tourist (1985), and Breathing Lessons (1988). All three were finalists for the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and Breathing Lessons won the prize in 1989. She has also won the Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize, the Ambassador Book Award, and the National Book Critics Circle Award. In 2012 she was awarded The Sunday Times Award for Literary Excellence. Tyler's twentieth novel, A Spool of Blue Thread, was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2015, and Redhead By the Side of the Road was longlisted for the same award in 2020. She is recognized for her fully developed characters, her "brilliantly imagined and absolutely accurate detail", her "rigorous and artful style", and her "astute and open language."Tyler has been compared to John Updike, Jane Austen, and Eudora Welty, among others. Early life and education Early childhood The oldest of four children, she was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her father, Lloyd Parry Tyler, was an industrial chemist and her mother, Phyllis Mahon Tyler, a social worker. Both her parents were Quakers who were very active with social causes in the Midwest and the South. Her family lived in a succession of Quaker communities in the South until they settled in 1948 in a Quaker commune in Celo, in the mountains of North Carolina near Burnsville. The Celo Community settlement was populated largely by conscientious objectors and members of the liberal Hicksite branch of the Society of Friends. Tyler lived there from age seven through eleven and helped her parents and others care for livestock and organic farming. While she did not attend formal public school in Celo, lessons were taught in art, carpentry, and cooking in homes and in other subjects in a tiny school house. Her early informal training was supplemented by correspondence school.Her first memory of her own creative story-telling was of crawling under the bed covers at age three and "telling myself stories in order to get to sleep at night." Her first book at age seven was a collection of drawings and stories about "lucky girls ... who got to go west in covered wagons." Her favorite book as a child was The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton. Tyler acknowledges that this book, which she read many times during this period of limited access to books, had a profound influence on her, showing "how the years flowed by, people altered, and nothing could ever stay the same." This early perception of changes over time is a theme that reappears in many of her novels decades later, just as The Little House itself appears in her novel Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant. Tyler also describes reading Little Women 22 times as a child. When the Tyler family left Celo after four years to move to Raleigh, North Carolina, eleven-year-old Tyler had never attended public school and never used a telephone. This unorthodox upbringing enabled her to view "the normal world with a certain amount of distance and surprise."Tyler felt herself to be an outsider in the public schools she attended in Raleigh, a feeling that has followed her most of her life. She believes that this sense of being an outsider has contributed to her becoming a writer: "I believe that any kind of setting-apart situation will do [to become a writer]. In my case, it was emerging from the commune ... and trying to fit into the outside world." Despite her lack of public schooling prior to age eleven, Anne entered school academically well ahead of most of her classmates in Raleigh. With access now to libraries, she discovered Eudora Welty, Gabriel García Márquez, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and many others. Eudora Welty remains one of her favorite writers, and The Wide Net and Other Stories is one of her favorite books; she has called Welty "my crowning influence." She credits Welty with showing her that books could be about the everyday details of life, not just about major events. During her years at Needham B. Broughton High School in Raleigh, she was inspired and encouraged by a remarkable English teacher, Phyllis Peacock. "Mrs. Peacock" had previously taught the writer Reynolds Price, under whom Tyler would later study at Duke University. Peacock would also later teach the writer Armistead Maupin. Seven years after high school, Tyler would dedicate her first published novel to "Mrs. Peacock, for everything you've done."When Tyler graduated from high school at age sixteen, she wanted to attend Swarthmore College, a school founded in 1860 by the Hicksite branch of the Society of Friends. However, she had won a full AB Duke scholarship to Duke University, and her parents pressured her to go to Duke because they needed to save money for the education of her three younger brothers. At Duke, Tyler enrolled in Reynolds Price's first creative writing class, which also included a future poet, Fred Chappell. Price was most impressed with the sixteen-year-old Tyler, describing her as "frighteningly mature for 16," "wide-eyed," and "an outsider." Years later Price would describe Tyler as "one of the best novelists alive in the world, ... who was almost as good a writer at 16 as she is now." Tyler took an additional creative writing course with Price and also studied under William Blackburn, who also had taught William Styron, Josephine Humphreys, and James Applewhite at Duke, as well as Price and Chappell.As a college student, Tyler had not yet determined she wanted to become a writer. She loved painting and the visual arts. She also was involved in the drama society in high school and at Duke, where she acted in a number of plays, playing Laura in The Glass Menagerie and Mrs. Gibbs in Our Town. She majored in Russian Literature at Duke—not English—and graduated in 1961, at age nineteen, having been inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. With her Russian Literature background she received a fellowship to graduate school in Slavic Studies at Columbia University.Living in New York City was quite an adjustment for her. There she became somewhat addicted to riding trains and subways: "While I rode I often felt like I was ... an enormous eye taking things in, turning them over and sorting them out ... writing was the only way" [to express her observations]. Tyler left Columbia graduate school after a year, having completed course work but not her master's thesis. She returned to Duke, where she got a job in the library as a Russian bibliographer. It was there that she met Taghi Modarressi, a resident in child psychiatry in Duke Medical School and a writer himself, and they were married a year later (1963). Career Early writing and first publications While an undergraduate at Duke, Tyler published her short story "Laura" in the Duke literary journal Archive, for which she won the newly created Anne Flexner award for creative writing. In colle.... Discover the Anne Tyler popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Anne Tyler books.

