A typical Anne Tyler book that examines the life of one ordinary man. Micha Mortimer lives a quiet, mostly solitary life. Caretaker of an apartment building and owner of a computer help business, he has brief interactions with the people around him. He has a lady friend but no plans to make any type of commitment. The appearance of a lost love from his past causes him to reexamine what he wants from life. The title comes from his aging vision problems whereby he sees ordinary objects as something they are not, similar to how he has been leading his life. Very similar to her last book, The Clock Dance, it was a quick but somewhat unsatisfying read.

In the midst of all the Coronavirus unrest, I've been having trouble finding a book that would 1) hold my interest, and 2) not be too tense or upsetting. After trying several books, I stumbled into this one, and it was just what I needed. A sweet, entertaining story about a quirky "tech hermit." Leave it to Anne Tyler for delivering another great story with a memorable, unique character.

I love Anne Tyler's books. The quirky characters she describes are always someone you may not be, but who you know. This book is no exception. Micah, the main character, may be set in his ways, causing him to shy away from an upset in routine. Yet, the characters around him help to define the potential within him.
The writing is always superb and minimal, but the the sensitivity is evident. You feel so caught up in the plot of everyday lives and the theme of reassessing those lives pointedly comes through. Another great book to savor!

Classic Anne Tyler with quirky characters you have probably met and will grow to care about. The Baltimore neighborhood is revisited with folks living life quietly but with their small challenges. The story unfolds to help them to resolution.

I thought this book was fabulous! What's not to love about Anne Tyler? I swear, no one in modern fiction writes dialogue the way she does. It is realistic and humorous and amazing. I loved reading each page.

I thought I had received an excerpt of Redhead by the Side of the Road when it came to such an abrupt end. The novel, what there was of it, was a wonderful exercise in character development. We meet Micah, who is a misfit in his own way, his girlfriend who finally has enough, plus all the other oddball characters inhabiting this story. Wondering if Tyler is planning a sequel, or a continuation of this story.

I have long been a fan of Anne Tyler's books and while Redhead By the Side of the Road is not her strongest novel, all the elements for success are present. Unlike some other reviewers, I did not find the ending of this short novel to be abrupt; it seemed inevitable that after beginning to discover important things about himself Micah would do what he did. Tyler once again brings us a sharply painted picture of her main character: a man of habits and routines, a man walking almost robotically through life, a man who has not given much thought to his place or worth in life or his life's trajectory. And she brings us this character, and those who play various roles in his awakening, with beautifully written prose. Baltimore does not play a large role in this book, as it does in many of her previous ones, but that hardly matters. Any time spent with an Anne Tyler novel is time well spent, and Redhead by the Side of the Road is no exception.

This novel could be considered a character study of its protagonist Micah, the Tech Hermit. He is a man who loves routine and is more committed to his habits than any relationships with other people. He does have a woman friend, but when she is threatened with eviction it doesn't even occur to him to offer her space in his small apartment, nor even to worry about her plight. When a young man shows up on his doorstep claiming to be his son, he provides only temporary shelter and an explanation why he can't be the father. His job providing tech trouble-shooting shows his skillful side and a compassion he can afford to demonstrate because it is necessarily short-term. In this short work, Anne Tyler again portrays affection for her quirky characters, people whom we may wish we knew or may recognize from our own lives.

Not one of my favorites. Wanted more, ending was so blunt. Anne Tyler usually give me a few mind snaps, not this time. Micah was a delightful character, just need more.

This book embodies all of the things we love about Anne Tyler's books -- the quirky, unconventional characters, the realistic situations, and the incredible insight and compassion she brings to both. Not to mention beautiful writing and quiet yet compelling plotting. This is a little shorter than some novels, which could be an advantage when recommending to readers. Anne Tyler readers will love this, as will readers who enjoyed the Olive Kitteridge books.

I am a longtime fan of Tyler’s and this book is smack in her wheelhouse. I quite enjoyed it, even if Micah needed a good smack. I loved all these characters but especially Micah’s extended family, and their shenanigans. And the discussion they have about how some adults’ lives mimic their childhoods, while some create their lives in direct opposition to their upbringing - so great, so spot-on.

Cute little story! We all know someone just like this guy. A good look at our relationships both family and love interests.

Finally, a novel with an uplifting look at loneliness. Ms Tyler leads us through a few weeks of Micah's life and his slowly dawning realization that maybe he is not as innocent of the problems in his relationships as he has always believed. There may be a hopeful future for a really nice character.

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday for the ARC to read and review.

This was more of a long short story than a novel. I admit to not having liked some of Tyler's more recent work and I am afraid that this one joins the club. I think her strength as a writer is that she can write quirky, but likeable, people. I just didn't really connect with anyone in this work.

This slim novel centers around Micah Mortimer. He is quirky and uncomfortable with society, using routines to maintain his equilibrium with the world. I was reminded of Eleanor Oliphant and A Man Called Ove. Micah doesn't quite get it, and yet he is loved and accommodated by the people close to him: his family and his "women friends". We count on Anne Tyler to provide deeply felt characters who are reaching for an epiphany. I was left hoping for more insight from the author. Can Micah finally break through and achieve a real relationship? Does that really matter? Let the reader decide.

Ann Tyler is fav of mine, she never disappoints. character development was a plus, Not my favorite book. But finished it.

For fans of Accidental Tourist, Olive Kittredge and A Man Called Ove, Anne Tyler brings us Micah, a 40 year old single techie/handyman who lives in the basement of an apartment building and can't seem to keep a girlfriend. He's not weird or creepy, he just likes his routines and has a bit of difficulty picking up on cues from others. When his latest girlfriend breaks up with him, and a boy shows up on his doorstep claiming to be his son, Micah starts to take a good look at his life.

I loved this book! It has all the heart of the books mentioned above and all the quirky characters that appear in many of Tyler's books. I've read nearly all of Tyler's previous works and I think this is one of her best. My only complaint is that it seems too short.

Classic Anne Tyler character-driven novel filled with empathy, humor and beautiful language. Micah Mortimer is an engaging protagonist whose routine-controlled life puzzles those who know him best. His family members, friends, fellow apartment residents and customers all engage the reader in emotional ways unique to Anne Tyler.

I love Anne Tyler books. Maybe it's because I grew up just outside of Baltimore and the quirky characters and scene descriptions remind me of home...the Baltimore that isn't splashed all over the news. This book is similar to others she has written in that it captures the unique personalities of each of its flawed characters. I did find the ending to be somewhat abrupt, but days later I'm still thinking about Micah and his story which, for me, is a true measure of how much a book stays with me.

I have loved Anne Tyler’s books from her very first, and this one is no exception. She develops her characters so fully that I feel I know them like my neighbors. My only disappointment with any of her books is that they end. I want them to go on in my life as my friends do so so I can know everything that happens throughout their lives. Anne Tyler understands people and brings her characters to life fully. You will totally enjoy getting to know Micah through all his thoughts, angst, and insights.