Rating: 
Summary: How could one not relate to this beautiful story?
Review: Anyone with a family, anyone who has ever had to settle for anything in life, anyone who has ever received a blessing from a curse will relate to this story. Rebecca, at 53, wonders how she ended up where she did, and in the process of trying to reverse the last 30+ years, discovers her blessings and her true strengths. Rebecca reminds me of Magda Szubanski's character, Mrs. Hoggett, in the movies 'Babe I' and especially in 'Babe II'(although the stories are completely unrelated). Anne Tyler's pithy and elegant character development conjures up not only a physical resemblance, but the marvelously revealed self-realization that takes the observer from pity to admiration for this women who didn't think she had it in her. If Hollywood were ever to recognize the potential for this story on the big screen, Magda Szubanski would be perfection as Rebecca. (BTW, 'Babe II' is not a movie for children.)
Rating: 
Summary: A character study in family.
Review: Rebecca Davitch is 53 years old, widowed and rethinking her chosen path. Surrounded by family on more occasions then not, she is the instigator of parties and the glue that holds them all together. Parties have become a business for her over the years, and she is about to give the party of the century for Poppy, her aging relative and roommate who is about to turn 100 this year. The book travels back through time, and Rebecca relives her past and thinks over her choices, trying to remember who she was and how she has become this woman that stares back at her from the mirror. The author has created some richly illuminated, strong, and intelligent characters. Poppy makes us realize how much joy there is in the everyday sights, sounds, and smells of living. He was by far my favorite character. The book takes time to get going since the strong point is the development of the characters. Beautifully written she is an author with deep insight into the human spirit. The book reads like a lackadaisical trip through someone's old photo album.
Kelsana 5/03/02
Rating: 
Summary: You Can Do Better Anne
Review: Hoo boy. I expected much more from Anne Tyler, whose books "The Accidental Tourist" and "A Patchwork Planet" were, to me, unforgettable. First there is the problem that everyone in this book seems to be required to have some cutsie nickname. it left me begging for someone, anyone, not named something ridiculous. Beyond the annoying names, no one in this book made me care very much what happened to them. The only character who made me rise from my torpor at all was a workman who adores his wife, but the wife is bipolar and erratic. Nonetheless, he seemed to understand and cherish her. Well, that lasted a couple of paragraphs. The main character is dull, dull, dull. The premise--that she realizes that she has become the wrong person--is full of possibility. While I liked the occasional touch, such as the fact that her future husband gets the completely wrong first impression of her and she seems to take that mistake and run with it, most of the book just plods along. As another reviewer here has noted, when I got to the end, I felt cheated, let down. I felt I had invested more time than the novel was worth, a feeling I have never before had when finishing a Tyler novel. The only novel of hers I ever didn't like was "Celestial Navigation", and that was because it was so terribly sad, not because it just didn't deliver, like this one. Rebecca reminded me somewhat of the older lady the protagonist of "A Patchwork Planet" wastes his time on through much of that book. The difference is, that was one of my all-time favorites, and this was a dud. Try reading the dictionary, or better yet, the obituaries, instead.
Rating:
Summary: Nice story, characters ok.....
Review: I'm not a big Anne Tyler fan, and actually bought the book because I got it [at a good price] and thought it was by Anita Shreve (says a lot about how many books I bought with it - bet you can't guess!) But luckily my local library had the audiobook version, and for those of you that are my familiar with my reviews, you know that this is a very good thing! Nice story, although the characters are fairly unlikeable. I really wanted the main one to just get a backbone and a brain, but maybe I'm being overly harsh. Fairly painless to listen to, and the writer is excellent at portraying the insides of characters, and making them very true to life. I wouldn't be at all surprised if any of this was autobiographical. Very decent book.
Rating: 
Summary: A BIT CONFUSING...with NO RESOLUTION...
Review: I found the opening of the story, with the many characters (too many)a bit confusing to the centeral part of the story. Tyler, appeared to really focused on Rebecca and the events in her life; the adult/ children add any signifance to the storyline.
Poppy was waiting to celebrate his 100 birthday...? the assortment of children and their dysfrunctional lives...are not why "she is questioning herself imagine." I felt that Rebecca is much more than what was written, with a much stronger force driving her...she personality was only slightly developed
...if her only attraction to W. Allenby, as her only love, what is her definition/expectation of "LOVE?"
She was seaching... when she met the Davitch family. Arlice Prince
Rating:
Summary: great read, great characters, great insights
Review: This is a book that may not appeal to everyone, but I really cannot ask for much better entertainment. Everyone has quirky characters in their family, and Tyler's exagerations of these in the Davitch family really hits home. Sometimes I'd find myself laughting aloud after imagining some of my relatives behaving in ways not unlike those in the book. The road by which we get to where we are is always a bit whimsical, and this book makes one look back on one's life wondering about the possibilities. Take this book to read slowly on the beach this summer as you watch the waves roll in their endlessly variable pattern.
Rating: 
Summary: Nothing Really Happened!!
Review: To begin with, the book is slow, hard to get into. Characters w/ odd names come flooding in & throughout the book, it's difficult to keep them all straight.
Rebecca, the main character, is hopelessly searching for something. She flip-flops back & forth from feeling resentment towards her family to appreciating the chaotic way in which they all operate in a much unappreciative way towards her.
That's the main thing that got to me: She's a doormat to her family. Few consider her as a person. There are times where you're thinking, "Surely she's gonna let them have it now!". That would also contribute to some of the plot, but sadly- nothing.
So why two stars even? I loved poor Rebecca & felt such pity for her. I guess I had to finish the book to root her on. I also thought the premise of the story (what she was going through) was very true for so many women & found it comforting, even consoling. So, yeah, I suppose I would say read it. Only don't expect much to happen. This is my first book of Tyler's to read. I'll read more, as I suspect this one may not be the full extent as to the quality of her writing.
Rating:
Summary: A very good book and a missed opportunity.
Review: This is one of Tyler's better books. Once again it celebrates human relationships with humor, nuance, objectivity. No one can make simple plot lines more interesting than Tyler. A woman's life takes a sudden and drastic turn when she is 20 and in college, as she marries an older man with 3 children. Now she is a grandmother, and wondering if she has led the wrong life. The book is marred by Tyler's treatment of the woman's childhood boyfriend, who as an adult is more caricature than character. This was a great opportunity wasted, and it almost seems deliberate.
Rating:
Summary: A Memorable Tyler Work
Review: If you like Anne Tyler, you will enjoy this book. As usual, she paints a very good picture of the characters so that you feel like you know them very well. I would highly recommend it and all of her works.
Rating:
Summary: a disappointment
Review: I'm almost 53 (the age of the main character in this book; and I, too, sometimes wonder how I ended up in the life I have, instead of a "better" one). But I couldn't connect at all with Rebecca, or anyone else in the book, for that matter. Tyler's characters are caricatures, some of them with impossibly cutesy names and others with improbable personalities. The Davitch family is like no family I've ever come across (and I'm glad I haven't!). And the idea that the hippie-esque Rebecca would actually seriously consider getting together with her extremely anal and boring ex-beau is unbelievable. All in all, a disappointing read. Tyler has a way with comedy, but it's wasted in this book.
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