French Braid

Anne Tyler, the Pulitzer Prize–winning writer widely considered one of America’s finest authors, released her novel French Braid in 2022. In many ways, the narrative is a return to the themes of several of her previous, highly regarded works. Once again, Tyler focuses on the frayed interpersonal workings of a middle-class Baltimore family over the course of several generations. Hardworking, ambitious plumber Robin Garrett woos beautiful Mercy, winning the girl and soon inheriting her father’s plumbing-supply business. They bring three children into the world—like them, blond, blue-eyed, and smart. In time, they celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Beneath the storybook veneer of the family, however, the Garretts are disparate people, failing to meet one another’s expectations and never finding the compassionate bond of a happy family. When spouses join the family and grandchildren are born, these unresolved conflicts result in unexpected solutions as various family members try to pursue their dreams yet find themselves inescapably tangled together.

This guide refers to the 2022 Knopf hardcover edition.

Plot Summary

Two Garrett family members have a chance encounter in March 2010, the chronological setting of Chapter 1. Serena, the younger child of Lily, who is Robin and Mercy’s middle child, waits in the Philadelphia station for the train that will return her and her boyfriend, James, to Baltimore. Serena and James are coming from a brief visit with his large, welcoming family. She reflects that, as a child, she always wanted to be part of a gregarious family. Serena mentions to James that she thinks she sees her cousin Nicholas, the son of her uncle David, but is not certain. James brings Nicholas to her. In their brief conversation, they work out exactly how they are related, then quickly depart for their trains. James expresses amazement that Serena and her cousin know so little about each other. For Serena, the encounter with Nicholas is a stark reminder of the disaffected nature of her family. She suddenly feels uncomfortable with James, realizing she does not fit with families like his.

Chapter 2 goes back to the summer of 1959 to describe the first and only vacation the Garrett family ever takes. Alice, at 17 the eldest child of Robin and Mercy, drives her mother, her father, 15-year-old Lily, and seven-year-old David to the campground of Deep Creek Lake, a half-day’s journey from Baltimore. Lily pouts all day because she is not with her boyfriend, Jump. Once at their cabin, the family drifts into separate activities, coming together only for meals and occasional trips to the tourist stores in the resort area. Instantly, Lily meets a college student, Trent, with whom she spends virtually every waking moment. Mercy experiences a revival of fascination with painting, affirming her interest in painting interior still lifes over landscapes. Robin spends most of his time standing waist-deep in the lake with a like-minded entrepreneur named Bentley. David sits on the beach inventing stories for his toy men without wading into the water. Alice is concerned about her sister, wondering why Mercy allows Lily such latitude. Mercy discovers that David walked into the lake at his father’s insistence and briefly sank beneath the surface. Robin downplays the incident, but David becomes unwilling to go to the beach. On the final vacation day, Alice and David return from grocery shopping to discover Trent and Lily together in a cabin bedroom. Trent walks out, leaving a disheveled, shamed Lily sitting on the bed. Alice charges after Trent, warning him away from Lily. That evening, Alice and Robin cook supper, though Lily does not come out of the bedroom to eat.

Chapter 3 takes place over the course of a full year, beginning in early September 1970, when Robin and Mercy deliver David to Islington College in Pennsylvania for his freshman year. David relishes this escape from his family, and they will not see him, and only scarcely hear from him, until Christmas. Mercy has an escape on her mind as well. She begins to move her clothing, personal necessities, and art supplies from their house to a rented room above a garage several blocks away that she has turned into her art studio. She transforms the studio into a self-sustaining apartment. Finally, she tells Robin she is devoting herself to painting what she terms house portraits and will spend most of her time, including nights, at the studio. She promises Robin this does not mean she will divorce him. Mercy learns that Lily, who previously eloped with mechanic BJ, has become pregnant by Morris, a former real-estate coworker, also married. Ultimately, Morris leaves his wife and buys a home for himself and Lily. By Thanksgiving, the Garretts welcome him into the family. Alice and her husband, Kevin, have a toddler daughter, Robby. David arrives for three weeks at Christmas. That summer, David travels with a theater group. Mercy spends virtually all her time in the studio.

