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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I related to the protagonist in the sense that she likely walked away from her family on account of feeling I visible and unappreciated but I didn’t find the arc of her story to be all that interesting, to be honest, because she essentially moves to another town to establish herself with a new family and similar responsibilities
A thoughtful, poised, beautifully written piece of literature. I felt like i was in the novel watching everything happen and unfold. Delia, it has to be said, is another favourite character of mine.
Leaving her life to continue a journey she didn't even know existed. Almost gives you the confidence to be able to drop everything, walk away and start from scratch and know you would survive doing so!!
I think Anne Tyler has become a must read author for me and wished I had stumbled upon her way before now. Thank you for this truly inspiring and heartwarming novel.
Leaving her life to continue a journey she didn't even know existed. Almost gives you the confidence to be able to drop everything, walk away and start from scratch and know you would survive doing so!!
I think Anne Tyler has become a must read author for me and wished I had stumbled upon her way before now. Thank you for this truly inspiring and heartwarming novel.
Other reviewers have encapsulated the plot, so won't go into detail about it. Basically, it's the story of what happens to a woman when one day she just decides to walk away from her life, and what she finds.
I did enjoy this book; there were times, in fact, where I couldn't put it down. The beginning was slow, and a tad out of place - the main character, Delia, has an affair that never really goes anywhere. I suppose it's the impetus for her moving, but it still seems like that part of the book is out of place, somehow. There was enough within her own psyche and the dynamics of her marriage to have her make the move without bringing in a character who didn't stay throughout the book.
Once Delia leaves, I find the book really compelling. It contains all the trademarks of a great Tyler read. There is quirky characters, funny moments, poignant moments, beautiful imagery, budding romance. This is where I couldn't put it down. Everyone in the book is so well drawn that I could picture them. I empathized with them. I thought I understood them.
Until the ending, which, as other have mentioned, is the weak link of the novel. I was so frustrated by the ending that I nearly tossed the book across the room in frustration. And I'm STILL not even sure I understand which life Delia chose (although I can guess), and, more to the point, WHY.
The one last thing I will say about the book, because I want to end on a positive note, is that a few of my friends are now interested in reading this, and I think when they do it will lead to some interesting discussion. The one good thing about a Tyler novel is that she always leaves you with something to think about. So while I wouldn't read it twice, and it's not on par with Breathing Lessons or Accidental Tourist, it is better than, say, Tin Can Tree or Earthly Possessions. It's worth reading.
I did enjoy this book; there were times, in fact, where I couldn't put it down. The beginning was slow, and a tad out of place - the main character, Delia, has an affair that never really goes anywhere. I suppose it's the impetus for her moving, but it still seems like that part of the book is out of place, somehow. There was enough within her own psyche and the dynamics of her marriage to have her make the move without bringing in a character who didn't stay throughout the book.
Once Delia leaves, I find the book really compelling. It contains all the trademarks of a great Tyler read. There is quirky characters, funny moments, poignant moments, beautiful imagery, budding romance. This is where I couldn't put it down. Everyone in the book is so well drawn that I could picture them. I empathized with them. I thought I understood them.
Until the ending, which, as other have mentioned, is the weak link of the novel. I was so frustrated by the ending that I nearly tossed the book across the room in frustration. And I'm STILL not even sure I understand which life Delia chose (although I can guess), and, more to the point, WHY.
The one last thing I will say about the book, because I want to end on a positive note, is that a few of my friends are now interested in reading this, and I think when they do it will lead to some interesting discussion. The one good thing about a Tyler novel is that she always leaves you with something to think about. So while I wouldn't read it twice, and it's not on par with Breathing Lessons or Accidental Tourist, it is better than, say, Tin Can Tree or Earthly Possessions. It's worth reading.
A classic Anne Tyler novel, with flawed characters. I really liked this book until the very last chapter. It made me so angry! I wanted so much more for Delia and I don't like how the author handled the ending for this character. I would have given this four stars, but the last chapter was a major step backwards and almost ruined the whole boom for me.
I always enjoy reading Anne Tyler, because her style is so engaging and her characters amusing and likable. Her lovely turns of phrase: "three chairs stood at offended-looking angles to each other". Or "His little hands reminded her of biscuits, that kind with a row of fork holes pricked on top".
But they start to get a bit samey. The characters are always amusing and likable in the same kind of way. They do the same kind of things. The family here initially reminded me of [b:The Accidental Tourist|60792|The Accidental Tourist|Anne Tyler|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1327936319s/60792.jpg|1070136]. And the big family meal near the end is very like the one that ends [b:Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant|77699|Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant|Anne Tyler|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1333578676s/77699.jpg|75046]. Like another reviewer, I did love Nat's comment at this point in the story, which also applies to the Homesick Restaurant dinner:
But still, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it; Delia is such an entertaining character and her life in Bay Borough is full of hilarious episodes. Except for the ending, which I found really disappointing. I expect Tyler's endings to provoke some sort of revelation or catharsis for the main character, but this one didn't.
So not her best book; I think The Accidental Tourist is still my favourite.
But they start to get a bit samey. The characters are always amusing and likable in the same kind of way. They do the same kind of things. The family here initially reminded me of [b:The Accidental Tourist|60792|The Accidental Tourist|Anne Tyler|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1327936319s/60792.jpg|1070136]. And the big family meal near the end is very like the one that ends [b:Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant|77699|Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant|Anne Tyler|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1333578676s/77699.jpg|75046]. Like another reviewer, I did love Nat's comment at this point in the story, which also applies to the Homesick Restaurant dinner:
There's a picture I'm reminded of that [C. R. Savage] took toward the end of his life. Shows his dining room table set for Christmas dinner. Savage himself sitting amongst the empty chairs, waiting for his family. Chair after chair after chair, silverware laid just so, even a baby's high chair, all in readiness. And I can't help thinking, when I look at that photo, I bet that's as good as it got, that day. From there on out, it was all downhill, I bet. Actual sons and daughters arrived, and they quarreled over the drumsticks and sniped at their children's table manners and brought up hurtful incidents from fifteen years before; and the baby had this whimper that gave everybody a headache. Only just for that moment . . . just as the shutter was clicking, none of that had happened yet, you see, and the table looked so beautiful, like someone's dream of a table, and old Savage felt so happy and so -- what's the word I want, so . . . anticipatory!'
But still, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it; Delia is such an entertaining character and her life in Bay Borough is full of hilarious episodes. Except for the ending, which I found really disappointing.
Spoiler
I thought Delia had changed and grown. But she just goes back to where she came from; nothing has really changed, and her family will go on taking her for granted. I'm not saying I wanted her to have a "happy ending" with Joel, but I'd have liked her year away to be more than just a holiday from her family.So not her best book; I think The Accidental Tourist is still my favourite.
I liked this book despite that fact that I could not relate to Deliah in the slightest. It is my second Anne Tyler book (the other was The Amateur Marriage) and I am starting to wonder what Anne Tyler has against marriage! There are a lot of characters in this book that come and go but I guess they are there to show how settled Deliah has become in Bay Borough. Loved the references to my hometown and Maryland's Eastern Shore. My only real problem with the book is the ending. I found it very unsatisfying.
A promising story but the ending was so surprisingly meaningless. A woman's journey of self discovery ended up in such trivial resolution.