Digging to America Book written by Anne Tyler

Pulitzer Prize winner, Anne Tyler has brought a fictional group of characters to echt life in her 17th novel, Digging to America. Bonding twain immensely different families on a chance meeting at an airport, mavens all-American the adjourn Persian immigrants, she assimilates present US culture with a strong furiousness on patronship, parenting, traditions and accents it with a tender ro musical compositionce. I would consider Maryam Yaszdan to be Tylers, rally character, who after being in America for al near 40 years, good-tempered expressions identical a placesider.During the six-year span that these families lives intertwine, Maryams view of this plight resonates end-to-end inflicting bits of conflict and resentment. Friday, August 15, l997, a Balit more(prenominal) airport, two separate groups anxiously gathered, un defecate doingly, for the alike(p) plane to arrive, for the same reason to pick up their sister girls espouse from the same surface area, Korea .. Observing their ethnic differences, we see an American family entourage furnish with simplytons that read MOM, DAD. GANDMA, and GRANDPA (twice everywhere) silin truth balloons printed with ITS A GIRL half a dozen television set cameras, car seat, skirted bassinet and adequacy bubbling enthusiasm to be on the border gunstock of obnoxiousness.The another(prenominal)wise family, in a single line of three a young couple, foreign-looking, olive-skinned, (7) and an sr. woman, quietly awaited, no adoption flair, focused solely on the reach of their new baby. First to depart from the plan an Asian woman call for the Donaldsons. She introduces the family to Jin-Ho flashbulbs, cameras, a crowd of people to welcome the newborn.. A nonher Asian woman steps off, calling for the Yazdans Congratulations, this is Sooki, she state.(7) As the women were completing the transfers, mostone asked Is yours from Korea alike? (8) That answer started a lasting friendship and an improbable journey for two mismatched families. Bitsy and fasten Donaldson were a typical American family. I know these sounds like a 50s sitcom, save that was my impression. They lived in etiolated clapboard Colonial on a narrow street in Mount Washington. Bitsy was plain, extroverted and very opinionated, especially when it came to child rearing. She was adamant or so her focusing being the right way. fasten was a good provider, his mild spirit made him the perfect peacekeeper, smoothing aside impending disagreements when their large family visited. Having a baby would complete the picture, and Jin Ho did barely that along with mixing up the way an all-American family looks. It was curious to me that this typical American, family insisted on not changing the babys name, keeping her squared off haircut and snip offing her in Korean costumes. I can understand them wanting her to know close to her birth country and its culture, hardly I mat it was to an extreme.My conclusion was re levant, Jin Ho did resent not feeling as American as her friends when she got older. Maybe, Bitsys way was not of all time the right way, after all. Ziba and Sami Yazdan was Iranian-American. They met in college where Sami studied to be a teacher like his father, who died when he was 14 years old. aft(prenominal) they were married, Sami started to accomplishment for a real estate developer, in spite of his mother, Maryams unsounded reprimand, and made it his career. The couple moved into his companys newest development , a large, beautiful home in a Hunt Valley.Ziba was glamorous, bordering on more of a flashy appearance, she enjoyed her line of reasoning as an interior decorator. Sami was a dependable type and had indifference toward Iran and America. He would go into a litany of these Americans. , (80) when his relatives would visit. The list cover such issues as Americans obsession with logic and that its the reason theyre always suing each other, (81) Americas legal opini on that theyre an interest to the whole world, theyre immediate directness to fall in up to people, and my personal favorite, theyre do-your-own-thing kind of culture.(82)Even with this attitude, Sami refused to speak Farsi, as his relatives did frequently, and conversed barely in English. During these tirades , Maryam, would be verbotenraged, at Sami, reminding him sternly American born, American raised, never been anywhere else how can you say these things? Youre American yourself (82) She would continue with the constraints of brisk in Iran having to be cautious of every word you spoke, having to keep every opinion to yourself and the need to always be aware of who may be listening. Maryam would end with the always-useful adage, You take it for granted, is the problem. (83)In complete contrast to Samis anti-American comments, he and Ziba were determined to study the American dream realized for Sooki. , and unlike the Donaldsons, they without delay changed her name to Susan . The Yazdan-Donaldsons relationship began with Bitsy and one of many an(prenominal) family gatherings. She phoned the only Yazdans in the phone book, to invite them to a leaf raking caller. Bitsy told Maryam, who was babysitting Susan, that she treasured the girls to know each other, she felt it was important for them to maintain their cultural heritage.They au sotic the invitation, which included Maryam, since both sets of Jin Hos grandparents, would also be there. Ziba was a little insecure, besides the babies ,she didnt have over a good deal in familiar since the Donaldsons were much older, Maryam going would lighten the take downt, and give her support. Leaf raking party was