The Amateur Marriage

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From the inimitable Anne Tyler comes a rich and compelling tale of a mismatched marriage and its consequences across three generations. Michael, smitten by Pauline the moment she enters his mother's grocery store, marries her hastily amid World War II fervor. However, they should never have wed. Pauline's impulsive, impractical nature clashes with Michael's cautious, judgmental demeanor. While other young couples grow more seasoned, they remain amateurs in their relationship. Their foolish quarrels take a toll, and nearly thirty years later, even as they become loving parents to their grandson Pagan, whom they rescue from Haight-Ashbury, they struggle to bridge their deep-rooted differences. Flighty Pauline believes rifts can always be repaired, while the unyielding Michael finds them unbearable. Tyler captures the nuances of everyday life across decades—from the sound of the cash register in the grocery store to the counterculture of the sixties, miniskirts, and layered apparel—bringing smiles of recognition with each page. As competing voices reveal the complexities of family life, readers are drawn into this wise, embracing, and deeply perceptive narrative.