Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing, but an honest view of adulthood.
Review: This was my first Anne Tyler novel and it was disappointing. The theme held such promise (we are not who we intended to be) but was never developed. It just hung there in the background, occassionally coming to light and just as quickly pushed back again. As I read the book I kept hoping the main character would spend more time exploring what her life should have been. The only clue here is that she thought she would marry another but again, she never reveals what she thought her life should have been; only that "this" wasn't it.The best parts of the novel quite accurately depict a matron's role in family life--selfless and unappreciated. Every eldest daughter of a family should be able to identify with this character. Lastly, we are able to glimpse the truth that others see us in a different way than we see ourselves...whether we like it or not.
Rating: 
Summary: Touching, Humorous, Intriging
Review: I read this book first, then my husband also did and we both enjoyed it!
Rating: 
Summary: You Don't Have To Be 54 To Love Back When We were Grown Ups
Review: This is a lovely Anne Tyler novel. It could almost be called a coming of age novel, if coming of age were to be mid fifties. There are lovely passages and the story is intriguing. Anne Tyler is a wise and wonderful writer and her characters are true and real and cut from the woof and warp of life. Some are beyong strange but they are always believable. l enjoyed this book very much and recommend it to all ages.
Rating:
Summary: Exceptional!
Review: This is the first book of Anne Tyler's I have read, and it is truly outstanding. The characters were wonderful and interesting. I think this will certainly make the nominees for this years book awards.
Rating:
Summary: like sisters on the homefront
Review: I REALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK BECAUSE IT TRULY PORTRAYS THE LIFE OF A 14 YEAR OLD MOTHER AND HER STRUGGLES WITH LIFE IN NEWYORK CITY. THE TAKES INSIDE THE BRAIN OF FOURTEEN YEAR OLD THAT IS FORCED TO GROW UP TO FAST. GAYLE MUST DEAL WITH MANY THINGS AT THE AGE OF 14 SHE IS FORCED TO UNDERGO AN ABORTION BY HER MOTHER.THE BABYS FATHER WANTS HER TO GIVE THE BABY AWAY FOR ABORTION AND TROY HER NEW BOYFRIEND FOOL AROUND WITH GIRLS FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD.I DID NOT LIKE THE ENDING OF THE BOOK. LIKE SISTERS ON THE HOMEFRONT BY RITA WILLIAMS-GARCIA
Rating:
Summary: Not brilliant, but at least it's Anne Tyler
Review: I must say that I have to agree with a few other comments in other rviews regarding characters names. In the beginning I found it a bit annoying to read names like NoNo and I kept thinking, "Why does Anne Tyler keep saying this man is gay when he has a wife?" Well, the names get straightened out, and the gay husband explained, but the names still annoy and the gay character, while refreshing (I believe it's the first time a gay character has appeared in a Tyler novel) in concept, is little more than a stock figure. I agree that many of Beck's children and grandchildren are whiny and annoying. But that's the case, often, in real life, and unless we remove ourselves from our families, we're stuck with them. As Beck's story continues, I found myself interested enough about her to ignore the pricklings of annoyance I felt when some selfish relation appeared. It's to Tyler's credit that I found myself caring in the end for Beck and her resolution. Not a great book, but a so-so Anne Tyler novel is still miles better than most. I would recommend a different book, though - Ladder of Years, Breathing Lessons or especially Searching for Caleb (my absolute favorite) to anyone reading Anne Tyler for the first time.
Rating:
Summary: Back when we were grownups
Review: You must be brave and honest to read this book if you are in the 40-50 yr old age group. Anne Tyler did it again!
Rating: 
Summary: Book seemed full of promise but deliverd little
Review: When one is in a rut it is easy to ask myself "Is this really my life? It doesn't seem like this is me." This book is about one such person asking this question. Her Name is rebecca, and she is a widow running her deceased husbands business. She had one child with her husband and she has three step children of his. AS adults they are all completly self-centered and seem to be lacking any intelligence. While depressed she calls upon her High School sweetheart who she walked out on years before. She reflects upon that period with him as the time she was a grownup becouse she feels she knew more then than she knows now. In real life we call this maturity. However, at the end she realizes that her real life is the one she made for herself, not something that you can recapture by regressing. Some of the names you will have to endure being repeated in this book include, NoNo, Jeep, Patch, Poppy, Min Foo, Zeb, and Biddy. Hearing these names repeated throughout the novel becomes grating after a while. The book seemed to promise much but delivered little.
Rating:
Summary: Exquisitely written, but a bit disappointing
Review: I've long loved Anne Tyler's books, enjoy the Baltimore setting and her finely tuned characterizations. So when I read the first chapter excerpt, I just had to read the whole book. Here I am, 54, rethinking my life, trying to figure out how to proceed, how to change some things to make the next few years more rewarding, needing some gentle, impartial adult guidance, absent of cliches. This could be my story, or at least I could get a couple of pointers on how to behave if I return to school or take some other course of action. Don't get this book for this reason, unless you want confirmation that you've already done the best you could, that you just need an attitude change. As for pulling the reader into a well told life, it's exquisite, very well written, with very interesting characters.
Rating:
Summary: Most women's lives!
Review: I truly could not put this book down. I was anxious to find out how Rebecca's life would turn out in the path she took, almost as if it was a map for my own life. Although my own life is vastly different than the character's, I truly recognized her feelings as I believe most women of a certain age will. Right after reading this I "insisted" that many of my friends "had to read this". I felt the same way about Ann Tyler's Breathing Lessons also. No wonder this author is a Pulitzer Prize winner. Definitely a must read.
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