Anne Tyler: Three Complete Novels: A Patchwork Planet / Ladder of Years / Saint Maybe

by Anne Tyler

She's one of America's finest contemporary novelists, winning many awards for her work--including a Pulitzer Prize. Anne Tyler is both literary and popular, one of the few writers whose high sales match her critical acclaim. Now you can enjoy three of her more recent bestsellers in one low-priced, attractively packaged hardcover.

Genres: Fiction, Novels

1008 pages, Hardcover

First published October 28, 2001

About the author

Anne Tyler was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1941 and grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina. She graduated at nineteen from Duke University and went on to do graduate work in Russian studies at Columbia University. She has published 20 novels, her debut novel being If Morning Ever Comes in (1964). Her eleventh novel, Breathing Lessons , was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1988. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Reviews

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Ladder of Years" is one of the best books I read as a young (35 something) woman. It speaks to mothers who reach a point of frustration with growing children and a husband, although successful, has forgotten what a marriage really means. Her journey away but to herself is significant and so very real. Never do I see a young mother sitting alone on the beach and do not think of "Ladder of Years".

[Adnan Soysal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still finished this book though I decided to stop a couple of times due what I find as detailed side tracking from the main flow.
But I found the story very interesting. Protagonist, Barnaby, is a man around his 30s working in a company that helps elderly people's at their house works.
Barnaby's relation with his wealthy family is not good; because during his teenage years he had burglarious their neighbours together with his friends.
Though he did not steal anything, he dive into peoples private life.
All this resulted complains, and financial consequences for his family. He has a debt to his family, and he did not study, and ended up in this job.
Hi had a short marriage, from which he had a daughter.
His divorced wife lives in another city, married to a lawyer. And Barnaby visits his daughter regularly .
In of these train trips he meets with Sophia, and starts a relation. His past will haunt him in this relation.

One of the elder person he works for is Sophia's aunt. And one day she accuses Barnaby of stealing her money from the floor bin where she hides her money.
Barnaby denies this, . And to protect Barnaby from the accusation, Sophia puts all her savings into floor bin.
But after a while Sophia's aunt recalls that she took the money herself from the bin, and put somewhere else.
But Sophia keeps her money still there with the risk that her aunt may find it and take it.
This situation creates frustration at Barnaby feeling as of taken hostage by Sophia.

I found story very interesting, and the plot is also very good. Protagonist Barnaby narrates the story.
Entire novel is series of small talks loaded with psyche. Author is very good at portraying the sphere; reader feels it.
Dialogues are very realistic. There is continues suspense as if something will change the life of Barnaby.
I also liked very much author gives sharp twist to flow; all of a sudden one chapter starts with Sophia's aunt accusing Barnaby of stealing her money. This increases the suspense even more.

Author leaves the reader suspicious about the everyone around Barnaby's live. Are they good or evil,
Is Barnaby's naivety is stupidity or wisdom. Novel ends in a mundane way with these questions hanging in the air.

[Susan Kerr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Ladder of Years, just the thought of a responsible mother of grown children, wife of a doctor, walking out on her life without really intending to, but then keeping on going, making a new life, discovering calmly, without angst who (or if) she is. A Patchwork Planet also features a misfit (aren't we all misfits?) but this time a young man. This book I read and analysed with the creative writing class I taught (we read 1 book a term as writers, talk about character, structure, voice, style etc). The more I read and thought about it, the richer the book became. Anne Tyler is a very deep and observant writer, rich with relationships and character, clear on society and our times... even though the initial impression is of slight, light domestic life.
I confess I have not read Saint Maybe, nor this actual trilogy, but as my first Goodreads review this gave me the chance to review two excellent, warm but unsentimental contemporary novels in one go.

[Emily]

got it because i liked her other books, but hated this. gave up 1/2 way through.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

i have read ten of her books

[Joyce Sigler · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best character crafters American writing has ever produced. Superb!

[Janet Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy read, interesting, enjoyed it.