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Usually ships in 1 business days | | | Anne Tyler’s richest, most deeply searching novel–a story about what it is to be an American, and about Iranian-born Maryam Yazdan, who, after 35 years in this country, must finally come to terms with her “outsiderness.”
Two families, who would otherwise never have come together, meet by chance at the Baltimore airport – the Donaldsons, a very American couple, and the Yazdans, Maryam’s fully assimilated son and his attractive Iranian wife. Each couple is awaiting the arrival of an adopted infant daughter from Korea. After the instant babies from distant Asia are delivered, Bitsy Donaldson impulsively invites the Yazdans to celebrate: an “arrival party” that from then on is repeated every year as the two families become more and more deeply intertwined. Even Maryam is drawn in – up to a point. When she finds herself being courted by Bitsy Donaldson’s recently widowed father, all the values she cherishes – her traditions, her privacy, her otherness–are suddenly threatened.
A luminous novel brimming with subtle, funny, and tender observations that immerse us in the challenges of both sides of the American story.
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| | Product Details | | Average Customer Rating: |  based on 161 reviews |
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 wonderful audio version Feb 25, 2008
Blair Brown, the reader for "Digging to America," does a superb job, sounding by turn Iranian, Baltimorean, and all the accents in between. Meanwhile Anne Tyler's delicately nuanced characters all find their ways into the reader's/listener's heart. I especially appreciate Tyler's depiction of the older people in this novel as they cope with the confusing and often surprising features of widow-/widower-hood. How does she know all about that? But as one who's been there, I can attest to her having got it just right.
I find this novel nearer Trollope than Austen in its attention to the day to day minutiae of living. I highly recommend the audio book.
Well I liked it. Feb 19, 2008
Two very different American families adopt infants from Korea. The story would have ended there but for one of the mothers (in a commentary on what is perceived as a typical American Liberal empty headed and easily swayed by fad ideas) comes up with an idea wouldn't it be cool if these two girls were to hang out with each other I mean their both...Korean.
The other family the Yazdans is composed of mostly first generation Iranian immigrants have Americanized done their best to fit but still have problems because their never going to look "un-foreign"
in one exchange the mother is complemented on her English and when asked how long she has been in this country she replies 29 years.
In another exchange Miram (the mother) mentions offhand that some of her Iranian friends practically suffered fits of religious mania when the Shah was mentioned. I found that interesting because the only Iranians Americans ever hear about are the ones that came immediately after the revolution; I fell into the trap of thinking that all Iranian immigrants must be pro- Shah.
Overall-As the two families become further entrenched in each other's lives there are some interesting observations about the immigrant experience in particular and humanity in general. So yes "nothing happens" no bombs on terrorists or car chases but you just might learn something.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Disappointing Jan 13, 2008
I was hoping to find a book about finding American culture as foreigners. This book is one very American person's pipedream of what becoming American should be. The author admits in the "Reader's Guide" (back) that she "relied on idle daydreams rather than research or personal experience." As such, the book is terribly one-sided and I was disappointed with the superficial and sometimes inaccurate portrayal of the first and second generation immigrants. In a time when immigration is becoming such a hot topic, I would have expected a book so highly rated to have a much more sensitive or at least accurate portral of Americans born in other countries. An example of inaccuracy-- one of the adopted girl's name is Jin Ho. This is a very traditional boy's name in Korea. There is not a single mention of how learning English must've been difficult for Maryam and in short, doesn't do a fair portrayal of the "foreigners" in this book. I completely agree with what one of the other reviewers said: "It is clear this is an outsider's view and that she is looking in with some disdain."
Multi-Culturalism at its Finest Dec 20, 2007
In an easily accessible, wonderfully joyous read, Tyler has explored issues of cultural identity, juxtaposing families who have been in the US for generations with those who have moved here recently or are first generation immigrants. Through multiple viewpoints, she has provided a moving, poignant and thoughtful exploration of what it means to be an American. Her characters are colorful and immediately recognizable; Tyler also does a wonderful job peppering her work with highly memorable imagery. A great read. -- Aseem Giri, Author of "Imposters at the Gate: A Novel about Private Equity"
Provocative Ideas Dec 10, 2007
Anne Tyler can write. I have read several of her earlier books, but coming back to her has been a treat. Her prose is so elegant, clear, and unpretentious one doesn't realize how extraordinary it is until you read something written by a lesser writer. I found this book dealt with some profound and disturbing ideas about the clash between cultures, immigration, America's place in the world, child rearing and many more topics. Instead of being put-off by the books lack of quirkiness as some other readers were, I thought that was an improvement. The binky party was a bit much for me. This is the All Iowa Reads book or something like that. I will look forward to discussing it with groups this year.
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