"I packed a bag and walked out," said Beck.

Cody sat down on the stoop.

"See," said Beck, "what it was, I guess: it was the grayness; grayness of things; half-right-and-half-wrongness of things. Everything tangled, mingled, not perfect any more. I couldn't take that. Your mother could, but not me. Yes sir, I have to hand it to your mother."

He sighed and stroked the lining of his jacket.

"I'll be honest," he said, "when I left I didn't think I'd ever care to see you folks again. But later, I started having these thoughts. What do you suppose Cody's doing now? What's Ezra up to, and Jenny?' 'My family wasn't so much,' I thought, 'but it's all there really is, in the end.' By then, it was maybe two, three years since I'd left. One night I was pa.s.sing through Baltimore and I parked a block away, got out and walked to the house. Pretty near froze to death, standing across the street and waiting. I guess I was going to introduce myself or something, if anybody came out. It was you that came. First I didn't even know you, wondered if someone else had moved in. Then I realized it was just that you had grown so. You were almost a man. You came down the walk and you bent for the evening paper and as you straightened, you kind of flipped it in the air and caught it again, and I saw that you could live without me. You could do that carefree a thing, you see-flip a paper and catch it. You were going to turn out fine. And I was right, wasn't I? Look! Haven't you all turned out fine-leading good lives, the three of you? She did it; Pearl did it. I knew she would manage. I turned and walked back to my car.

"After that, I just stuck to my own routine. Had a few pals, a lady friend from time to time. Somebody'd start to think the world of me and I would tell myself, 'I wish Pearl could see this.' I'd even write her a note, now and then. I'd write and give her my latest address, anyplace I moved to, but what I was really writing to say was, 'There's this new important boss we've got who regards me very highly.' Or, 'There's a lady here who acts extremely thrilled when I drop by.' Crazy, isn't it? I do believe that all these years, anytime I had any success, I've kind of, like, held it up in my imagination for your mother to admire. Just take a look at this this, Pearl, I'd be thinking. Oh, what will I do now she's gone?"

He shook his head.

Cody, searching for something to say, happened to look toward Prima Street and see his family rounding the corner, opening like a fan. The children came first, running, and the teen-agers loped behind, and the grown-ups-trying to keep pace-were very nearly running themselves, so that they all looked unexpectedly joyful. The drab colors of their funeral clothes turned their faces bright. The children's arms and legs flew out and the baby bounced on Joe's shoulders. Cody felt surprised and touched. He felt that they were pulling him toward them-that it wasn't they who were traveling, but Cody himself.

"They've found us," he told Beck. "Let's go finish our dinner."

"Oh, well, I'm not so sure," Beck said. But he allowed himself to be helped to his feet. "Oh, well, maybe this one last course," he said, "but I warn you, I plan to leave before that dessert wine's poured."

Cody held on to his elbow and led him toward the others. Overhead, seagulls drifted through a sky so clear and blue that it brought back all the outings of his boyhood-the drives, the picnics, the autumn hikes, the wildflower walks in the spring. He remembered the archery trip, and it seemed to him now that he even remembered that arrow sailing in its graceful, fluttering path. He remembered his mother's upright form along the gra.s.ses, her hair lit gold, her small hands smoothing her bouquet while the arrow journeyed on. And high above, he seemed to recall, there had been a little brown airplane, almost motionless, droning through the sunshine like a b.u.mblebee.

DINNER AT THE H HOMESICK R RESTAURANTA Reader's Guide[image]

ANNE TYLER.

