Plano Reads: Join Second Tuesday Book Club on April 9 for ‘French Braid’

Second Tuesday Book Club will meet in person from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9, in the program room at Schimelpfenig Library, to discuss our fourth book of 2024, French Braid, by Anne Tyler.

Spanning over decades, French Braid delves into the intricacies of family dynamics and individual development, following three generations of the Garrett Family as they navigate life’s challenges, joys, and the journey of self-discovery.

Please email Alice McGoldrick at amcgoldrick@plano.gov or Nicole Border at nborder@plano.gov or you may call Schimelpfenig Library at 972-769-4200, if you have questions or comments. See you there!

French Braid, by Anne Tyler

Available as Print | Large Print | eBook  | eAudiobook

In the summer of 2010, Serena Garrett found herself on a journey that would unravel the threads of her family’s history and weave them into the tapestry of her present. It began innocently enough, with a trip to Philadelphia to meet her boyfriend James’ parents for the very first time. Little did she know, this encounter would be the catalyst for a profound reflection on the intricacies of family ties.

As they made their way back to Baltimore, where they reside, fate intervened in the form of an unexpected encounter with Serena’s estranged cousin. This chance meeting stirred something within Serena, forcing her to confront the stark reality of her own family’s disconnect. In contrast to James’ vibrant and inclusive family, Serena couldn’t help but feel like an outsider. With her mind swirling, the novels journey takes a turn and we are transported back to the summer of 1959. Here, we meet the members of Serena’s family at a pivotal moment – their first and last family vacation.

As the narrative unfolds, we are swept along on a journey through the generations of the Garrett family. From the 1950s to the present day, we witness the ebb and flow of their lives, each generation leaving an indelible mark on the next. From the innocence of youth to the harsh realities of the pandemic era, the Garrett’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring power of family, and the timeless truths that bind us together.

“For all its charm, French Braid is a quietly subversive novel, tackling fundamental assumptions about womanhood, motherhood and female aging.” —Jennifer Haigh, New York Times Book Review 
 
“In her 24th novel, Tyler once again unravels the tangled threads of family life. This familiar subject always seems fresh in her hands because Tyler draws her characters and their interactions in such specific and revealing detail . . . [She] understands that the domestic world can contain the universe.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Few writers are so widely loved and respected as the creator of ‘family novels,’ a genre Tyler has perfected . . . Her fans will be delighted . . . This is Tyler at her most Tyler-ish.” —The Times (London)
 
“The characters’ hopes and struggles are relatable, and the novel shines with Tyler’s signature compassion and comfort.” —TIME

ANNE TYLER was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1941 and grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina. She is the author of more than twenty novels. Her twentieth novel, A Spool of Blue Thread, was short-listed for the Man Booker Prize in 2015. Her eleventh novel, Breathing Lessons, was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1989. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. She lives in Baltimore, Maryland.

– Learn more about the author on her website