Anne Tyler deserves all the chocolate cupcakes she could ever want for her birthday! Photo: Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay
“If I waited till I felt like writing, I’d never write at all.” Anne Tyler, novelist.
Anne Tyler is one of my favorite authors! Who is yours?
For those of you unfamiliar with Tyler’s novels, she won a Pulitzer Prize and has been nominated repeatedly for more. She’s remarkable for writing about life’s nuances that we might otherwise miss. Too often, we’re so busy “doing” that we miss “living.” We can miss ourselves and each other.
Enter Tyler to remind us that each day is happy and sad, selfish and loving, smart and goofy, and everything in between. Families might offer connection. When they make us feel unbearably isolated and misunderstood, we can find solace in friendships and in families of our own making. Now in her late 70s, Tyler writes as prolifically as ever. Several of her stories have been made into Hollywood films and TV movies. Her books and her deeds illustrate how each of us is as vibrant as we choose.
Born in Minnesota and raised by Quaker parents, she was socially and culturally thoughtful from the start. I’m a soon-to-be self-published novelist. Like me, she married a Persian man. They were together until his death and had two daughters, now both accomplished artists.
I try to be open to new writers and each year read a few debuts or authors I’m unfamiliar with, sometimes on other’s recommendations, sometimes at a writer’s or publisher’s request. Still, for me, there is a clear gold standard reserved for those writers who, over decades of wonderful books, always satisfy me, challenge or teach me, make me laugh, or bring me to tears.
I began reading Anne Tyler in the late 1980s, at the urging of my late dear friend Gerry. Incidentally, my then teen-aged daughter fell for her then, too. Anne Tyler persists today as one of our country’s great novelists. My list of favorites includes but isn’t limited to The Accidental Tourist, Breathing Lessons, Saint Maybe, Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant, Digging to America, Ladder of Years, The Beginner’s Goodbye, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. My most recent…
Happiness Between Tails blog/podcast speaks to and from the heart. It connects lovers — of pets, authors, reading — and of my still-unreleased novels. “Flamenco + the Sitting Cat” and “Tango + the Sitting Cat,” are my love letters to all who fear they're too odd, too damaged, too old, too whatever to find love and happiness with or without a partner. HappinessBetweenTails.com • ContactdaAL@gmail.com • BuyMeACoffee.com/SupportHBT
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12 thoughts on “Happy Birthday Anne Tyler + Guest Blog Post by Angela Bell”
It’s my first time hearing about this author, I’ll have to pick a book to start with. 😃
A formidable woman and authors, I’m sure I can understand why you like her even though I’ve never read any of her books. !!! .. Happy birthday to Anne Tyler !!! …
… My favorite novelist would be Agatha Christie, I fell in love with her fascinating novel “And Then They Were None” as a child and I have read almost all of her books
I’m an Anne Tyler fan. Together with the late Toni Morrison, she has been my model for developing my writing style.
Thank you Anne Tyler! Happy Birthday wishes to you!
I haven’t heard of her yet either, but then, in Europe it takes some time … But I am always happy to learn about contemporary writers, especially women. So thank you for presenting Anne Tyler!
Three of my favourite, still living authors are Isabel Allende, Margaret Atwood and Amy Tan.
It’s my first time hearing about her,and I will surely check out her works.Hope the hallowen preparations are going in full swing daal.
Take care xoxo.
Happiness Between Tails by da-AL 
It’s my first time hearing about this author, I’ll have to pick a book to start with. 😃
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Hope you enjoy 🙂
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Thanks for introducing me to Anne Tyler. I’ve just found another author to follow and her books are on my TBR. Great post, da-AL.
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So glad you enjoyed, Mark 🙂
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A formidable woman and authors, I’m sure I can understand why you like her even though I’ve never read any of her books. !!! .. Happy birthday to Anne Tyler !!! …
… My favorite novelist would be Agatha Christie, I fell in love with her fascinating novel “And Then They Were None” as a child and I have read almost all of her books
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Her books are truly fun – amazing that she wrote so many!
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I’m an Anne Tyler fan. Together with the late Toni Morrison, she has been my model for developing my writing style.
Thank you Anne Tyler! Happy Birthday wishes to you!
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Both great writers – thoughtful & straighforward
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I haven’t heard of her yet either, but then, in Europe it takes some time … But I am always happy to learn about contemporary writers, especially women. So thank you for presenting Anne Tyler!
Three of my favourite, still living authors are Isabel Allende, Margaret Atwood and Amy Tan.
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I love them all too!!!
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It’s my first time hearing about her,and I will surely check out her works.Hope the hallowen preparations are going in full swing daal.
Take care xoxo.
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🙂
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