A CONVERSATION WITH A ANNE T TYLER

Q: You've been known to claim You've been known to claim Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant as the favorite of all your novels. What, in your eyes, sets it apart from the rest? What about it wins it such a special place in your heart? as the favorite of all your novels. What, in your eyes, sets it apart from the rest? What about it wins it such a special place in your heart?A: For one thing, this book somehow managed to end up very much like the book I envisioned when I first began writing it. That almost never happens. I remember that when I'd finished, I thought, For one thing, this book somehow managed to end up very much like the book I envisioned when I first began writing it. That almost never happens. I remember that when I'd finished, I thought, I've done what I wanted to I've done what I wanted to. And then I'm so attached to the characters. I still miss them, even all these years later.Q: In all of your work, you focus on the romantic and familial relationships that shape people's lives. In all of your work, you focus on the romantic and familial relationships that shape people's lives. Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant, however, seems almost exclusively interested in family. What made you choose to zoom in so much on family matters, when writing this novel? Did family affairs seem more relevant to your life at the time than affairs of the heart? Which subject interests you the most?A: I've often said that writing a book is like plucking an olive out of a bottle-one of those narrow bottles in which the olives are stacked in a single row. What comes next is what I write, w.i.l.l.y-nilly. I wish I could tell you why! I've often said that writing a book is like plucking an olive out of a bottle-one of those narrow bottles in which the olives are stacked in a single row. What comes next is what I write, w.i.l.l.y-nilly. I wish I could tell you why!As for whether family relationships or romantic relationships are more interesting: Somewhere in this book, Jenny says that marriage is like the earthquake in a disaster movie; it flings people together and exposes their true characters. I think that's even truer of family life. Families are almost impossible to get out of, and therefore they make wonderful petri dishes for novelists.Q: From chapter to chapter, you change narrative voice, giving the reader glimpses of several different characters' points of view. Did you have fun doing this? Was there a particular character from whose point of view you enjoyed writing the most? Did you find yourself becoming angry at one character in one chapter and then defending him or her in the next? From chapter to chapter, you change narrative voice, giving the reader glimpses of several different characters' points of view. Did you have fun doing this? Was there a particular character from whose point of view you enjoyed writing the most? Did you find yourself becoming angry at one character in one chapter and then defending him or her in the next?A: Changing the point of view is one of my favorite parts of writing. It's such a luxury not to be imprisoned behind a single set of eyes. And I love the challenge when I think, Changing the point of view is one of my favorite parts of writing. It's such a luxury not to be imprisoned behind a single set of eyes. And I love the challenge when I think, There's no way on earth I could know how it feels to be so-and-so There's no way on earth I could know how it feels to be so-and-so, and then I have to come up with a way. Probably one of the reasons I still feel so much affection for this book is that I enjoyed the viewpoint of each person equally, and I hadn't expected that: Pearl, for instance-my least sympathetic character; Cody, in his continual stew of resentment; and hard-sh.e.l.led Jenny. In a way, I felt that Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant educated me. educated me.Q: What authors have influenced your writing style the most? Was there one writer who influenced What authors have influenced your writing style the most? Was there one writer who influenced Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant in particular? in particular?A: My greatest lifelong influence has been Eudora Welty. This particular book, though, was influenced by Christina Stead's My greatest lifelong influence has been Eudora Welty. This particular book, though, was influenced by Christina Stead's The Man Who Loved Children The Man Who Loved Children, even though I hadn't a hope of achieving anything like that book's complexity.Q: You wrote You wrote Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant over twenty years ago. Has your opinion of it changed at all since you first wrote it? For instance, do you identify with different characters than you used to do? Do you feel that the book's themes are as relevant to your life now as they were twenty years ago? over twenty years ago. Has your opinion of it changed at all since you first wrote it? For instance, do you identify with different characters than you used to do? Do you feel that the book's themes are as relevant to your life now as they were twenty years ago?A: My view of this book and its characters both is surprisingly unchanged. I still find its themes important to me. I still identify with the same characters-which is to say, with all of them. My view of this book and its characters both is surprisingly unchanged. I still find its themes important to me. I still identify with the same characters-which is to say, with all of them.Q: Who is your favorite member of the Tull family? Why? Who is your favorite member of the Tull family? Why?A: Ezra, of course. I'd like to give a less predictable answer, but there you are: I love him. I have slipped him into more than one of my later novels. (A courting couple in Ezra, of course. I'd like to give a less predictable answer, but there you are: I love him. I have slipped him into more than one of my later novels. (A courting couple in The Amateur Marriage The Amateur Marriage, for instance, go out to dinner at an unnamed restaurant and order the gizzard soup.) In the later novels, I pause to think what Ezra would be doing now and I always decide, Oh, well, I guess he's still plugging away at the restaurant, still unmarried, still alone but basically contented. Although recently I've started to wonder if he isn't the type of man who will suddenly, unexpectedly, fall in love in late middle age and have one of those blissfully happy end-of-life marriages.Q: Each of the Tull children, whether consciously or subconsciously, seems to spend much of his or her life trying not to make the same mistakes made by either of their parents (understandably!). In some ways, they all succeed in not turning into their parents; in others, they fail. Do you think this is usually the case? Do family traits and character flaws simply repeat themselves generation after generation-for better or for worse-or is there some room for