The Accidental Tourist Audiobook By Anne Tyler cover art

The Accidental Tourist

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The Accidental Tourist

By: Anne Tyler
Narrated by: Jefferson Mays
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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 Family Life Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Psychological Fiction
Well-developed Characters • Rich Descriptive Language • Subtle Humor • Heartfelt Story • Wonderful Voice
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...with an ending that floats out of the book into your soft tissue. Much better than the hype, definitely more subtle too.

It builds like a beautiful rolling snowball...

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This was a joy to listen to! I was afraid the film would have ruined it for me, but the book just added more texture.

As Good or Better than the Film

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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.

Always Great!

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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.

One of Her Top Two Books

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

Seems to lose narrative drive as it goes on.

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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

Not my favorite

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Things were going along fine. Weird… but interesting. Then the ending was like a sucker punch. I do not recommend.

That ending though

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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.

Quietly charming

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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.

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

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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.

Her Magnum Opus

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