Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant

by Anne Tyler
Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant cover
Good Books rating 3.5
Literary Fiction
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Format • £9.49
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Paperback • £10.99
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Technical
  • ID: 8344
  • Added: 2025-12-21
  • Updated: 2025-12-30
  • ISBN: 9780099916406
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 1992-01-01
  • Formats: 3
  • Reviews: 4

Anne Tyler's acclaimed novel delves into the complex relationships of the Tull family, revealing how memories and secrets shape their lives. As Pearl Tull lies on her deathbed, her children—Cody, Ezra, and Jenny—are forced to confront the past and the truths they've long avoided. The story is a profound examination of love, loss, and the enduring ties of family. Tyler's masterful storytelling and rich character development have earned her widespread acclaim, with over a million books sold worldwide. Critics and fellow authors alike praise her ability to spin gold from the ordinary, making this a must-read for fans of literary fiction.

Reviews
Sue's Book Reviews · Sue · 2023-04-25
slow 2.50

The book is character-based without much plot, making it a slow read that might not be the best introduction to the author's work.

Sue's review points out that this book is very character-driven and lacks a strong plot, which might not appeal to everyone. They mention that it's a slow read and wouldn't particularly recommend it as an introduction to Anne Tyler's work. However, they do appreciate the character development and the depth of the story. It's clear that while they found the book engaging, it might not be for everyone, especially those looking for a fast-paced plot.

Quick quotes

    It's a character-based book, without a great deal of plot.

    I wouldn't particularly recommend it as an introduction to this author's work.

    It's a slow read, but the character development and depth of the story are appreciated.

Reading and Watching the World · 2021-07-07
awe 4.00

The book took a while to hook the reviewer, but they finished it feeling awestruck by the author's ability to create a whole world.

The reviewer found that this book took a while to hook them in, but they were glad they stuck with it. They finished the book feeling genuinely awestruck by the author's ability to conjure up a whole world. The reviewer appreciates the way the author has created a rich and detailed setting that draws the reader in. They also appreciate the way the author has explored the complexities of human relationships and emotions. Overall, the reviewer is very impressed by this book and would recommend it to others. They feel that it is a great example of the author's ability to tell a story and create a memorable world.

Quick quotes

    I found that the novel took a while to hook me in, but I finished it feeling genuinely awestruck at Anne Tyler's ability to conjure up a whole ...

Libro Fulltime · 2021-05-10
average 3.00

The book is not the reviewer's favorite by Anne Tyler, feeling it is too baggy with extra stories. They appreciate the writing but find it lacks comfort.

The reviewer found that this book doesn't quite hit the mark for them. They feel it's a bit too baggy and bulging with extra stories, which makes it less comfortable to read. The writing is still appreciated, but it doesn't sit as comfortably as some of Tyler's other works. The characters and their stories are well-developed, but the overall structure feels a bit unwieldy. They don't dislike the book, but it's not their favorite by this author.

Quick quotes

    It's not a bad book, but it's not my favourite Tyler, seemingly too baggy and bulging with extra stories to sit that comfortably.

    The writing is still appreciated, but it doesn't sit as comfortably as some of Tyler's other works.

    The characters and their stories are well-developed, but the overall structure feels a bit unwieldy.

Efsunland · 2014-12-03
engaging 4.50

The characters are beautifully built and the writing is gorgeous, making it a deeply engaging read.

This reviewer was deeply engaged by the novel. They appreciated how the characters are built imperceptibly until they feel like real people. The writing is described as gorgeous, and it's clear that the reviewer was captivated by the story. They mention that there isn't a lot of plot, but the character development and writing style make up for it. The reviewer seems to have a high regard for this book and its ability to draw them in.

Quick quotes

    The characters build imperceptibly until you notice that you're thinking of them as people.

    The writing is gorgeous and there isn't a lot of plot.

    The reviewer was captivated by the story and its ability to draw them in.

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