personal development? Each of the Tull children, whether consciously or subconsciously, seems to spend much of his or her life trying not to make the same mistakes made by either of their parents (understandably!). In some ways, they all succeed in not turning into their parents; in others, they fail. Do you think this is usually the case? Do family traits and character flaws simply repeat themselves generation after generation-for better or for worse-or is there some room for personal development?A: I'm fascinated by how people's lives either echo or repudiate their parents' lives. In a sense, I think we're all doomed. We can repeat our parents' mistakes or we can bend over backwards I'm fascinated by how people's lives either echo or repudiate their parents' lives. In a sense, I think we're all doomed. We can repeat our parents' mistakes or we can bend over backwards not not to repeat them and end up making mistakes of contrariness; but either way, we're still under their influence. Of course there's room for personal development, but I'm not a big believer in the human capacity for cataclysmic change. to repeat them and end up making mistakes of contrariness; but either way, we're still under their influence. Of course there's room for personal development, but I'm not a big believer in the human capacity for cataclysmic change.Q: A pervasive theme of the novel is one of food and nourishment. The world of A pervasive theme of the novel is one of food and nourishment. The world of Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant is divided into "feeders" and "nonfeeders" (as Cody calls them), as well as eaters and non-eaters. Is this true of the real world as well? What do you think a person's att.i.tude toward food says about his or her character? is divided into "feeders" and "nonfeeders" (as Cody calls them), as well as eaters and non-eaters. Is this true of the real world as well? What do you think a person's att.i.tude toward food says about his or her character?A: I do think a character's feeling about food is a wonderful shorthand device for the writer. In place of "feeders" and "nonfeeders," we could say "givers" and "non-givers," and in place of "eaters" and "non-eaters," "enjoyers" and "non-enjoyers"-two very important sets of personality traits. I do think a character's feeling about food is a wonderful shorthand device for the writer. In place of "feeders" and "nonfeeders," we could say "givers" and "non-givers," and in place of "eaters" and "non-eaters," "enjoyers" and "non-enjoyers"-two very important sets of personality traits.Q: How did you come up with the t.i.tle of the book? Ezra-the archetypal "feeder"-gives birth to the idea of the Homesick Restaurant, where people can come for complete nourishment of stomach and soul. Is this an idea that particularly appeals to you? Do you think the Homesick Restaurant would be a success in the real world or not? How did you come up with the t.i.tle of the book? Ezra-the archetypal "feeder"-gives birth to the idea of the Homesick Restaurant, where people can come for complete nourishment of stomach and soul. Is this an idea that particularly appeals to you? Do you think the Homesick Restaurant would be a success in the real world or not?A: Long ago I used to wish for a Homesick Restaurant. Or I longed for one in my neighborhood, at least, and then I invented a brand name for it. Yes, it appeals to me enormously, but I am sorry to say that it would probably go bankrupt within two years if it existed in the real world rather than in the alternate universe of "my" Baltimore. Long ago I used to wish for a Homesick Restaurant. Or I longed for one in my neighborhood, at least, and then I invented a brand name for it. Yes, it appeals to me enormously, but I am sorry to say that it would probably go bankrupt within two years if it existed in the real world rather than in the alternate universe of "my" Baltimore.Q: As is the case in many of your novels, there is a strong insider/outsider dichotomy present in As is the case in many of your novels, there is a strong insider/outsider dichotomy present in Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant. Do you think any "outsiders" ever really manage to penetrate the Tull family circle, to really understand them? In many ways, it seems that they are all outsiders to each other, always feeling shut out of each other's lives, and seldom really understanding one another's motives and perspectives. Do you see the world as largely made up of individual outsiders, all trying to get "into" each other's lives?A: That's a wonderful question to ponder, at least on paper (only on paper!). I myself am always trying to get into others' lives. Is everyone else trying, too? I don't know. I have a severe allergy to people who are intrusive, who ask inappropriate questions or violate accepted boundaries. And yet here I am trying to decipher-as the most persistent secret agent would try to decipher-what it means when a woman doesn't take her hat off to cook dinner for her children. That's a wonderful question to ponder, at least on paper (only on paper!). I myself am always trying to get into others' lives. Is everyone else trying, too? I don't know. I have a severe allergy to people who are intrusive, who ask inappropriate questions or violate accepted boundaries. And yet here I am trying to decipher-as the most persistent secret agent would try to decipher-what it means when a woman doesn't take her hat off to cook dinner for her children.Q: What is the most rewarding aspect of writing for you? Does it vary from novel to novel? Is there a particular life lesson you want your readers to get out of the Tulls' story? What is the most rewarding aspect of writing for you? Does it vary from novel to novel? Is there a particular life lesson you want your readers to get out of the Tulls' story?A: It never varies: I am addicted to the sensation of living lives I would not experience in reality. As for life lessons, I don't intend for readers to learn any lesson at all from my books. I just want them to feel-even if only for a few hours-that they too are living the lives I'm describing. That's the best that other people's books have given me, and it's what I'm always hoping to pa.s.s on. It never varies: I am addicted to the sensation of living lives I would not experience in reality. As for life lessons, I don't intend for readers to learn any lesson at all from my books. I just want them to feel-even if only for a few hours-that they too are living the lives I'm describing. That's the best that other people's books have given me, and it's what I'm always hoping to pa.s.s on.

Also by Anne Tyler

IF MORNING EVER COMES

THE TIN CAN TREE.

A SLIPPING-DOWN LIFE.

THE CLOCK WINDER.

CELESTIAL NAVIGATION.

SEARCHING FOR CALEB.

EARTHLY POSSESSIONS.

MORGAN'S Pa.s.sING THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST.

BREATHING LESSONS.

SAINT MAYBE.

LADDER OF YEARS.

A PATCHWORK PLANET.

BACK WHEN WE WERE GROWNUPS.

THE AMATEUR MARRIAGE.