“Redhead by the Side of the Road” is a short book that I enjoyed so much I finished it in one day.  Author Anne Tyler has written 22 novels and is known for her well-developed characters.  After you read one of her books, you feel like you would know a character if you met him or her on the street.  Each of her books is different from any other others you have read.

“Redhead by the Side of the Road” is similar to other Anne Tyler novels in its character development.  Micah Mortimer, the central character, is a creature of habit who likes his world to be orderly.  He works for himself and keeps people at a distance.  But he loves his sisters and tolerates with the chaos they bring into his life.

Then, in one unexpected day, a teenager who thinks Micah is his father shows up and asks to stay in Micah’s guest room.  And Micah’s woman friend lets him know she might be evicted from her apartment.  The heart of the book centers around how Micah deals with these disruptions.  Will he open his heart or maintain his ordered life?  And who is that redhead that he sees every morning when he jogs?

“Redhead by the Side of the Road” is a perfect little book with a central character that struck a chord with me.  I like things calm and orderly.  But orderly can also get boring after a while.  The book reminded me of another novel I also loved, “A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman.  If you liked that book, I think you will like this book.

The ending of “Redhead” is so perfect!  I’m not going to give it away here.  I read the last chapter three times because I loved it so much.  If you read the book, let me know what you think.