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Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant (1982)

by Anne Tyler

Other authors: See the other authors section.

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
3,655863,478 (3.84)355
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER "Funny, heart-hammering, wise...An extremely beautiful book." --The New York Times "A Book that should join those few that every literate person will have to read." --The Boston Globe Abandoned by her wanderlusting husband, stoic Pearl raised her three children on her own. Now grown, the siblings are inextricably linked by their memories--some painful--which hold them together despite their differences. Hardened by life's disappointments, wealthy, charismatic Cody has turned cruel and envious. Thrice-married Jenny is errant and passionate. And Ezra, the flawed saint of the family, who stayed at home to look after his mother, runs a restaurant where he cooks what other people are homesick for, stubbornly yearning for the perfect family he never had. Now gathered during a time of loss, they will reluctantly unlock the shared secrets of their past and discover if what binds them together is stronger than what tears them apart. Soulful and redemptive--full of heartbreak and hope--this portrait of a family will remind you why Anne Tyler is one of the most beloved writers working today. "[In Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant Tyler] has arrived at a new level of power." --John Updike, The New Yorker "Marvelous, astringent, hilarious, [and] strewn with the banana peels of love." --Cosmopolitan… (more)
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» See also 355 mentions

English (79)  Catalan (3)  Spanish (1)  Italian (1)  Hebrew (1)  All languages (85)
Showing 1-5 of 79 (next | show all)
Still my favorite Anne Tyler novel. ( )
  GigiB50 | Dec 18, 2023 |
"Homesick Restaurant" is the name of Ezra's restaurant, and it is Ezra's fervent wish to bring his family together for a dinner at the restaurant. He never succeeded when his mother, Pearl, was alive. It's only at her death that the family managed to have a meal together, with the estranged father. How ironic that is. It should not be taken as an indictment of Pearl's parenting, which left scars on each of the three children. Rather, it represents closure to the children, who never knew why their father left. Another family portrait gem by Anne Tyler. ( )
  siok | Nov 25, 2023 |
Anne can certainly write, and she understands the psychology of her characters. But this sad saga of an abandoned family, forever carrying their wounds with them, which unintentionally then hurt others, was just too bleak for me. ( )
  LARA335 | Aug 23, 2023 |
Such a good writer of engaging characters! ( )
  PhilipJHunt | Jun 19, 2023 |
Reason Read: Pulitzer prize nominee, Pulitzer group read June 2023. ROOT
This is probably my least favorite Tyler. The family story is so messed up, pure dysfunction. I couldn't really like any of the characters. Ezra and Luke are probably the best of the lot. Had this on my shelf since 2014 and it was time to get it read. ( )
  Kristelh | Jun 12, 2023 |
Showing 1-5 of 79 (next | show all)
Every other year or so since 1964, loyal readers pick up their new Anne Tyler novel as they would buy a favored brand of sensible shoe. Each of her nine books is solidly constructed from authentic and durable materials. Yet traditional style and comfort do not necessarily mean dullness. Tyler's characters have character: quirks, odd angles of vision, colorful mean streaks and harmonic longings. They usually live in ordinary settings, like Baltimore, the author's current home, and do not seem to have been overly influenced by the 7 o'clock news. An issue in a Tyler novel is likely to mean a new child; a cause, the reason behind a malfunction in an appliance or a marriage.
added by Shortride | editTime, R. Z. Sheppard (pay site) (Apr 5, 1982)
 

» Add other authors (15 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Anne Tylerprimary authorall editionscalculated
Leigh-Loohuizen, RiaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Marcellino, FredCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Toren, SuzanneNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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While Pearl Tull was dying, a funny thought occurred to her.
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NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER "Funny, heart-hammering, wise...An extremely beautiful book." --The New York Times "A Book that should join those few that every literate person will have to read." --The Boston Globe Abandoned by her wanderlusting husband, stoic Pearl raised her three children on her own. Now grown, the siblings are inextricably linked by their memories--some painful--which hold them together despite their differences. Hardened by life's disappointments, wealthy, charismatic Cody has turned cruel and envious. Thrice-married Jenny is errant and passionate. And Ezra, the flawed saint of the family, who stayed at home to look after his mother, runs a restaurant where he cooks what other people are homesick for, stubbornly yearning for the perfect family he never had. Now gathered during a time of loss, they will reluctantly unlock the shared secrets of their past and discover if what binds them together is stronger than what tears them apart. Soulful and redemptive--full of heartbreak and hope--this portrait of a family will remind you why Anne Tyler is one of the most beloved writers working today. "[In Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant Tyler] has arrived at a new level of power." --John Updike, The New Yorker "Marvelous, astringent, hilarious, [and] strewn with the banana peels of love." --Cosmopolitan

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