joyshak's review against another edition
2.0
Well written, but dull. To quote another review "too many mundane details".
obscuredbyclouds's review against another edition
4.0
I was surprised by how much I liked this, considering how "feel good" this family saga is. I really liked the exploration of adoption and I loved that Tyler tackles multi culturalism here, because usually her novels are very white. I enjoyed almost all the characters and could feel for them. Superbly written and now one of my favourites from the later part of Tyler's career.
The Tin Can Tree (1965) - 4/5
Celestial Navigation (1974) - 4/5
Morgan's Passing (1980) - 4/5
The Accidental Tourist (1985) 3/5
Breathing Lessons (1988) 4/5
Ladder of Years (1995) - 4/5
A Patchwork Planet (1998) - 4/5
Back When We Were Grownups (2001) - 3/5
The Amateur Marriage (2004) - 3/5
Digging to America (2006) - 4/5
The Beginner’s Goodbye (2012) - 3/5
A Spool of Blue Thread (2015) - 5/5
Vinegar Girl (2016) - 2/5
Clock Dance (2018) 3/5
Redhead by the Side of the Road (2020) - 3/5
The Tin Can Tree (1965) - 4/5
Celestial Navigation (1974) - 4/5
Morgan's Passing (1980) - 4/5
The Accidental Tourist (1985) 3/5
Breathing Lessons (1988) 4/5
Ladder of Years (1995) - 4/5
A Patchwork Planet (1998) - 4/5
Back When We Were Grownups (2001) - 3/5
The Amateur Marriage (2004) - 3/5
Digging to America (2006) - 4/5
The Beginner’s Goodbye (2012) - 3/5
A Spool of Blue Thread (2015) - 5/5
Vinegar Girl (2016) - 2/5
Clock Dance (2018) 3/5
Redhead by the Side of the Road (2020) - 3/5
ndfan19's review against another edition
Good; 2 adopted Korean girls and their life
caltho's review against another edition
3.0
i am aware these are old people books, but they're my old people books
girlgeekcyclist's review against another edition
3.0
A sweet story of two families accidentally intertwined.
girlgotnoidentity's review
3.0
Anne Tyler’s Digging to America is about the lives of two families in America as it merges when they both welcome two of their most important family member to date. This novel is basically a family-oriented one. It revolves mainly around the characters’ friendships and family.
I think Anne Tyler’s main purpose in this novel is to show the magic of family and friendship in the most unexpected times in a person’s life. I love how raw the topic of the family can be in any work of literature because in the first place it is very relatable and interesting and has the way in tugging into the reader’s heart and emotion. In this novel, Anne Tyler did not fail her readers because she accomplished to make her way to my emotions and I’m sure to others as well.
As for the plot of the story, it was ordinary. I cannot say that it has the deepest of thought, but at some point of time it has the interesting points and at other times has the flat points, and I think it was just okay. To be honest with this novel’s plot, it is very plain yet for me not boring. Maybe I can defend the novel’s plainness by the emotion and honesty it gives to its readers. This story is really made to be one for the books kind because it is not only just raw but is also honest and true to everyone’s everyday living demand. I assume that readers cannot put this book down because it is very relatable and cannot afford to miss out what will happen next.
I just have to add this, but my favorite scene of all in this novel is at the very beginning. It was the scene where the two families got to meet for the first time the two girls as they arrive at the same time in America. I can picture the scene out of my head and it looks so perfect and emotional for me, it is full of love and happiness. If people considered childbirth as one of life’s biggest miracle, then I think it is just the same with adoption. I will bet anything I have just to witness this scene in real life because I know in my heart of hearts that it is as magical and full of love as childbirth. Also, I am a sucker for family gatherings.
I have nothing to complain about Anne Tyler’s characters and setting in this story because both are well-imagined and crafted. I just did not have the connection to them at the end of the story unlike with other novels, but then again it was alright.
Reading Digging to America opens a lot of realization for me and my life. It was a light and good read but at the end it left me a lot of questioning, thinking, and contemplating to do with myself. So, be right back, book community. Gonna reflect about how unfair (?) yet great this life is.
I think Anne Tyler’s main purpose in this novel is to show the magic of family and friendship in the most unexpected times in a person’s life. I love how raw the topic of the family can be in any work of literature because in the first place it is very relatable and interesting and has the way in tugging into the reader’s heart and emotion. In this novel, Anne Tyler did not fail her readers because she accomplished to make her way to my emotions and I’m sure to others as well.
As for the plot of the story, it was ordinary. I cannot say that it has the deepest of thought, but at some point of time it has the interesting points and at other times has the flat points, and I think it was just okay. To be honest with this novel’s plot, it is very plain yet for me not boring. Maybe I can defend the novel’s plainness by the emotion and honesty it gives to its readers. This story is really made to be one for the books kind because it is not only just raw but is also honest and true to everyone’s everyday living demand. I assume that readers cannot put this book down because it is very relatable and cannot afford to miss out what will happen next.
I just have to add this, but my favorite scene of all in this novel is at the very beginning. It was the scene where the two families got to meet for the first time the two girls as they arrive at the same time in America. I can picture the scene out of my head and it looks so perfect and emotional for me, it is full of love and happiness. If people considered childbirth as one of life’s biggest miracle, then I think it is just the same with adoption. I will bet anything I have just to witness this scene in real life because I know in my heart of hearts that it is as magical and full of love as childbirth. Also, I am a sucker for family gatherings.
I have nothing to complain about Anne Tyler’s characters and setting in this story because both are well-imagined and crafted. I just did not have the connection to them at the end of the story unlike with other novels, but then again it was alright.
Reading Digging to America opens a lot of realization for me and my life. It was a light and good read but at the end it left me a lot of questioning, thinking, and contemplating to do with myself. So, be right back, book community. Gonna reflect about how unfair (?) yet great this life is.
safsaf118's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Love a good family saga. I wasn't sure what to expect from this, but I really enjoyed how we got glimpses into each of the character's lives and their experiences.
Spoiler
The relationship between Maryam and Dave was kind of weird but Maryam was an icon so I can overlook it.judyward's review against another edition
4.0
While I've loved all of Anne Tyler's books, this one may well be my favorite. It dissects what it means to be an American--and given the hysteria over the past few years--this is a subject that needs to be explored. Looks at "Americanism" from both the inside and from the outside. This book reinforced my belief that we are more of a layer (or maybe marble)cake than a melting pot.
catladylover94's review against another edition
3.0
first part was awesome, middle could have been skipped and the ending was good, why do authors need to fill up the middle with useless junk?