The Accidental Tourist

By: Anne Tyler

Narrated by: Jefferson Mays

Length: 12 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

In this irresistible novel, Anne Tyler explores the slippery alchemy of attracting opposites, and the struggle to rebuild one’s life after unspeakable tragedy.

Travel writer Macon Leary hates travel, adventure, surprises, and anything outside of his routine. Immobilized by grief, Macon is becoming increasingly prickly and alone, anchored by his solitude and an unwillingness to compromise his creature comforts. Then he meets Muriel, an eccentric dog trainer too optimistic to let Macon disappear into himself. Despite Macon’s best efforts to remain insulated, Muriel upends his solitary, systemized life, catapulting him into the center of a messy, beautiful love story he never imagined.

A fresh and timeless tale of unexpected bliss, The Accidental Tourist showcases Tyler’s talents for making characters - and their relationships - feel both real and magical.

©1985 Anne Tyler (P)2021 Recorded Books

Time capsule

I remember 1985 as feeling very modern. This book has helped me realize just how old fashioned the mores of that day were. The story is quirky and the characters are fluky. The best use of this book is to teach a child what the outskirts of the 80’x felt like.

Jefferson Mays is elite

Mays could read a dishwasher manual seem timeless and wondrous.

This novel started a bit slowly for me but as the characters grew in unexpected ways, so did the plots.

A contemplative walk thru the meaning of love, marriage, family, work, and life.

It builds like a beautiful rolling snowball...

...with an ending that floats out of the book into your soft tissue. Much better than the hype, definitely more subtle too.

Quietly charming

The characters are quirky and raw. None are perfect. I found myself sympathizing with each one in turn. This is not a story of flashy events, but one depicting deep meaning in the authentic struggles of everyday life.

who are we really within the life we’ve made?

I felt as though i d come to know almost all of the unique characters surrounding the protagonist. I was charmed by his gentle manner towards others and the matching voice the narrator gave him. I liked the way he meandered through life but when he realized more deeply than before, who he was, he took charge of his direction.

Her Magnum Opus

Anne Tyler has always been a tricky author. Some of her books are wonderful and some leave me scratching my head at the ending. However, The Accidental Tourist is, in my opinion, the best book she has ever written. It's one I have read more than once and I really enjoyed this listen. The only thing that would have made it perfect would have been the late William Hurt doing the narration.

Always Great!

I have read and re-read this book over the years and I love it every time. Funny, sad, romantic, what more could you want? I don’t love all her books but this one is a gem.

One of Her Top Two Books

I have all Tyler's books in my library and only a few left to listen to. This one and Breathing Lessons are my favorites. The Accidental Tourist has a more definable plot line than most of Tyler's books which is probably why it was the one chosen to be made into a movie. I didn't care for the movie because I am not a fan of sulky Malkovich but I now see how he embodied the character. I didn't want to remember him in the role (virtually impossible) however because I would have preferred to let Anne paint him for me solo. The book wasn't gloomy like the movie with Malkovich.

Seems to lose narrative drive as it goes on.

The movie was actually better. The book is too long and loses focus toward the end.

Not my favorite

Not my usual genre and did not really hit mark for me. Won’t be recommending but I do understand why some people would like it