“Back When We Were Grownups”
by Anne Tyler
Published: May 2001
ISBN: 0771008686

(Updated: July 19, 2004.)

I think that I have read all of Anne Tyler’s novels. I know that I have read some of them more than once. Her books are sincere, funny, caring, non-judgmental windows into moments of people and their lives. She usually jumps right in and successfully grabs us along for the journey.

“Once upon a time, there was a woman who discovered that she had turned into the wrong person.” The opening line of this novel. And… okay… I’m in.

And… I’m out again.

I read the second line and realized that I had already read this book. So… not only do I read some of her books more than once, I also — apparently — buy some of them more than once :o(

(Notably this is less serious that it could be. I am part of a book club, have member cards at books stores and always scrounge the sale tables. I usually get a bunch of books for a very good price so buying books twice — unintentionally — is an irritant but is not bank-breaking. At least there’s that. :o)

This book — now that it has come back to me — is not one of my favourite’s. The main character is a 53-year old woman working through how she got to where she is in her life mainly by working through the relationships of her life. We all must do this at some point (and then another :o)

Do read Anne Tyler’s writing. But I suggest choosing a different title. My “couldn’t wait to get back to it” factor for this book is 1 out of 5 hearts.

(It really isn’t a good sign when you buy the same book twice, looking forward both times to reading it for the “first” time. And, yes, I have done this on more than one occasion.)