‘You have to wonder what goes through the mind of a man like Micah Mortimer’
– Redhead by the Side of the Road
[ About Redhead by the Side of the Road ]
Micah Mortimer isn’t the most polished person you’ll ever meet. His numerous sisters and in-laws regard him oddly but very fondly, but he has his ways and means of navigating the world. He measures out his days running errands for work – his TECH HERMIT sign cheerily displayed on the roof of his car – maintaining an impeccable cleaning regime and going for runs (7:15, every morning). He is content with the steady balance of his life.
But then the order of things starts to tilt. His woman friend Cassia (he refuses to call anyone in her late thirties a ‘girlfriend’) tells him she’s facing eviction because of a cat. And when a teenager shows up at Micah’s door claiming to be his son, Micah is confronted with another surprise he seems poorly equipped to handle.
Redhead by the Side of the Road is an intimate look into the heart and mind of a man who sometimes finds those around him just out of reach – and a love story about the differences that make us all unique.
[ My Review ]
Redhead by the Side of the Road by Anne Tyler published with Chatto & Windus in 2020 and is described as ‘an offbeat love story about mis-steps, second chances and the elusive art of human connection.‘
Having recently listened to the audiobook of Three Days In June by Anne Tyler I was drawn to picking up another one of her books from my personal reading pile. I think that there are certain times in life when we need a gentle and comforting read, one that resets our equilibrium and leaves us uplifted and less stressed. Anne Tyler has now become one of those authors for me and I now have, on standby, her 2023 release, Clock Dance, waiting for me.
Micah is considered a bit of an eccentric character. He is quite particular about his actions, with a specific place and a time for everything. He lives by his routine and is quite happy in his own company. Working for himself as a tech guru, he repairs modems, updates computers and looks after the basic tech needs of folk in his community. Micah was never a high achiever. He knows he will never make millions but he is content.
His girlfriend Cassie has been a mainstay in his life for awhile now. Both are mature enough to understand their relationship but when Cassie has an upsetting personal issue she realises that Micah may not be the man for her. He never deliberately goes out of his way to make anyone unhappy but sometimes his lack of social and observational skills rub folk up the wrong way. This crisis with Cassie coincides with a teenager arriving at his front door claiming to be his son. Both these events send Micah’s head into a spin and, as he slowly loses control, he decides he needs to do something about it.
Micah Mortimer is central to this slender novel and as we get to know him, we realise that there is a pall of sadness and trepidation lingering around him. Micah’s family are full on. He was reared in a noisy and chaotic atmosphere where everyone had to look out for themselves and their belongings. He has now created his own space, a place where he can have control of his possessions and his time. His mind remains calm and clear as long as his physical environment aligns. These recent happenings shake up his equilibrium dragging Micah more into the present. He has existed on the perimeter for years but now his hand is being forced to take action. But can he?
If you loved Leonard and Hungry Paul by Rónán Hession, then I honestly think this is a book for you. Micah Mortimer is quaint and a little kooky but he is also very endearing and you can’t help but root for him hoping that he finds his happy place, wherever that may be. Redhead by the Side of the Road is a charming and delightful story. It is a gentle and simple read and it is that simplicity that makes it so very special.
[ Bio ]
Anne Tyler was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1941 and grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina. Her bestselling novels include Breathing Lessons, The Accidental Tourist, Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant, Ladder of Years, Back When We Were Grown-ups, Digging to America, A Spool of Blue Thread, Clock Dance, Redhead by the Side of the Road and French Braid.
In 1989 she won the Pulitzer Prize; in 1994 she was nominated by Roddy Doyle and Nick Hornby as ‘the greatest novelist writing in English’; and in 2012 she received the Sunday Times Award for Literary Excellence. In 2015 A Spool of Blue Thread was shortlisted for the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction and the Booker Prize; and in 2020 Redhead by the Side of the Road was longlisted for the Booker Prize.
I enjoyed the story…..but the title has the oddest connection to the content.
My understanding is that the ‘red hydrant’ is meant as a symbol of how he mistakes/misinterprets situations/events in his life
That makes sense!
I’m with Carol. I also enjoyed this novella, but wasn’t sure about the title. Nice review, Mairéad.
It’s an unusual title, but I do think that that’s part of the draw. My understanding is that the ‘hydrant/redhead’ is a symbol of how he misjudges so many aspects of his life. Thanks Carla. I’m officially a fan now so I have loads to catch up on!!