Paperback review: The Beginner's Goodbye, By Anne Tyler
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference."The strangest thing about my wife's return from the dead was how other people reacted." Greeted by an opening line like that, one simply has to keep reading; and indeed The Beginner's Goodbye goes on to exhibit all the delicious readability that admirers of Tyler expect.
Aaron – a fussy, fastidious man in his forties who works for a vanity publisher – is devastated when his wife Dorothy is killed by a falling tree. But after a blank, desolate space Dorothy comes back, appearing beside Aaron at unexpected moments, walking beside him, starting inconclusive conversations.
We watch Aaron struggle with his grief as we learn more about his loving but fundamentally flawed marriage. As always with Tyler, the story moves in two directions at once, flowing into the future while the past is explored and understood.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments