The Garrett family has an interesting dynamic. They don't talk about their problems or their secrets, even though everyone already knows. I wanted to love this book, but I couldn't get there. I felt like I kept waiting for something to happen and then nothing did. The biggest moments of the book were just breezed over. I also found none of the characters totally likable. They were all fine, but we never dove deep enough with any of them to find out who they really are. Mostly I just wanted someone to tell everyone to get it together at some point.

French Braid follows many generations of the same family and the ordinary lives they have lived but in a thoughtful and funny manner.

Nobody does odd families better than Anne Tyler. This saga follows a family through several generations. Mercy and Robin have three kids. They are a content married couple, fond of each other. But Mercy yearns to be an artist, and manages to rent a separate studio space to paint in. When her last kid lives home, Mercy surreptitiously begins moving her things out. In a master understatement, she informs her husband she will be spending more time at the studio and sometimes staying over there. But the reality is, she is physically leaving her home. No drama, no huge conflict with her husband -- she just wants to live alone and not be responsible for anyone else.

In one of the great comedic plots, Mercy separates from her husband although their affection for each other remains intact. He checks on her during a snowstorm, she stops by to bake him meatloaf. But the priceless piece is that they never have a conversation about it. They never tell their kids although eventually they figure it out. It is totally strange. When Robin plans a 50th wedding anniversary surprise party, everyone spends hours pretending that this is a normal marriage and anniversary.

Lack of communication is one of the threads that runs through this family, and not just with the parents. One daughter shows up at her parents with her fiance -- which might be ok except that both of them are currently married to other people. Another theme is the fleeting nature of family life. One character poignantly recalls his adult children in their younger days as having disappeared, almost like they died, because they grew up and became different people.

We become fond of these flawed but well-meaning characters and their strange but linked family. Tyler writes with insight, humor and intelligence. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

French Braid, by Anne Tyler, is a most unusual story taking place over many decades in vignette form. I found it reminiscent in style to Our Town and Olive Kitteridge.

The Garrett family, parents Robin and Mercy, children Alice, Lily, and David, have a rather staid life. Robin has taken over Mercy’s family’s business and Mercy keeps house, feeds her family, and dabbles in her unusual paintings. As the kids grow and leave home, Mercy does less at home and moves towards her artwork, even convincing Robin to rent a studio area above a garage a short distance away. Once all kids leave home, she slowly follows suit and takes up residence in her studio.

In this story of human interactions, misunderstandings, and disappointments, Anne Tyler has woven a rather intense family study. I found this book mesmerizing. It may not have been what I expected but perhaps it was a story we need to help understanding of family dynamics. I did like this book and do recommend it.

Anne Tyler has woven a beautiful and engaging story about family relationships that spans several generations and explores how people can inherit tendencies and proclivities from their ancestors even when they are physically distant. The book begins in 2010 in a Philadelphia train station, where a young couple, Serena and James, are preparing to return to Baltimore after a day trip to visit James’s parents. Serena spots a man across the room who may, or may not, be her cousin Nicholas. She is not certain because she has not seen Nicholas for years and because although they are related, they have no real relationship. We will not re-connect with Serena and James — and Nicholas — until much later in the book.

Instead we travel back in time to 1959, where Serena’s grandparents, Robin and Mercy, are taking a family vacation with their three children. The vacation events and mishaps set us up to better understand the three children — one of whom will eventually become Serena’s mother — and their family dynamics, which at best are somewhat dysfunctional. As the story unfolds—or I should say the individual stories of each character—one begins to understand and empathize with each, even though none of them are eminently likable at first.

Except for Mercy, the mother we meet on that 1959 vacation who bides her time until the last of her progeny has left home, finally leaving her free to become the artist she was always meant to be, as well as her authentic self. An early feminist groundbreaker who captured my heart.
Mercy eventually forms a close relationship with her grandchild, Candle, who is also a budding artist, the talent skipping a generation, and Mercy becomes a mentor. Mercy’s trip to a NY gallery with Candle was for me one of the most moving and poignant chapters of the book.

Tyler also acknowledges how the pandemic has affected the lives of the current generation in the year 2020, when David, the youngest son of Robin and Mercy gets to spend several months with his son and grandson. Another deeply touching chapter.

Yes, there are a lot of characters to keep track of, but not difficult because each is so well-drawn and distinctive. I loved this book. Brava, Anne Tyler!

I struggled to get through this book. I found the story a bit monotonous. To me, this family's story was written in gray - no color whatsoever. Thanks to author Anne Tyler, Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, and to NetGalley for providing a copy of this ebook for an honest review.

