Digging to America: Amazon.co.uk: Anne Tyler: Books

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Half of a Yellow Sun

by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

4.3 out of 5 stars (149) �4.31

One Good Turn: A Jolly Murder Mystery

by Kate Atkinson

3.4 out of 5 stars (79) �5.59

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox

by Maggie O'Farrell

4.2 out of 5 stars (79) �4.99

The Road Home

by Rose Tremain

3.9 out of 5 stars (73) �3.20

The Clock Winder

by Anne Tyler

4.4 out of 5 stars (7) �5.99

› Explore similar items

Product Description

Woman & Home, May
A small exquisitely painted canvas. Don’t miss it. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

The Works
"sweeping family drama." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Product Description

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

(What's this?)

Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)

anne tyler

fiction

adoption

book club

digging to america

historical fiction

tyler

too simple

suspense

relationships

reading

Customer Reviews

38 Reviews

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

Average Customer Review

3.8 out of 5 stars (38 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another brilliant novel from this exceptionally talented author, 13 May 2007

By	kimbofo (London, UK) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Digging to America (Paperback)

What is it to be an American? And to what lengths will people go to fit in even when they come from far flung places? Is it possible to remain a foreigner even after you have lived in a new country for more than 30 years?

These questions -- and more -- are explored in Anne Tyler's brilliant Digging to America, her 17th novel, which has been critically acclaimed on both sides of the Atlantic and was recently shortlisted for this year's Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction.

In typical Tyler fashion Digging to America revolves around a range of relatively ordinary characters in Baltimore dealing with extraordinary circumstances.

Two couples, both of whom are unable to have children, decide to adopt Korean babies. When they meet by chance at the airport on the day of their daughters' arrival neither couple could be more different. Bitsy and Brad Donaldson are all-American -- loud, brash and unselfconscious about turning Jin-Ho's arrival into some kind of over-the-top celebration -- while Ziba and Sami Yazdan, two American-Iranians, are quiet, shy and restrained as they wait for Sooki -- later dubbed Susan because it "was a comfortable sound for Iranians to pronounce" -- to be "delivered" into their arms.

From this day onwards the two couples and their extended families are inextricably linked. Each year they celebrate "Arrival Day" -- August 15, 1997 -- by taking it in turns to host a party. It is through these parties that each family's individual differences -- their attitudes, cultural backgrounds and hopes for the future -- begin to shine through. The tension is, at times, palpable. But so too is the fun and the love.

While there is no real storyline to speak of -- the plot simply revolves around the various "Arrival Day" celebrations and the events that happen in between -- Tyler is able to explore two different views of America -- the insider's and the outsider's -- with tenderness and insight.

She charts the inner workings of the human heart like no other author, and the developing relationship between Sami's Iranian-born mother, the independent-minded widow Maryam, and Bitsy's widowed father, Dave, is the strength of this wise, moving and often funny book. I adored every precious word, but then I'd expect nothing less from this exceptionally talented author.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A small book with big questions, 20 Jun 2007

By	Cheshire Booklover - See all my reviews

This review is from: Digging to America (Paperback)

I love Anne Tyler's work. She writes about the ordinary and every day events that we take so much for granted, but in a way that makes us really think about and question what is happening. This book is no exception. The main event is more unusual than in her other books, as it centres around the adoption of two Korean girls by two very different families. Although they apparently have little in common other than the adoptions, the families meet each year to celebrate the day that their daughters arrived in the USA and into their lives. This apparently simple storyline raises much bigger questions and makes the reader think about things such as how do we create our national identity? What is a family? And why had I never thought to hold a 'raking party' to clear my garden in the autumn (seriously, it's a great idea!) The characters are, as always in Tyler's books, well-drawn and each is given an opportunity to tell part of the story through their own eyes. A really charming book that will stay with you long after you finish it.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tyler on top form, 7 Aug 2007

By	Mr. S. Miller "Page Turner" (Glasgow, UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Digging to America (Paperback)

Reading her books you get the impression that Anne Tyler could watch a couple from a distance and know by their gestures what they were saying to one another. Many great novelists can do that. Where Tyler stands out is that she would also know why they there were saying what they were saying even, and here's the best bit, if the couple lacked the same insight themselves.

She uses this gift to bring to life the most intriguing nuances from the most routine of domestic encounters and in "Digging to America" she proves these powers are undiminished. That alone would commend the novel, but Tyler does not stop there. She develops a convincing meditation on the many facets of ethnic integration alternately through the poignant awakenings of her Iranian heroine Maryam who has taken a generation to adapt to America, neatly counter-pointed against the first steps of two adopted Korean babies one of whom is Maryam's first Grand-child.