Best Seller Anne Tyler Books of 2024

  • Caleb Williams synopsis, comments

    Caleb Williams

    William Godwin & Maurice Hindle

    When honest young Caleb Williams comes to work as a secretary for Squire Falkland, he soon begins to suspect that his new master is hiding a terrible secret. But as he digs deeper ...

  • A Private Affair synopsis, comments

    A Private Affair

    Lesley Lokko

    No matter who you are, love comes at a price...'Perfect for a lengthy spot of tanning ... immerse yourself in the lives of four women looking for love' GRAZIA'Bestselling author Le...

  • Hag-Seed synopsis, comments

    Hag-Seed

    Margaret Atwood

    NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER The beloved author of The Handmaid’s Tale reimagines Shakespeare’s final, great play, The Tempest, in a gripping and emotionally...

  • Redhead by the Side of the Road synopsis, comments

    Redhead by the Side of the Road

    Anne Tyler

    NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER BOOKER PRIZE NOMINEE  From the beloved Pulitzer Prize–winning author, a sparkling novel about misperception, second chances, and the sometimes elusi...

  • The Museum of You synopsis, comments

    The Museum of You

    Carys Bray

    Clover Quinn was a surprise. She used to imagine she was the good kind, now she’s not sure. She’d like to ask Dad about it, but growing up in the saddest chapter of someone else’s ...

  • Ladder of Years synopsis, comments

    Ladder of Years

    Anne Tyler

    NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER  From the beloved Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Breathing Lessons"BALTIMORE WOMAN DISAPPEARS DURING FAMILY VACATION." The headlines are ...

  • The Blue And Distant Hills synopsis, comments

    The Blue And Distant Hills

    Judith Saxton

    A young girl's search for her identity and for a love that can overcome her past.Questa Adamson is stranded in Italy for the duration of the Second World War. When she finally retu...

  • The Castle in the Pyrenees synopsis, comments

    The Castle in the Pyrenees

    Jostein Gaarder

    Two former lovers are brought back together ... but can they really trust their pasts? The new novel from the bestselling author of SOPHIE'S WORLD.Through five intense years in the...

  • Like a Boss synopsis, comments

    Like a Boss

    Anne Harper

    Antonella “Nell” Bennett is having the worst day of her life.Longterm boyfriend broke up with her? Check.Drove through the pouring rain to a small roadside restaurant, only to be t...

  • Mrs Palfrey At The Claremont synopsis, comments

    Mrs Palfrey At The Claremont

    Elizabeth Taylor & Paul Bailey

    'Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont is, for me, her masterpiece' ROBERT McCRUM, GUARDIAN'An author of great subtlety, great compassion and great depth' SARAH WATERS'Jane Austen, Elizabet...

  • The Wildflowers synopsis, comments

    The Wildflowers

    Harriet Evans

    'I adored The Wildflowers. A sweeping, epic, moving read' Marian KeyesThe new novel by Sunday Times bestseller Harriet Evans will transport you to a Dorset beach house, where you c...