just that, everyone raked leaves. The usual my baby this and my baby that banter commenced and at multiplication made Ziba questioned her mothering capabilities. Was she doing everything wrong?Jin Ho was already eating food, Susan was still on the bottle. Should she be wearing more black and white clothes like Bitsy, because babies didnt see in color? Moreover, the biggest controversy should she be a stay at home mom. Maryam interrupted, seeing Zibas frustration, saying how much she looked forward to her couple of days watching Susan, but Bitsys disapproval still showed.. Bitsy and fastens parents arrived and then the grandparent baby banter began.After the raking, supper was served. Bitsy state We certainly love your cuisine,this opened a conversation about Iran. Pat, secures mother asked if they had any trouble during the Iranian hostage crisis, Ziba give tongue to she was already in America then everyone glanced at Maryam, Oh, possibly a little, (29) she reluctantly said, steering the talk back to a safe subject, the girls. After that night, the two families got unneurotic often, although Maryam politely declined, when invited. Ziba and Sami celebrated the Iranian New stratum with her parents, so Maryam stopped having a formal celebration, except for this spring.Zib a wanted the Donaldsons to be a part of theyre tradition so she persuaded Maryam to have the celebration at her house Normally Maryam would be willing, but her thoughts were raffish with Why should they have to put on these ethnic demonstrations? Let the Donaldsons go to the Smithsonian for that Let them read the National Geographic Just thoughts, she never would say them aloud, and agreed to the party. A few weeks before the party, Sami took Maryam to Rockville for exotic ingredients to make the traditional Iranian dishes.She told him When I first came to this country, your grandmother had to mail most of my spices from Iran. (37) Maryam was 19 years old going to America for an arranged marriage to Kiyan. She had met him in Iran, but he went to America earlier to start his job as a teacher, they married via telephone and grew to love each other very much. In those days, all their couple friends were Iranian, in the same situation. She wondered where all those people were now, moved to other cities, political differences separated them, Who supported the Shah? Who did not? (37) and since Kiyans death she felt she didnt belong in that two-by-two circle. (37)Maryam, perhaps because she was widowed for so long, became more critical, having to pay close attention to her mannerisms around people. She tended to come of as refined and unapproachable, when she was in reality kind and loving. Working in an office at a the day care center, Susan would eventually attend, she had many single friends, both Iranian and American, She had an active social life, but she strengthened the toughest invisible wall around her heart, never letting any man go beyond it. At least not until, Bitsys father, Dave.On the yearly anniversary of the day the girls arrived, Bitsy wanted to have an stretch Party,(56) she named it to celebrate the event. equal to a birthday party, with a Korean desert, cover and candles, and the showing of the moving-picture show taken at the airport. Brad was concerned it would be too much for Bitsy, since her mother had a set back with her cancer but this was just the diversion she needed. The day quickly came and the first to arrive were Zibas parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hakimi, very exotic, they entered in a very respectful manner. Next to arrive Bitsy and Brads family, then the Yardans.Susan was in a pretty party dress and Jin Ho in a full Korean costume. The girls played together unaware of any differences between them or their families. Childhood simplicity, if we all could lodge in that frame of mind, how pleasant the world would be. Bitsy had a specific line up starting with a theme song, Shell Be Coming troll the Mountain , sung by the guests, as the girls blew out the candles, on their Stars and banding cake, then the telecasting Bitsy apologized that it was just of Jin Ho and if they had known Susan would be approaching they would have taped her too. Oh, thats okay, Ziba said. I have the memorymy head. (67)As the vi deo went on and on and onBitsy suddenly cried We did get her in We did (73) Susan was there. The Arrival Party would be an annual event, alternating houses. This celebration would be the asylum of the Zardan and Donaldsons relationship and the development of Jin Ho and Susans friendship. It would also direct two lonely people, both mourning the loss of theyre veritable loves, Maryam and Dave, together. The following year the Yazdans threw the bash, with a few extra people, Ziba had relatives tour from Iran and Bitsys two brothers and theyre families attended.The only missing people were Brads parents, who went on a cruise and Connie, Bitsys mom who passed away. Maryam gave Dave some advice on coping with his loss and fears that accompany the sadness. Arrival Party fall two was underway song, cake and video to mark another year. Brad and Bitsy also announced they would be adopting another baby girl from china . It was the Donaldsons turn the 3rd year and it was starting to be a competition, at least for Bitsy, who felt the Yazdans had changed the rules, (111) by serving a full dinner instead of just deserts. In full travail mode, she planned her diner, canaps and all.The Arrival Party came fast and went smoothly, Maryam and Daves elflike talk was lighter, most of the time, and a bit flirty. Dave did talk about how heavily it was watching Connie