Sometimes the books we choose based solely on a cover end up becoming unexpected favorites. And sometimes… they leave us sitting on the deck staring into space, wondering what exactly we just read. That was my experience with “Breathing Lessons” by Anne Tyler.
I picked up this book as part of my Summer reading challenge entirely because of the cover. The challenge was “Judge a Book By Its Cover”. When I spotted this book at the thrift store, the cover image gave me the impression that I might be in for a Summer road trip story (I just love a good road trip). The birds arranged in what appears to be an infinity loop or Möbius strip intrigued me. And the title, “Breathing Lessons”, made me curious. What kind of story could possibly be hidden behind a title like that? It seemed the perfect book for the challenge!
As is my habit, I deliberately avoided reading the back cover. I knew absolutely nothing about the story before I started, which is exactly how I prefer to discover books.
At first, I wasn’t sure what to make of the characters. The main character seemed to bounce from one emotion to another, one thought to another, and one opinion to another. I couldn’t decide whether I liked her, understood her, or could relate to her. The further I read, the more confused I became – not necessarily about the characters, but about the story itself. The narrative seemed to wander constantly. One thought would lead to another, which would trigger a memory, which would spark a completely different train of thought, which would somehow circle back to the present before darting off again. Reading it felt a bit like watching someone follow every side road, back road, and deer trail instead of staying on the highway.
By the time I was a third of the way through the book, I found myself asking a simple question, “What is this story actually about?” And honestly, I never quite found an answer.
Now, before Anne Tyler fans sharpen their pitchforks, let me say this: I understand what she was doing. This is very much a character-driven novel rather than a plot-driven one. The wandering nature of the narrative mirrors the way people actually think. Memories trigger memories. Small observations lead to larger reflections. Life isn’t always neatly organized into beginning, middle, and end. And I appreciate that. I even found moments throughout the book that resonated deeply with me. There were observations about marriage, aging, family, expectations, and life itself that made me pause and think. There were sentences that felt insightful and true. Little nuggets of wisdom tucked into the pages. But was that enough to make me enjoy the overall experience? For me, not quite.
As I continued reading, I kept waiting for the story to reveal itself. I kept hoping there would be a moment when everything clicked into place and I’d suddenly understand where we were going. Instead, the book continued drifting from thought to thought, conversation to conversation, memory to memory. And then it ended.
When I finished the final page, I was sitting on the deck with my husband. I closed the book, stared out for a moment, and simply said, “Huh.” My husband looked at me and asked if I enjoyed it. I honestly didn’t know. Then he asked what it was about. Again, I honestly didn’t know. That probably sounds harsher than I intend it to. I didn’t hate this book. Not at all. In fact, I can absolutely understand why some readers love it. If you enjoy literary fiction that focuses on the intricacies of human relationships, everyday moments, and the inner workings of people’s minds, this may be exactly your kind of story.
For me, though, it never became more than a collection of moments. I never felt swept up in an adventure. I never felt emotionally invested in what would happen next because there never really seemed to be a “next” to anticipate. Instead, I felt like an observer looking through a window at a small slice of someone else’s life. And perhaps that’s the point. Maybe “Breathing Lessons” isn’t trying to tell a story so much as it is trying to capture the experience of living one.
Still, when I finish a book, I want to feel something. I want to be excited, inspired, devastated, hopeful, entertained, or challenged. I want to immediately start recommending it to someone else or spend days thinking about it afterward. This book left me with none of those feelings. Mostly, it left me relieved to be done.
Would I recommend it? That depends entirely on what you’re looking for. If you’re searching for an entertaining story with a clear plot, memorable twists, and momentum that keeps you turning pages, I’d probably point you elsewhere. But if you enjoy character studies, literary fiction, and stories that linger in the ordinary moments of life, you may find much more to appreciate here than I did.
As for me, I’m glad I read it. It satisfied my curiosity. It challenged my expectations. It gave me a few meaningful lines that I’ll likely remember. But it also reminded me that sometimes a beautiful cover, an intriguing title, and a fascinating premise don’t necessarily lead to a book you’ll love. And that’s okay. That’s part of the adventure of reading. Mark another Summer reading challenge as DONE.
Make sure to click on What I’m Reading and follow me on Goodreads for more interesting books to try.
