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Summary: What Happened to Anne Tyler?
Review: What happened to the Anne Tyler I knew and loved? Is this the same brilliant woman who wrote Breathing Lessons, Homesick Restaurant, and St. Maybe? I found the story contrived and awkward. Unlike her other works, it was far from compelling. I kept reading, hoping the narrative would get better, but it didn't. Alas. If you've never read an Anne Tyler book before, don't make this your first. It's not representative.
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Summary: Not Anne Tyler's best--by a long shot
Review: I DID like this book but contrary to what I've heard it is not her best. The resolution comes way too quickly and the reader really doesn't understand why Delia makes the choice she does. We also lose a few characters along the way--the author just stops mentioning them--and that is odd behavior for the main character. If you've read all of Ann Tyler go ahead and get this one too; you won't be disappointed, necessarily. But if this will be your first Tyler, or if you're hoping for a new favorite book of all time: Buyer Beware. "Homesick Restaurant" is the better choice.
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Summary: A Great Story
Review: Anne Tyler seems to have a very deep understanding of people and what lies behind their behavior. I have very much liked every one of her books and this one, I thought, was the best of them all. Ladder of Years made me think about my own self and how I would respond if I, like Delia, were suddenly and indefinitely separated from my family. It made me appreciate those around me more by causing me to recognize that they do not have to be perfect to be valuable, and no matter how trying they may sometimes be, I am glad to be in the family I have. And I don't have to be perfect, either.
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Summary: Seeking A Sense of Self
Review: Anne Tyler takes that secret thought of running away, of walking away from it all - and gives us Ladder of Years. The author has a genius for starting out books with a fanciful statement, captivates us completely, and then exposes all the warts. In this case a chance encounter in a grocery store (a place few of us dream about) sets off a woman's mid-life crisis. The main character, Delia, is not always terribly sympathetic and certainly has her flaws - and really seeks only a sense of self, tired of living vicariously through her family. The writing never seeks to glamorize or entice, but rather to focus our attention on those that surround us in a fresh manner. From difficult family members and quirky characters - Ms. Tyler doesn't polish any of them up, but instead gives us a story that will render the reader introspective and richer for the experience. I listened to the abridged recording of this book, which was well read - but I have enough questions that I suspect I will want to follow up with the real story.
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Summary: A Delightful fantasy
Review: I think we have all wanted to walk away from our lives at some point, to start agin. Delia, the protagonist of this delightful book, takes that chance almost despite herself. Many readers have found her actions selfish and cold, and the ending "unsatisfying," but rather than being judgemental toward Delia, I just loved her journey and enjoyed wondering what would happen next. Anne Tyler's characters are not meant to be role models! Or, if they are, God help us, and God forgive Miss Tyler! I found the ending sad but realistic. I found it extremely interesting that in the novel's beginning, Delia almost has an affair - but doesn't quite go that far. I wondered at first if Anne Tyler was afraid of making Delia unlikeable by her having an affair. (Apparently several readers thought Delia was unlikeable even without it!) This is one of my favorite Tyler novels, one that I go back to often, both for the lovely writing and the fantasy - for this really is a fantasy. I wouldn't dream of criticizing all the character's flaws, as I found myself relating to Delia and most likely have all those flaws myself, in triplicate. I recommend this touching, well-written book, sad ending and all.
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Summary: A really entertaining book ...
Review: I was quite surprised at much I enjoyed this book, as I've never really enjoyed any of Anne Tyler's stuff before. I loved the realistic way Delia's life was depicted - a lesser author might have found her heroine a convenient love interest as an alternative to forcing her to take a realistic look at her own life and how invisible she has become to her family. I really enjoyed the way the story developed what must be a wish fulfillment fantasy for many people - to simply walk away from your life and start again afresh - into a believable outcome - you find a new life very similar to the old one, and people react to you in a similar way. Perhaps I'll take a look at some of A.Tyler's other books, I think her style of writing could really grow on me.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I did think I would enjoy this book as Anne Tyler was recommended to me. I found that I did not like her style of writing at all and had to force myself to keep reading it. I thought the whole story was very contrived. However, I will probably try another couple of her titles to see if I like them any better as they are certainly very popular with some readers.
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Summary: Anne Tyler is a good writer, but . . .
Review: I have enjoyed some of Anne Tyler's books, but I did not enjoy this one. I understood why Delia had the desire to do what she did, but in doing it I lost all compassion for her. Basically, she deserted her family, then put herself in the position where she would have to desert another family to go back to her own. I like her writing style, but not this character.
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Summary: Typical Anne Tyler
Review: After reading Breathing Lessons and St. Maybe, I swore I wouldn't pick up Anne Tyler again. But I took this one out of the library and it sounded intriguing from the book jacket. Well, it was good--seeing a doormat housewife and mother finally just leave--and after the way everyone treated her, they didn't deserve a good-bye. But then Delia just drifts, not even thinking or considering what she would like in life. And the fact that she goes home again to assist in a family crisis, that's when the story really starting getting idiotic, and I started to dislike the character of Delia. And the ending is so bad--is it supposed to be intriguing, for the audience to decide what happens to her? Or do we assume, that this ends the same as other Anne Tyler books--dissatisfying, and leaving the reader totally fed up with the main character. This is the kind of the book where you want the character to come out ahead, and in this case, for Delia to firmly make a statement that she's not going back to her life with her husband and is going to take her life in a new, definite direction. But no, this is just the same old, same old for Anne Tyler.
Rating: 
Summary: Good read, unsatisfying ending
Review: I started this book and didn't stop until I finished it. I love Anne Tyler's style of writing -- her descriptions are so vivid and yet she is very straightforward. I really enjoyed watching Delia's journey, as she becomes someone she never thought she would be -- the distant, solitary Miss Grinstead -- and then seeing how gradually she began to evolve back into the person she was before she walked away from her family. I enjoyed the sense of discovery that I felt at various points in my reading, as I realized that Delia was changing, but this time on her own terms. Like others, I might have chosen a dfferent ending. But as a book to read when you are spending all day hiding out from the rain, this one will do nicely.
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