  • An Affair with My Mother synopsis, comments

    An Affair with My Mother

    Caitríona Palmer

    'Incredibly moving' Anne Enright, winner of the Man Booker PrizeAn Affair with My Mother by Caitriona Palmer: a moving and gripping story of love, denial and a daughter's quest for...

  • London synopsis, comments

    London

    Iain Sinclair

    ‘A book full of richness, unexpected enticements, short sharp shocks and breathtaking writing’ Guardian Welcome to the real, unauthorised London: the disappeared, the unapproved, ...

  • The Legacy of Hartlepool Hall synopsis, comments

    The Legacy of Hartlepool Hall

    Paul Torday

    Hartlepool Hall has been in Ed's family for generations but is that about to change, and who is the mysterious Lady Alice?'A deliciously dark comedy about class, snobbery and a va...

  • Clock Dance synopsis, comments

    Clock Dance

    Anne Tyler

    NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER  A novel of selfdiscovery and second chances from the beloved Pulitzer Prizewinning authorWilla Drake has had three opportunities to s...

  • The Modern Library synopsis, comments

    The Modern Library

    Carmen Callil & Colm Tóibín

    For Colm Toíbín and Carmen Callil there is no difference between literary and commercial writing there is only the good novel: engrossing, inspirational, compelling. In their sele...

  • Perception synopsis, comments

    Perception

    Terri Fleming

    One wealthy bachelor. Two Bennet sisters lacking prospects. Can either defy expectations? 'A charmingly written evocation of what might have happened to the remaining Bennet siste...

  • Say When synopsis, comments

    Say When

    Elizabeth Berg

    Ellen, he thought, and the name seemed to him to hold everything he might possibly want to say to her....He looked at her lying on her side of the bed, looked too at the space she ...

  • Vinegar Girl synopsis, comments

    Vinegar Girl

    Anne Tyler

    Pulitzer Prize winner and American master Anne Tyler brings us an inspired, witty and irresistible contemporary take on one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies. Kate Battis...

  • Light Shining in the Forest synopsis, comments

    Light Shining in the Forest

    Paul Torday

    'An unsettling, haunting story...memorable, atmospheric and tense' THE LADY'Wellwritten, wellcrafted and constantly gripping' DAILY MAIL'A disquieting and atmospheric psychological...

  • Never Change synopsis, comments

    Never Change

    Elizabeth Berg

    You know people like me. I'm the one who sat in a folding chair out in the hall selling tickets to the prom but never going, the one everybody liked but no one wanted to be with. ...

  • The Flight of Cornelia Blackwood synopsis, comments

    The Flight of Cornelia Blackwood

    Susan Elliot Wright

    ‘Dark and compelling, a slowmotion collapse; I read it in 24 hours with my heart in my mouth. So good!’  Julie Cohen, author of TogetherEveryone knows what Cornelia did a...

  • Escape to Italy Collection synopsis, comments

    Escape to Italy Collection

    Nicky Pellegrino

    The Italian Wedding Two feuding families, two love stories and a lot of delicious Italian food. Pieta Martinelli's sister is getting married. Since she is a bridal designer it f...

  • The New Rector synopsis, comments

    The New Rector

    Rebecca Shaw

    Perfect for fans of Barbara Pym'Rebecca's wit, humour and brilliant observational skills put her in the forefront of village storytelling. I never tire of reading her wonderful nov...

  • All the Water in the World synopsis, comments

    All the Water in the World

    Karen Raney

    A stunning debut novel about a teenage girl and her mother as they grapple with first love, family secrets, and tragedy.Maddy is sixteen. Smart, funny, and profound, she has loyal ...

  • The Amateur Marriage synopsis, comments

    The Amateur Marriage

    Anne Tyler

    NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER  From the beloved Pulitzer Prize–winning authora rich and compelling novel about a mismatched marriage and its consequences, spanning three generat...

  • The Museum of Modern Love synopsis, comments

    The Museum of Modern Love

    Heather Rose

    An Amazon Editors’ Best Book of December 2018 “Art will wake you up. Art will break your heart. There will be glorious days. If you want eternity you must be fearless.” from The Mu...

  • George and Lizzie synopsis, comments

    George and Lizzie

    Nancy Pearl

    From “America’s librarian” and NPR books commentator Nancy Pearl comes an emotional, “AnneTyleresque” (Library Journal) debut novel about an unlikely marriage at a crossroads.Georg...