die, he felt guilty at times that he didnt have more patience with her towards the end. Maryam understood, as no one could, she watched her husband die the same way. Their friendship deepened. Song time came, cake and video. Sami and Ziba bought a larger home, just three blocks from the Donaldsons. Maryam was watching Susan when Dave called and asked if he could express Jin Ho over to play. She agreed.He wanted to stay, instead of just dropping her off. He had a cup of coffee and Maryam continued her cooking, suddenly insisting he didnt have to stay, she would bring Jin Ho home. He left bewildered. Maryam felt him getting through her invisible wall and sealed it quickly. She went to Vermont to visit a friend, avoiding Dave or probably avoiding having feelings for him. When she returned home she visited Bitsy to thank her for pickings care of Susan opus she was away. Bitsy chose this time to champion on her fathers behalf, My father thinks youre wonderful, she said.Would you go out to dinner with him? (151) Maryam subconsciously knew he felt this way but, she kept grievous herself her he was just a widower needing company. She diverted the subject, which she has a easiness of doing. Arrival Party time again, Yazdans turn and there persuasion of serving a whole roast lamb. (153) The celebration was starting to be more like I can do better than you, than about the girls. Maryam was helping with the arrangements and Ziba babbled about Dave, this time Maryam spoke up, Im Iranian hes American . . .(154) What difference does that make? (154) Ziba asked.Maryam talked about her friend Farah and what a point her American husband makes about her foreignness. It seems shes not really Farah at all shes Madame Iran. (154) Ziba insisted Dave wasnt like that, but Maryam still felt like a foreigner after over 40 years and to be with an American would make her feel it even stronger. The Arrival Party came, same chitchat, festivities and a farewell for Bitsy and Brad impulsion off to China. Dave took every opportunity, while watching Jin Ho to visit Maryam.And by the time the Donaldsons came home with Xiu Mei, Dave had sneaked inside Maryams protective rampart and they were dating. The Yazdans threw the undermentioned Arrival Party because Xiu Mei had been sickly, in and out of hospitals. The event was slightly different the girls joined in the singing and the video went basically unobserved. The next event was more energetic, the annual leaf-raking party. Dave had Maryam sit in a chair and instructed the girls to sprinkle loot on her head, Maryam, Dave said. Will you bond me? (208) Instead of answering, she looked at the girls to see what they put on her head.It should have been conelike to go with the Iranian custom and it should have been grown women holding the sugar to symbolize their happy marriages. He probably thought he was doing something good, but she felt it should of been accepte exactly as its suppose to be done, or not at all. As these thoughts filled her head she said, Yes. (208) Everyone cheered. The next day Maryam went to Sami and Zibas and told them she only said yes because she was embarrassed not too. He is so American, (213) I dont have my own separate self.(213)She felt bad and hoped it wouldnt affect theyre friendship with the Donaldsons. A year went by before she bumped into Dave again, he was picking up Jin Ho the same time she was picking up Susan at dancing school. They did theyre little small talk dance, except he told her Bitsy had cancer. She felt his inconvenience and knew all the memories of Connie must have come rushing back. When she returned home, she wrote Bitsy a pecker and offered asked if she could be of any help. Maryam was now noticing how lonely she was the past year. How alive she felt with Dave, doing couple things.Maybe the feelings she had were stronger than she realized and the ones about feeling like a foreigner were not as important. One morning, Bitsy called to thank her for the note, they got caught up and both said how much they missed each other. Bitsy asked if she would attend the Arrival Party coming up. Maryam said she would think about it, but didnt want anyone to feel awkward. Pondering to go or not, Maryam something Kiyan once said came to mind, I dont know why truly good people always make me sad. (263) She decided she would go and helped Ziba with the details. The party started and everyone was there, except for Maryam.When Ziba looked in the dinning direction all the Donaldsons had left, she was devastated so Sami called his mother. She answered, not understa nding Samis tone, but said she fully intended on going she just overslept. He told her the Donaldsons left and it was safe for her to go over. She insisted she had all intentions of being there. Maryam then heard Bitsy outside her window, people kept yelling and knocking, she didnt answer. Finally, she looked out the window and saw all the Donaldsons walking toward their cars. Maryam called, Wait for me (277) The two families would celebrate, yet another Arrival PartyThe imprint of these families, meeting by chance growing in love and friendship by choice, depicts that no matter what culture or mixture of cultures, come together what really constitutes a bond is the right choice. In making that choice taking into consideration the respect of others beliefs, opinions, insecurities and strengthens. The Donaldsons and Yardans, American and Iranian families brought two other cultures into their circle two little girls from Korea and one from China. When you put all these pieces togethe r, what would theyre families culture be? I say theyre culture is acceptance.