The Beginner's Goodbye and over 1.5 million other books are available for Amazon Kindle . Learn more

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
Sorry, this item is not available in
Image not available for
Colour:
Image not available

 
Start reading The Beginner's Goodbye on your Kindle in under a minute.

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

The Beginner's Goodbye [Hardcover]

Anne Tyler
4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (129 customer reviews)

Available from these sellers.


Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
Kindle Edition £4.74  
Hardcover --  
Hardcover, 5 April 2012 --  
Paperback £5.99  
Audio, CD, Audiobook --  
Audio Download, Unabridged £13.49 or Free with Audible.co.uk 30-day free trial
Amazon.co.uk Trade-In Store
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Special Offer until June 30, 2013: Receive an additional £5 promotional Gift Certificate, when you trade-in at least £10 worth of books. Learn more.

Book Description

5 April 2012

When Dorothy came back from the dead, Aaron noticed that some people simply ignored the fact; some seemed to have forgotten she had died in the first place; and others just walked straight on by.

The accident that killed Dorothy -- involving an oak tree, a sun porch and some elusive biscuits -- leaves Aaron bereft and the house a wreck. As those around him fuss and flap and bring him casserole after casserole, Aaron ploughs on. He busies himself with work at the family firm, a publisher with a successful line in 'Beginner's Guides' to every stage and aspect of life. But then Dorothy starts to materialize in the oddest places. At first, she only comes for a short while, leaving Aaron longing for more. Gradually she stays for longer, and as they talk they also bicker ...

The cracks that start to reappear in their perfectly normal marriage are as well worn and familiar to Aaron as Dorothy herself. As Aaron starts to emerge from his grief, they are also a reassuringly poignant reminder that life may move on, but some things will forever remain the same.


Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought


Product details

  • Hardcover: 208 pages
  • Publisher: Chatto & Windus; First Edition First Impression edition (5 April 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0701187190
  • ISBN-13: 978-0701187194
  • Product Dimensions: 14.4 x 2.2 x 22.2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (129 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 130,741 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, and more.

Product Description

Review

The work of an artist at the peak of her powers... a brilliantly observed and mercifully unsentimental examination of the emotional arc of grief (Sarah Vine The Times )

Tyler strips away layers of everyday life to reveal the abyss of pain underneath but does so with such skill and sparkling wit it makes this a real celebration of life (Vanessa Berridge Daily Express )

This is what Tyler does better than almost any contemporary writer. She peers at the forgotten areas of the everyday, the bits that are hard to pinpoint, yet make up the bulk of our relationships. And this, ultimately, is why she is such a satisfying writer: she looks at people - at life - from the inside out (Lucy Atkins Sunday Times )

A simple, subtle and really honest account of how one man, Aaron, deals with the darkly comic death of his dumpy, clever and brilliant wife Dorothy... I finished it in one sitting (Alix Walker Stylist )

A perfectly judged and brilliantly executed novel of loss and recovery (Woman & Home )

Book Description

An Anne Tyler gem: a story about love, about marriage, about two ordinary people so intertwined they cannot be separated - even by death ...

Inside This Book (Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Search inside this book:

What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?


Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
122 of 125 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Vintage Tyler 18 Mar 2012
By Denise4891 TOP 100 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
I started reading Anne Tyler's books about 15 years ago when she was recommended by two of my favourite authors at the time, Nick Hornby and Roddy Doyle. I fell in love with her understated, engaging style and quickly worked my way through her entire back-catalogue. Regretfully her more recent releases have not been amongst my favourites and I've occasionally re-read a few of the old classics to remind myself how good she could be. Thankfully, her latest novel, The Beginner's Goodbye, (actually at 198 pages I`m not sure if it's more of novella?) has restored my faith and in my opinion it's definitely a case of `small but perfectly formed`.

When we meet our narrator Aaron Woolcott his wife Dorothy has recently died in a freak accident. I warmed to Aaron from the start and by the end of the book he was up there with my two favourite male Tyler characters - Macon from The Accidental Tourist and Barnaby Gaitlin from A Patchwork Planet. Always a bit of an outsider due to the deformed arm and leg he was left with after a childhood illness, Aaron has constantly had to battle against the patronage and condescension of others, as well as the mollycoddling inflicted by his over-protective mother and sister. When he meets Dorothy, a dour, practical woman who "never saw the point of socialising" something clicks between them and their marriage, if not exactly made in heaven, certainly seems to work for the two of them.

Dorothy's death when an oak tree falls on their sun porch leaves a gaping hole in Aaron's life (not to mention his roof), and when she starts appearing to him in random places it brings him a strange sort of comfort.
... Read more ›
Was this review helpful to you?
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Mrs. Katharine Kirby TOP 100 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
This delightful slim volume is the work of a just few hours to take in. Here quality truly wins over quantity. The cover is a gorgeous painting of wisteria blossoming in the warm sunshine.

Anne Tyler is a long time favourite of mine; she just goes on and on getting it right. `The Beginner's Goodbye' is excellence in action, a gem to treasure.