  • The Xmas Factor synopsis, comments

    The Xmas Factor

    Annie Sanders

    Thank goodness Christmas comes just once a year...! 'A heartwarming and sparkly comedy ideal for the time of year' WOMAN'S OWN'A funny festive read' HEAT'A book you'll enjoy long ...

  • Two Doors Away synopsis, comments

    Two Doors Away

    Elle Spellman

    Since moving to a new city, onceadventurous Steph is doing her best to prove to her friends and family back home that her life is as fulfilling and envyinducing as ever. The truth?...

  • You Can Do The Cube synopsis, comments

    You Can Do The Cube

    Patrick Bossert

    Are you going cubecrazy?This easy to follow guide has everything you need to know about the Rubik's cube. From simple stepbystep instructions showing how to complete it, to how the...

  • The Garden of Lost and Found synopsis, comments

    The Garden of Lost and Found

    Harriet Evans

    Don't miss the STUNNING new novel from Sunday Times bestselling author, Harriet Evans THE BELOVED GIRLS is available to buy now!'Spellbinding' Independent'My top book of 2019' DI...

  • French Braid synopsis, comments

    French Braid

    Anne Tyler

    NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER From the beloved Pulitzer Prize–winning author of A Spool of Blue Threada funny, joyful, brilliantly perceptive journey deep into one Baltimore family’s ...

  • Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant synopsis, comments

    Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant

    Anne Tyler

    NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER From the beloved Pulitzer Prize–winning author, a “funny, hearthammering, wise” (The New York Times) portrait of a family that will remind you why "to re...

  • Breathing Lessons synopsis, comments

    Breathing Lessons

    Anne Tyler

    WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Evoking Jane Austen, Emma Straub, and other masters of the literary marriage, Breathing Lessons celebrates the small miracl...

  • Night Walks synopsis, comments

    Night Walks

    Charles Dickens

    Charles Dickens describes in Night Walks his time as an insomniac, when he decided to cure himself by walking through London in the small hours, and discovered homelessness, drunke...

  • One Secret Summer synopsis, comments

    One Secret Summer

    Lesley Lokko

    'Very exciting from start to finish. It's wellwritten, engaging and fastpaced, with a plot you'll be gripped by. ... I couldn't put it down' DAILY MAILIn the perfect family, there'...

  • The Lark synopsis, comments

    The Lark

    Edith Nesbit

    'A charming and brilliantly entertaining novel... shot through with the lighthearted Nesbit touch' Penelope Lively, from the introduction"When did two girls of our age have such a ...

  • Fallen synopsis, comments

    Fallen

    Lia Mills

    Fallen by Lia Mills a remarkable love story amidst the ruins of the First World War and the Easter RisingSpring, 1915. Katie Crilly gets the news she dreaded: her beloved twin bro...

  • In the Shadow of Papillon synopsis, comments

    In the Shadow of Papillon

    Frank Kane & John Tilsley

    Following the collapse of his business and the loss of his home, Frank Kane made a catastrophic decision. In desperation, he agreed to smuggle cocaine out of Venezuela. Almost inev...

  • The Ever After synopsis, comments

    The Ever After

    Sarah Pekkanen

    “Writing with rawness and realism, Pekkanen doesn’t hold back…Fans of Liane Moriarty and Anne Tyler will appreciate the story’s depth.” Booklist“In her signature conversational sty...

  • More Than You Can Say synopsis, comments

    More Than You Can Say

    Paul Torday

    The bestselling author of SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN returns with a Buchanesque thriller.'Torday has an extraordinary gift for making apparent "normality" look sinister and strang...

  • The Little Village Library synopsis, comments

    The Little Village Library

    Helen Rolfe

    The Little Village Library is a heartwarming story about kindness, community, and new beginnings, perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley and Rachael LucasOne of Woman & Home's top 5...

  • Fake It Till You Make It synopsis, comments

    Fake It Till You Make It

    Anne Harper

    Sloane De Carlo is going to have to move to Antarctica.As if it wasn’t bad enough that she accidentally made her private blog very public, and all her innermost secrets and embarra...