Chapter 4 jumps to 1982, by which time Lily is the manager of the plumbing-supply company. David, a high-school teacher in Philadelphia, calls Lily to ask if the family might have a special Easter lunch at which he can introduce them to his friend Greta. Since David seldom has any dealings with the Garretts, the family grows excited to see him and curious about why he wants to introduce Greta; this will be the first time he has ever brought a woman to meet his family. Alice wins the fight over where the family will eat, bringing everyone together to the Baltimore suburb where she and Kevin live. David arrives with Greta, who is 10 years older than he, and her tween daughter, Emily. Soon after the meal, David’s troupe departs to see local sites. The family launches into debates about why David remains so distant and how serious his relationship with Greta is. In a thank-you note to Alice, Greta tells her that she and David got married soon after the Easter meal. David’s sudden marriage becomes another source of family discord.

Chapter 5, set in the summer of 1990, centers on Robin’s intention to put together a surprise 50th-wedding anniversary party for Mercy. Desiring a full family gathering, Robin seeks the cooperation of his children. His daughters try to convince him to cancel the party. The family universally fears the event will be a disaster; not only does Mercy dislike surprises but they do not believe Robin can pull it off. All his efforts bear fruit, as everything goes according to plan on the Sunday morning of the party. He lures Mercy home from the studio by calling her and saying David has come home. She stands in stunned silence when she sees everyone in the living room before Greta wishes her a happy anniversary. It had totally escaped Mercy that she and Robin achieved 50 years of marriage, and she accepts the festivities graciously. After everyone leaves, Mercy spends the night with Robin. However, when he asks her to move back home the next morning, she ignores the request.

Set primarily in the summer of 1997, Chapter 6 follows 12-year-old Candle Lainey, the independently minded youngest child of Alice. Candle—whose real name, Kendall, was unpronounceable to her as a child—has had her nascent painting talent affirmed at summer camp. When she learns that her grandmother, Mercy, is a painter, Mercy welcomes her into her studio, giving her projects and advice but primarily giving her the freedom and space to paint. Candle awakens within Mercy’s tutelage, making gains artistically and even more in worldview. Mercy invites Candle to accompany her to New York City to view a new art exhibit by an old friend. The one-day excursion is an awe-filled learning experience for Candle. On the train ride home, Mercy passes away in her sleep. Though well handled by a compassionate conductor, the loss of her mentor, which she gradually comes to understand without being explicitly told, devastates Candle.

Chapter 7 takes place in the summer of 2014. Eddie Lainey, the middle child of Alice and Kevin, has become the manager of the plumbing store. Lily calls to ask if Eddie wants any of her furniture; she is moving to Asheville, North Carolina, to help Serena with her cranky newborn son. This leads to Lily meeting Eddie’s partner, Claude, whom he lives with and has never told his family about. Eddie learns that his entire family has always known he is gay; Eddie feels stunned at the realization that everyone accepts his orientation and preserves his privacy.

The final setting, in Chapter 8, is the Philadelphia home of David and Greta, where their son, Nicholas, and grandson, Benny, retreat to wait out the 2020 pandemic. The couple retrofits their home for the needs of their inventor son and five-year-old grandchild. Quickly, the retired David and Greta acclimate themselves to the new routine. As he relishes the time spent with Nicholas and Benny, a bittersweet recognition grows within David that he and Greta will have to suffer through empty-nest feelings of loss again. The chapter is laden with many ironic references to David’s childhood that cause him to relive often painful memories. He hears from a disapproving Alice that Lily has remarried—a spur-of-the-moment decision—without telling anyone and moved to Winston-Salem, North Carolina. David confesses to Greta that the old conflicts and bonds from his childhood still format his life and that he believes the same is true for most families.