Rating: 
Summary: Ordinary lives, extraordinary lessons
Review: Anne Tyler mines the lives of an ordinary, middle-class Baltimore family and achieves extraordinary effects in Saint Maybe, arguably her best novel. Saint Maybe traces the subtle, yet complete transformation of Ian Bedloe, a genial 17-year-old paralyzed with guilt after he plays a role in the "accidental" death of his older brother. Searching for relief, Ian discovers the Church of the Second Chance, a new purpose for his life, and eventual redemption. Like many of Tyler's previous works, including The Accidental Tourist and the Pulitzer-Prize winning Breathing Lessons, Saint Maybe examines how unpredictable events jolt even the most mundane lives. In the aftermath of domestic tragedy, the Bedloe family declines and rallies in ways that are occasionally shocking, yet completely logical. The depiction of Ian's evolution is especially masterful; while his transformation is both radical and extraordinary, never once does it seem unrealistic or strained. The joy of reading Saint Maybe lies largely in its endearing, familiar characters: as in other Tyler novels, they are sometimes foolish, frequently eccentric, and always thoroughly human. Even minor players get their turn in the spotlight: the awkward foreign graduate students who live near the Bedloes; the overeager yet supportive parishioners at the Church of the Second Chance. In this novel, every character, however bumbling or marginal, has important lessons to deliver. Therein lies Tyler's greatest strength: the compassion and humor with which she examines both her characters and the mundane world in which they live. She finds lyricism and meaning everywhere: in her capable hands, musty linen closets, spiritless summer camp, and even a late night trip to the grocery store become imbued with significance. Saint Maybe is both luminous and sublime: a beautiful tribute to the drama of the commonplace.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Good. A Nice Story
Review: You can read the plot description for yourself. If you want serious yet entertaining fiction this is it. I've read many of Anne Tyler's novels and this isn't the best, but it is very very good. She's a wonderful writer. Don't miss out on this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Didn't make sense
Review: I'm not sure why I finished this book. I guess I kept waiting for it to "save itself" and it didn't.
1. The basic premise is flawed. I just don't buy the fact that a 5 year old girl could hide all the papers from her dead mother from her adopted family. Sorry.
2. I didn't see the appeal of the church. Why was he drawn to it except for this "forgiveness" business which wasn't adequately explained.
3. Ian decides to raise these kids just because the minister says so. His parents just take them in. Just not buying it.
4. Ian even finds the grandmother. He's talking to her and she knows who he is and she doesn't ask about meeting her own grandkids? She's not even curious to see them or ask about them?? I just can't imagine it.
5. I really objected to the way she talked about "the foreigners". She made them all sound like idiots. It wasn't even clear what university they were going to. The English errors they made weren't even realistic. This could have been an amusing part of the story, sure some English errors are funny but with a bit of realism and respect. They were just labelled "Middle Eastern" and then painted as simpletons. Is this how the author sees "Middle Easterners".
6. None of the characters had any depth. I didn't feel I knew any of them or what made them tick. The sister Claudia is just a baby machine. Daphne is a flake. Lucy is a man-hunter. Ian is very Christian. Bea is the housekeeper. Doug is the retired Dad. The young Doug is a sucker. Agatha is the Studious Serious One. Each character is a sterotype.
The author has a very dry style of writing which she goes into inante detail on everyday things. I'm sure some people find this somehow attractive but it kind of got on my nerves. She would have gotten away with it if she had had a good story to tell but she didn't.
Rating:
Summary: A haunting, wonderfullly sad tale
Review: Despite the many life-altering, sad, depressing occurances that happen in this book and the theme of death happening to a family that runs through this novel, this is not a terribly depressing book. Yes many sad things do happen and you witness the characters disillusionment, but honestly the unfaltering faith of Ian in himself and his love for his family keeps this novel moving and keeps it from sticking on the mopey side. It is such a touching novel and so clearly depicts the variances one single family can have along with some of the worst tragedies a family can face...this is a lovely coming of age novel.
Rating:
Summary: Elegant
Review: Love how all the characters weave in and out of this splendid coming of age story. Especially the kids characters, Daphne, Agatha and Thomas. One of the the things I noticed I like about Tyler's writing style is she can provoke your senses without a lot of vulgar language and graphic sex stuff that other authors tend to use freely. It makes her storytelling very elegant and satisfying. Highly recommend this beautiful story!
Rating:
Summary: Actions have consequences
Review: Ian is the youngest child of the Bedloe family. His brother Danny marries a woman, Lucy, with two children, Agatha and Thomas. Subsequently Ian becomes suspicious of the morals of Danny's wife and shares his misgivings with Danny. Danny dies when he crashes his automobile. Ian feels responsible for Danny's death.
The story is told from shifting viewpoints, first Ian, then Agatha, Thomas, Daphne. While Ian is away at college he receives a call from his mother telling him that his brother's widow Lucy has died. Ian learns from a former babysitter that Lucy had been a shoplifter and was not going out to meet a lover that evening before Danny's accident. This of course changed things in Ian's estimation since even he had shoplifted with his friends.
When Ian returns home for Christmas break Lucy's three children are still with his parents and the laundry is undone and the presents are unwrapped. He busies himself performing the chores. Returning from his vacation job as a mover Ian passes the Church of the Second Chance. Ian learns there that he has to offer God reparations if he wants to be forgiven.
Ian drops out of college and apprentices himself to a furniture maker to help his parents raise the children. By the time two of the children are young teenagers Ian feels as if he has been atoning and atoning and is beginning to hate God for not forgiving him. The minister tells Ian to view his burden as a gift and to lean into it. Raising the children and building furniture is his life. Ian, through an investigator, manages to locate the children's paternal grandmother.
Ian is told he has to forgive his brother and his wife. The children decide Ian should meet Daphne's teacher. Daphne uses the name Saint Maybe for Ian because he is so careful. When Ian's mother Bee dies, Daphne feels the vacancy keenly. Without Bee the house is a mess. Tthere are no provisions for the cat and so forth. Bee was the executive. Now everything and everyone still living at home look shabby. Daphne is still living at home at age 22. To put the house in order she hires a clutter counselor. I will not continue the story and ruin it for the reader. Suffice to say it is wonderful. This is the work of Anne Tyler that is most fully realized.
Rating:
Summary: Second Chances
Review: This was a very good read. Like many of Anne Tyler's other books the plot is well thought out, but with twists enough to keep us reading. I really became involved with the characters and found them to be so real sounding. I found traits in them that are in people I know. Ian and dealing with his guilt and grief will stay with me for a long time. I think we all, at times in our lives, have that desire to know what we can do to make atonement for the wrong(s) we've done in our lives. Did Ian find that? A great book, and a definate good look at guilt, religion, and what saves. But not just for the "religious" out there.
Rating:
Summary: Very Good. A Nice Story
Review: You can read the plot description for yourself. If you want serious yet entertaining fiction this is it. I've read many of Anne Tyler's novels and this isn't the best, but it is very very good. She's a wonderful writer. Don't miss out on this one.
Rating:
Summary: One of her best
Review: One of her best books, and the only one I can recall where she really deals with the subject of religion in depth. A great look at guilt & atonement from Ian's perspective.
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