Title: Digging to America Author: Anne Tyler type of book: Fiction call number: Fic

This book is strong in character and story.

Summary:
Two families (WASPs Brad and Bitsy and Iranian-Americans Sami and Ziba) meet at the Baltimore airport as they await the arrival of their Korean babies and strike up a lifelong friendship. Tyler explores how this relationship enriches the lives of both extended families but she does not sugar-coat the sometimes love/envy friendship, especially between the women.

Much of the focus revolves around Sami's widowed mother Maryam and her inner conflicts about her Americanization -- especially when those conflicts potentially ruin a romantic relationship. It takes a hard look at the immigrant experience, especially after 9/11.

I would recommend this book!

Why?
I think this is one of Tyler's better books, and she is a master at detail, description and dialogue. At various points in the book I loved different characters, and at other times was exasperated with them . . . just like real life. No soap-opera here, just a snapshot of real people living real lives, from a very sharp observer. I devoured it in a day.

Other suggested reading:
Tyler's Breathing Lessons won a Pulitzer Prize.

Employee Initials: SB Review Date: May 2006

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