The Loneliest People in the Whole Wide World

“Mornings now, when I wake up, I have this springy, hopeful feeling, and I see that everything is worth it, after all.”

This line from Morgan’s Passing is my favorite quote from a book, ever. No surprise that I also love the book. It’s the story of a man named Morgan who’s bored by his tedious job, his inattentive wife and dismissive children. He has a closet full of costumes, and the one joy in his life is wearing them out in public and pretending to be someone else (a doctor, a French artist, an itinerant Russian priest). I would hate Morgan in real life, but in fictional form I think he’s wonderful. It’s also the story of his friend Emily, who is one half of a couple that makes their living as puppeteers. I’ve always wanted to be like Emily, who never seems to be weighed down by material possessions and lives a stark, simple existence. Morgan’s name is in the title, but I think Emily is the real main character. The book takes a lot of care to describe her inner life and difficult marriage. Emily feels real, whereas Morgan is always kind of cartoonish.

Morgan’s Passing examines how marriage and aging change a person–how they become more like their partner, and what parts of them remain untouched by outside influence. It’s a fascinating subject but (like all of Tyler’s books), the introspection it causes the reader can be a bit depressing. Anne Tyler is the only adult fiction author that I am willing to get sad for. I think it’s because her books are so thought-provoking.

Morgan’s Passing is not for everyone. It’s one of Tyler’s quirkiest books, and I think some people would be upset by the ending. As for me–I love it. I’ve read it many times and never get tired of it.