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A review by veronicafrance
Ladder of Years by Anne Tyler
3.0
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.