Her characters also cope with bereavement and a little serious illness, and yet the light touch that makes her novels and observations so accessible does not desert her.

Critics rave about this author for a reason. Discover for yourself. You won't be disappointed.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 38 customer reviews...

Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Engrossing and so true...
I have been living in the West for about 8 years now, and while I don't really miss my home country in the Southeast Asia that much (I wasn't an economic migrant, but I moved... Read more

Published 6 days ago by Mrs. Rachel Van Tonder

1.0 out of 5 stars Dreary and depressing. Sorry!
Not sure if it is OK to criticise Anne Tyler (!) but I found this book depressing and dreary and boring. Read more

Published 2 months ago by Becky Sharpe

4.0 out of 5 stars Digging To America
How great is it when you read that totally reminds you why you read, why you should try books you wouldn't and in particular why you should try and author you haven't before? Read more

Published 5 months ago by Simon Savidge "savidgeread...

5.0 out of 5 stars Well deserved five stars!
How anyone could rate this book below three stars is completely beyond me and quite ludicrous. This is definitely one of my favorite Anne Tyler books! Read more

Published 5 months ago by Lulushka8

3.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining read

I finished this book last night and still don't really know what to make of it. I enjoyed the book but there were times when it was dull and because it centres mostly... Read more

Published 6 months ago by Ms. K. Marsh

4.0 out of 5 stars Another slice of American life
2 Korean girls are adopted on the same day by two very different American families, this book follows the girls and the intertwining of the 2 families. Read more

Published 8 months ago by soffitta1

5.0 out of 5 stars Digging to America
Two very different families, unable to have their own babies, each adopt a Korean baby. The night "the girls" arrive at the airport the two families meet, eventually becoming... Read more

Published 9 months ago by A. Hope

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful character observation
An airport lounge filled with two sets of people. There is an excitable bunch, jostling for position with a video camera. These are the All-Americans. Read more

Published 11 months ago by Sarah Brown

4.0 out of 5 stars Insightful story...
My second Anne Tyler and whilst I enjoyed the story I did have slight reservations.

I liked the discussions about what it means to be American and what it means to... Read more

Published 13 months ago by UK reader

2.0 out of 5 stars Will not be recommending
This was my first Anne Taylor novel and unfortunately I have to agree with a couple of other reviews in that this book was quite boring. Read more

Published 18 months ago by Liza Kelly

› See all 38 customer reviews...

Listmania!

Books that stayed with me: A list by MissRibena
KATE ATKINSON - Her Novels & Series: A list by A. Rose
Fiction 2005-2009: the good and the merely well-known: A list by JC

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Books > Fiction > Authors, A-Z > T > Tyler, Anne

Look for similar items by subject

Feedback

Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.

Health & Beauty at Amazon.co.uk

From soap to shavers, massagers to mascara, stock up on your daily essentials or truly pamper yourself.

›Discover Health & Beauty

More From Anne Tyler

Ladder of Years by Anne Tyler

From the Pulitzer prize-winning author of Breathing Lessons and The... Read more
£7.99 £5.99

Up to 50% off Dental Care

Braun Oral-B Professional Care 6000 Rechargeable Toothbrush - Pack of 2

Put a sparkle in your smile with up to 50% off selected Oral-B and Philips rechargeable toothbrushes.

›Up to 50% off power toothbrushes

Treat Someone

With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

›Learn more about Gift Certificates

	90% buy the item featured on this page: Digging to America 3.8 out of 5 stars (38)
	4% buy The Clock Winder 4.4 out of 5 stars (7) �5.99
	2% buy Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant 4.6 out of 5 stars (9) �5.59
	2% buy Breathing Lessons 4.0 out of 5 stars (14) �5.99


Amazon Home

International Sites: United States \| Germany \| France \| Japan \| Canada \| China

Business Programs: Sell on Amazon \| Fulfilment by Amazon \| Join Associates \| Join Advantage

Customer Service \| Help \| View Basket \| Your Account

About Amazon.co.uk \| Careers at Amazon

Digging to America (Hardcover)

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Product details

Product Description

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Customer Reviews

Customer Discussions

Start a new discussion

Listmania!

Look for similar items by category

Look for similar items by subject

Feedback

Health & Beauty at Amazon.co.uk

More From Anne Tyler

Up to 50% off Dental Care

Treat Someone

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History