Ann Tyler has always been a favorite author of mine so I was anxious to read her latest novel, French Braid. This is a story that explores three generations of a family. Some members are more likable than others.
Some readers have stated this book made them sad. I agree that there are some unfortunate life situations where one member is not as kind or as nurturing as we would like. I felt a great deal of nostalgia while reading French Braid because it made me think about my own family throughout the years. I remembered the joys and comforts of childhood, the exciting time of young love, marriage, the birth of my own children, and a promising career. This book also reminded me of the sadness in the loss of my parents and a dear sibling and of how much they influenced me in the way that I live my life. So yes, the book did bring up some sad feelings but it also brought me joy as I remembered all the wonderful memories that I had not thought about in such a long time. Ann Tyler’s books do cause me to feel emotional but that is one of the things I enjoy and this is part of what makes a book an interesting read for me.

A lovely family portrait, French Braid captures moments in time that represent the shaping of a family over several generations. From its opener in 2010 (more on that in a minute), to the next generation and finishing in 2020ish, Tyler has crafted a family fully realized — tied to each other in many ways and frayed, loose and tendril-like, in others. This family felt so real and complete — the branching out of their tree, solid in Tyler’s study.

I am giving a little side eye to the title and its appearance in the text against the image appearing on the cover. French braids as a hairstyle used as a metaphor are one thing (and this is what is used in the book's text itself), and a braided rag rug is another. I’m fine with the obvious similarities between the two, but the analogous disparity is a tiny bit puzzling. Honestly, I would've preferred the rug analogy in the book itself because it draws to mind images of hearth, home, and generational connections. Regardless, the imagery is understood and really didn’t need the explanation provided at the end of the book.

While I really enjoyed the book's opening chapter, this really was not required — and felt increasingly shoved into the introductory spot, like a child who has been pushed forward to go first. Because from 2010, we are flung back into the mid-century when the Introduction's main character is not even born and whose own mother is but fifteen. It was fine really, as I loved sliding forward in time with this family, but I could not help but feel that the story wasn't meandering enough to warrant such a thin idea of an opener. Additionally, this was Serena's only time as narrator, and I would've liked a later perspective from her (or at least with her in the scenes) to round out her portion of the family better.

But aside from that the Garrett family were all vividly drawn, with detail upon detail provided by each character — as narrators and as secondary characters. At times I found all the members of the family hard to track and separate, but I found quiet comfort in this as it represents a true family — and is reflective of a reaction one cousin has at the beginning when trying to place another cousin in his mind and slot her in the right branch of the family. I've only read a few of Tyler's books, but the smooth delivery, solid character building, and the helical approach to the movement of time are beautifully done and incredibly indicative of Tyler's style. Warm, crackling, and inviting, French Braid is a reassuring and engrossing book.

Not my favorite Anne Tyler book. Could not get attached to any character, so many. I know it’s a odd thing, but the characters names did not go well with me. Robby the boy Robby the girl, candle just threw me off. As always, a few thoughtful moments, nevertheless didn’t really impress me.

I loved reading French Braid and give it four solid stars out of five. Anne Tyler writes stories about relationships in ordinary families that I enjoy so much. I said ordinary, not normal — closer to dysfunctional than well-adjusted and very realistic. This one is multigenerational, set in Baltimore, told in different members’ voices. The characters seem real and I couldn’t stop reading. Like other stories she’s written this one delves into sibling relationships, marriage relationships, and parent/child relationships. The book is less about what happens than it is how the characters interact and develop. Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday for an early copy to read and review.

A wonderful novel about the life of a family; the relationships and dynamics throughout the years and generations. While nothing really “happens”, it is reminiscent of anyone’s and everyone’s life and family. The portrayal of family and relationships within truly make this a poignant and relatable novel.

Typical of recent Anne Tyler. Family saga over a number of years, told from various family members' perspectives, and definitely not exactly in date order.

I liked it and it was a fast read, but it time jumped so much - I would have wanted more about what happened in between the large time jumps.

Multi generational story of a family with some dysfunction in every generation. Boy meets girl who seems way above the kind of girl who should be interested in him, but she chooses him over all others. He is always in awe of this fact.They marry, have children who have children.
Every generation has at least one member who is a little different or maybe quirky is a better description. What actions seem little to some may be huge to another and carry bad feelings for life.
It was a bit of a slerper, easy to put down and pick up. What annoyed me was the use of "me and him" grammar. Maybe this is ok in parts of the world, but to the child of an English teacher in the US,, it grates on me and I get annoyed with the author and editors for not correcting it.
Thank you NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

Anne Tyler's latest novel, French Braid, is composed of snapshots of a Maryland family through the years. (BTW, I’m such a carb lover I could’ve sworn this was called French Bread once or twice.)