The only surprise is that the widower Aaron is just thirty-six. Dorothy, whose untimely death leaves him struggling manfully on, was eight years his senior. Aaron comes across as an older man by far, perhaps because of his disability, although he would never recognise that as a reason. Comfortably situated in his family firm which publishes `vanity' works; his firm's best line is the `Beginner's Guide' series, little books on wide ranging topics which just about cover every eventuality. Except for this one. Seeing Dorothy, conversing with her and learning more about their marriage - after she has died.

Actors say that one way to get into character is to wear the appropriate shoes. Here Dorothy stepped off the page, vividly alive for me when I read: "those orthopedic (sic)-type shoes she had favored: they had struck me at times, as self righteous, her high mindedness - a pointed reproach to the rest of us."

Both these guys are slightly odd. Almost autistic and "Mixed Company" as Aaron later comes to think of their marriage. Dorothy was not a `care-taker' despite being a doctor. So we relax into realism not fairy tale. And Aaron is such a downright genuine chap. The way he deals with grief is just, well, so utterly male. I recognised his stubborn way of thinking and coping - he is quite perfectly, reliably written.

Nandina, his sister, is a side dish to savour. She is the bee's knees of siblings.
... Read more ›
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
31 of 34 people found the following review helpful
By Mrs. K. A. P. Wright TOP 500 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
Aaron Woolcott's wife, Dorothy, has been killed in a bizarre accident at their home. The story starts with him noting the strange reactions of other people when they see her with him some months after her death. Mostly they refuse to look at her and concentrate their attention on him. Aaron finds this odd but presumes that they are embarrassed or don't know how to behave. He wonders why Dorothy comes to visit him, but doesn't like to ask in case she stops coming.

The book takes us slowly through the aftermath of Dorothy's death giving us glimpses of their relationship in Aaron's flashbacks as he tries to cope with life. His family, neighbours and acquaintances all rally round to support him in his bereavement, but he is stoical and, while attempting not to hurt them, rebuffs their help. Gradually his view of the past unravels and a resolution is reached.

The widow/widower receiving comfort from their dead partner has been covered before in films such as Truly, Madly, Deeply, but the emotional element has been pared down to the minimum in Aarons's aloof and reticent narration. Yet, thanks to Tyler's expert handling, we learn a lot about Aaron, much more than he thinks he is telling us.

The crits on the cover of this book call it a comedy and in the purely academic meaning of the word - any story in which the main characters manage to avert an impending disaster and have a happy ending, in other words the opposite of tragedy - it is. It is also not without humour but, I think, it is a profoundly serious book dealing with a very difficult subject and it does that beautifully without sounding any false notes.
... Read more ›
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?   Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful as usual!
Another moving and beautiful story.Grief explained and so true to life.I love all Anne Tyler books and would struggle to name a favorite but this is definitely in my top ten!
Published 2 days ago by claire kember
3.0 out of 5 stars I wasn't gripped
I can imagine this is a good book for Book Clubs as it raises issues about grief, loss and relationships. If you want a page-turner, this isn't it. Read more
Published 2 days ago by Sarah Baxter
4.0 out of 5 stars A safe read on a potentially heartbreaking state of being
Still can!t decide whether or not this is a simple synopsis of grief or that Anne Tyler has written what she can cope with.Either way it! Read more
Published 7 days ago by shropshire female
4.0 out of 5 stars Anne Tyler
I am a tyler fan...this is Not as good story as The clock winder but a great read which I have enjoyed.
Published 9 days ago by Lynda, Bridport
4.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating graceful story.
Took a while to get into but once I had focused onto the story I found it a fascinating read which reminded one of the main values of a relationship. Read more
Published 10 days ago by olly
5.0 out of 5 stars FANTASTIC!
I am Anne Tylers biggest fan, I love her books and this is another book I would recommend to everyone I Know. Read more
Published 12 days ago by sue book worm
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting
I like Anne Tyler's books and this one didn't let me down. It was interesting and enjoyable despite describing a traumatic event in a character's life and their grieving process... Read more
Published 18 days ago by TheWiiwoman
3.0 out of 5 stars Good story
Enjoyed it, found the characters interesting and the odd story line compelling. I would recommend it. Read more
Published 20 days ago by Mrs Ann M E Lyon
5.0 out of 5 stars Another book by a much loved author
I have not yet had the time to read this book but am looking forward very much to the experience. It arrived in excellent time and was very pleased with the service of the... Read more
Published 20 days ago by Muriel R
4.0 out of 5 stars Good book but....
I really enjoyed this book but the ending seemed rushed....

A good read but thought it would have been drawn out a little more
Published 24 days ago by crumbo
Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Discussion Replies Latest Post
Come on - why don't we write our own book right here in the fiction forum ? I'll do the first sentence, and then jump in....hold on, here we go... 7209 23 minutes ago
Spend an erotic night of BDSM, Domination/submission, and exhibition with Jim and Kay this weekend.. 46 1 hour ago
Nobody reads on the loo do they ? not really - and yet so many people have books in the loo ! 16 3 hours ago
Novels set in or about pubs? 11 4 hours ago
Self-published books: pain or gain? 6122 6 hours ago
Fed up with all the books not having an Ending? 34 12 hours ago
Ideas for gentle reads for more mature people 66 14 hours ago
Can anyone recommend a good book 94 21 hours ago
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   
Related forums


Listmania!


Look for similar items by category


Feedback