Digging to America

Two families meet at Baltimore Airport in 1997 while awaiting their adopted Korean infant daughters. The Yazdan family - Iranian-American professionals Sami and Ziba - and the Dickinson-Donaldson family - suburban Americans Brad and Bitsy - form an unexpected connection that shapes their lives for years to come. The families approach raising their daughters with contrasting philosophies about cultural identity and assimilation. Their annual "Arrival Party" celebration becomes a tradition that brings together American, Korean, and Iranian customs, even as tensions occasionally surface between the families' different worldviews and parenting choices. The narrative expands beyond the core families to explore romance between the older generation, cultural belonging, and what it means to be "American." Tyler examines how identity forms through both inheritance and choice, weaving together themes of family, immigration, and the search for connection across cultural boundaries.

Readers appreciate Tyler's exploration of cultural identity and assimilation through two families adopting Korean babies. Many note her attention to small family dynamics and ability to capture realistic relationships. Readers liked: - The nuanced portrayal of cultural differences - Complex, believable characters, especially Maryam - Realistic family interactions and dialogue - Humor in everyday situations Readers disliked: - Slow pacing, especially in middle sections - Too many characters to track - Some found the plot unfocused - Limited development of the adopted children One reader called it "a meditation on what it means to be American," while another noted it "lacks the emotional depth of Tyler's earlier works." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.6/5 (18,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4/5 (200+ reviews) LibraryThing: 3.7/5 (800+ ratings) The book scores highest among readers who enjoy character-driven narratives and cultural examination, lower among those seeking plot-driven stories.

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🔸 The novel's recurring "Arrival Party" celebrations were inspired by similar real-life adoption ceremonies that became popular in the 1990s among families who adopted internationally. 🔸 Anne Tyler, who won the Pulitzer Prize for "Breathing Lessons" (1988), has set nearly all of her novels in Baltimore, Maryland, making her one of the city's most celebrated literary voices. 🔸 International adoption from Korea peaked in the 1980s, with over 65,000 Korean children being adopted by American families between 1970-1980. 🔸 The character Maryam's experiences draw from the significant Iranian-American immigration wave following the 1979 Iranian Revolution, when approximately 300,000 Iranians came to the United States. 🔸 The book's title "Digging to America" references a childhood game played by one of the characters, symbolizing the immigrant's journey to find their place in American society.