I don’t know if there’s anyone who can breathe life into slightly quirky characters as skillfully as Anne Tyler. They always mean well but they’re often prickly and/or eccentric, and they’re utterly fascinating even as they may annoy you.

“‘So this is how it works,’ she said. ‘This is what families do for each other—hide a few uncomfortable truths, allow a few self-deceptions. Little kindnesses.’”

Mercy and Robin Garrett take their family on their first vacation in 1959. They spend a week at Maryland’s Deep Creek Lake. It’s not long before they fall into familiar roles—Mercy is flighty, much more interested in painting than mothering; Robin is relishing the vacation he was forced into taking but does all of the traditional "man" things; their older daughter Alice takes responsibility in her mother’s place, while their younger daughter Lily spends all of her time with a boy she meets; and their young son, David, is already withdrawing from the demands of his family.

The book follows the family through the years, as Mercy becomes more immersed in her painting and less focused on her marriage, and as their children grow into their own lives and face their own challenges. We see a granddaughter’s trip to NYC with her grandmother; a grandson’s reflecting on the secrets he’s kept from his family; and grandparents enjoying a visit from their son and grandson during the pandemic.

I love the way Tyler writes. Nothing significant happens in this book but watching the family deal with life and each other is utterly compelling. There are moments of beauty in their simplicity. I’ve been a fan of hers for years and years and this is precisely why.

NetGalley and Knopf provided a complimentary copy of French Braid in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!!

Families are hard. In "French Braid," Anne Tyler tells us a story, in a non-linear fashion, of a family whose members don't know one another very well and seem to not care too much about that.

Early in the book, a young woman member of the extended family chances to see a cousin at a train station. At least, she thinks it might be her cousin. She isn't entirely sure. She certainly doesn't want to approach him to find out. Her boyfriend, who is with her, doesn't understand this at all.

But that's just the way this family is.

The nuclear family goes on vacation, the only vacation together they'll ever take. Each member of the family had a very different experience on that vacation, and everyone seemed oblivious to one another's experiences.

Tyler doesn't rely on "gotcha" moments or explosive writing to tell her story of family dysfunction. She writes quiet scenes about arranging minimal possessions in a studio apartment or preparing a meal of salmon loaf.

The result is a contemplative story likely to prompt readers to examine their own family dynamics.

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Sweet story of family life and dynamics, "you can never take it for granted that family members will like each other." At times it was like looking in a mirror. This is an easy and meaningful read.

I wanted to love this book but unfortunately this one wasn’t for me. I had a hard time keeping focused on this book. I kept waiting for something interesting to happen to suck me in but it didn’t happen. This book followed family members over generations of time and I just felt no connection to it and I didn’t enjoy any of the characters or their connections either. I’ve seen great reviews of other books from this author so I look forward to giving her books another try in the future.

Thank you Net Galley and Knopf Doubleday publishing group for a gifted copy in return for my honest review.

There are dysfunctional families and then there are dysfunctional families. The book follows the family through each decade. What I found interesting is that there is really no cohesion or connection with the different family members. Each is their own and can go for long periods of time without reaching out to the others. It started with Robin and Mercy as the quasi patriarchs who lived most of their lives apart. As someone who comes from a very dysfunctional family and with virtually no connection with the others, I understand this. However as a book to enjoy, there was not a single character who was endearing to me.

Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy.

Thank you to Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group and Net Galley for the chance to read and review this book. The opinions expressed are my own.

I thought this was a good story, with plenty of family drama. At times it was slow, and I kept waiting for something exciting to happen. It was well-written, with great character development. I would recommend it if you like stories about dysfunctional families who learn to forgive and come together.

I really wanted to like or even love this book. I had heard so many great things about Anne Tyler and was so excited when I started reading French Braid. I did not love this book. I enjoyed the family dynamic, but I felt it was slow and there was not much going on. The family grew apart, yet they seemed to pretend to be okay. They downplayed so much about their family, things that should have been a bigger deal. They were worried about appearances way too much for my liking. They wanted to be a perfect family and put on that appearance for those around them and for each other.

I am wanting to give Anne Tyler another chance and am excited to find another of her books to read and hopefully enjoy.

**Thank you NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.