Ladder of Years

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Summary: Review-Type Thing
Review: What do you do when life gets you down, when the weight of your life becomes too much to bear? Simple. Just walk away. That's what we'd all like to do, anyway: leave it all behind and start over. And that's exactly what forty-year-old Delia Grinstead does in Anne Tyler's 1995 novel LADDER OF YEARS. In the book, Delia strolls away on one of her family's annual beach trips and hitches a ride with a stranger to the town of Bay Borough, where she begins her new life. Abandoning her past with her unappreciative family, she trades in her "baby-doll" wardrobe for some more conservative clothing, takes a job as a secretary, and spends her nights reading accomplished literature in place of her trashy romance novels. Though the reader's first impression of Delia may be of contempt for a selfish weakling who couldn't handle the pressure of a family, they will soon find that there is more to the woman's situation than simple everyday stress. Her marriage may be a sham, her children harbor nothing but embarassment for the mother they have suddenly become too cool for, and her near venture into adultry has left her shaken, stirred, and humiliated. This is an engaging, very personal story of a woman's journey into her own spirit to find out just how far she is willing to go to be happy. It's very funny, surprisingly touching, and relatable for everybody in at least one way. The book's only downfall is a rather unsatisfying ending that leaves many questions unanswered. However, the ending does not come near to ruining the book. LADDER OF YEARS is a joy to read.

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Summary: Unanswered Questions
Review: This book was not on my "To-Read" list, however, I ended up reading it because it was an assignment. I think the story and Delia's life problems would have seemed more vivid to me had I been older. I don't think you can fully appreciate this type of story at 24 years old. Although I couldn't connect with the novel, I did find somethings I enjoyed about it and disliked about it. I thought Anne Tyler wrote this novel beautifully. Her description of people, places, and feelings gives the reader a picture in their mind of what is happening in this book. However, there are so many unanswered questions. What happens to the people Delia encountered and befriended in Bay Borough? Does she return to her normal routine as if she had never left? Are there any consequences for her actions? I think had there been some sort of wrap up at the end I would have enjoyed this book so much more. I think if you are experiencing/or have experienced feelings of neglect or being taken advantage of - This is a great book for you. So, read it and see if you ever felt like Delia and wanted to just run away from your own life.

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Summary: A testament to the powers of time and perspective
Review: Fast and true: A book doesn't have to be a masterpiece or a 'classic' in order to speak to you. I knew from chapter one that _Ladder of Years_ was a regular story, without literary pretensions or fancy schmancy trickery designed to impress the reader or flatter our sensibilities. It spoke of the regular and the everyday - mostly of the small things that infuriate us all: the condescending husband, the whinnying nagging unmarried sister of the family, abrubt or impassive children.

The main character in this novel, Delia Grinstead, does what we all, at one time or another, would love to do. On vacation with her family, she picks up her tote bag and simply walks away from the only life she's ever known and begins a new one. And it all begins with a rather unusual meeting with a stranger at the grocery store. This is a fine tale of the powers of time and perspective; not just in the need to be alone, but in the need to be with new people and in surroundings that do not require anything more than what you are willing to offer.

_Ladder of Years_ addresses everyone's favourite fantasy of erasing the past and becoming someone new, which is why it is so easy to get lost in Delia's life, in her thoughts and feelings toward her family. This is just a fantastic book, one that really picks up in the second half. I had to read the last 200 pages in one sitting - even classics aren't that attractive. Anne Tyler has again managed to impress me with the ordinary!

Aside from the import of this novel, Anne Tyler has managed to draw out a great cast of characters. I always say that the author's characters are people you already know, or would (in some cases) like to know. Please read _Ladder of Years_.

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Summary: Reader Response
Review: I thought that this book was well written and kept me engaged every step of the way. I could relate to Delia's choice of finding a new life, although I don't think that I could ever up and leave myself. At the conclusion of the book, I still had many questions left unanswered. I wish that it could have gone on a few more chapters so I could cure my craving to find out more.

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Summary: Classic Ann Tyler
Review: This book was "classic" Ann Tyler. I got hooked on her novels after reading "The Accidental Tourist", and this one comes closest to that theme. This is a tragic, moving, funny in many parts story about a woman why feels expendable only to find she is the glue holding a quirky family together. I recommend it to folks who can appreciate subtle humor and want to be moved.

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Summary: The true examination of the novel
Review: When reading Ann Tyler's novel, Ladder of Years, I found the main character, Cordelia Grinstead to be somewhat annoying and very immature for a forty year old woman. She seemed to be like a confused little child trapped in a woman's body, with no direction in her life. She lived for her family and her family lived for themselves, which meant no one was lokking out for Cordelia--not even herself. Delia (short for Cordelia) ended up leaving her family and the little make believe world she was in and found herself in another little make believe world she made for herself. The reason Delia leaves, in my opinion, was to find direction in her life. By the end of the novel, I still don't think the character really finds her identity. The novel leaves me with questions like: Will she go back to be with Joel and Noah or stay home for good? What happened to Adrian? And Did Sam only marry Delia because she was the prettiest of the three girls and he wanted their father's practice? I didn't really care for the book, partially because I couln't relate to it. I'm sure the novel may be interesting to other readers. I wouldn't recommend the book to anyone, but I wouldn't say don't read it either.

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Summary: Many topics
Review: This book Ladder of Years is interesting. In some ways I did not like it, but in others I did. I agree with one other reviewer that said this book has many topics. Some of Anne Tyler's topics include relationships, self identity, middle age crisis. Anne Tyler did a good job of providing a novel that has many different ways you can interpret it and when a reviewer looks at others views, they can take that view and say, "Oh yes, she did say that didn't she." This book was pretty easy reading.

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Summary: A book that strikes a chord...
Review: "Ladder of Years" is like a beautifully orchestrated symphony with Anne Tyler as the conductor. Every aspect of the novel is carefully thought out. The first sentence of the book will capture your attention, "Baltimore Woman Disappears During Family Vacation." From this moment on, you will either want to encourage the "missing" woman, Delia, or you will want to berate her. Whatever your reaction, "Ladder of Years" will strike a chord.

Anne Tyler plays with themes; they inundate the pages. You can read this book over and over again, with each reading, you will discover something new. The various patterns of fairy tales, of cats, and of Delia's self awareness all enrich the text.

I encourage you to read this intricately fashioned novel. It will stimulate your mind and encourage you to feel.

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Summary: Book of Thought
Review: I read "Ladder of Years" for a college english class. I initally viewed the book as just another assignment, but quickly found myself genuninely interested in the story as I continued reading. After completion of the novel, I reflected upon the various messages Anne Tyler was trying to convey in her novel. There are many different issues addressed in this novel. The one I found the most interesting is how the main character, Delia, uses fairy tales and imagination to convey her thoughts and feelings throughout the story. This process also helped to better understand Delia's actions in the novel. Another issue that was used in the novel was that of abandonment. Delia decided on the spur of the moment to leave her family and the novel shows how she alters her life as a result of her decision. The novel deals with a lot of powerful emotional and psychological issues. It is interesting to see how Delia uses her past and her imagination in her relationships with people in both her new life and her family back home. This is a novel was written with subtle messages included. The ending was somewhat disappointing to many readers, but it was a statisfactory one to me. It provided closure to one journey and as a result, opened Delia's eyes to what was really important to her in her life.

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Summary: What happened Delia?
Review: In the beginning of the book, when I read the missing persons' report, I felt that, this book is really going to be exciting. I also knew, that this report was telling me alot of what the family was going to be like. But as I read on in the book, my interest peaked, but then came crashing to a halt. I truly empathized with Delia, even though I am a younger reader (mid 20's). I empathized to what she was feeling and what she was going through. But, as many women do, who are emotionally dependant, end up right where they started. I was cheering her on as she got up the courage to leave. But I was very dissappointed in her towards the end. It left me with alot of unanswered questions. The overall structure of this book was excellent, Tyler. I never knew there could be soo much hidden meaning in such material. I think if I was reading this book on vacation, as oppose to a class, I would have enjoyed it more.