Searching For Caleb

Rating:
Summary: A Compelling Addition
Review: Once again Anne Tyler outdoes herself with another intriguing novel, Searching For Caleb. The mix of irresistible details along with Tyler's ability to reach the irrational root of human nature absorbs and enchants the readers. Katha Pollitt, a reviewer of contemporary fiction, clearly states her opinion in a 1975 review, "Reading 'Searching for Caleb,' one is constantly being startled by such moments: gestures, words, wrinkles of thought and feeling that are at once revelatory and exactly right." In Searching For Caleb, Anne Tyler creates and leads us to understand the Peck family of Baltimore. As a reserved, wealthy family, the Pecks are concerned with and only with the well being of their family, choosing to ignore the world outside of the secluded suburbia that several generations have called home. The presiding figure over the many generations is the aging grandfather, Daniel. Daniel's every thought is fixated on the mysterious disappearance of his musical brother, Caleb, which occurred over 60 years ago. Ironically, Daniel's grandson, Duncan, an untamed boy consumed by an infatuation with danger, also rebels against the Pecks. Justine, previously a fervent member of the Peck family and an amateur fortune-teller, marries her cousin, Duncan. The couple races through small New England towns and life trying to make a living with Duncan restlessly changing his profession and Justine's predictions. When Justine decides to join her grandfather, Daniel, in an effort to find his long, lost brother Caleb, she is also searching for much more. She is looking for an answer to love, life, and to the ever-changing directions of her unsettled husband, Duncan. Searching For Caleb is a "must-read" for any die-hard Anne Tyler enthusiasts. A twisting plot and an accelerated emotional roller coaster make this novel a classic and a compelling addition to Tyler's collection of heart-warming novels.

Rating:
Summary: Searching for Caleb
Review: One of, if not THE BEST, of Anne Tyler's wonderful novels. After reading this book, I had a new understanding of Fortune tellers and more importantly of families and family interaction. The relationship between Justine and her daughter and Justine and her husband and Justine and her grandfather are all beautifully and memorably drawn.

Rating:
Summary: Not impressed
Review: Searching For Caleb had a new setting every five pages, family members who walked out and wouldn't have come back until they were "kidnapped", and chaotic events that led to a suicide, all of which made this book interesting in an unusual way.
This book is first set on a train going to New York City in the year of 1972. Then the scene changes to Cairo Mill, Maryland. Suddenly it changes to Baltimore, Maryland in the 1800's. A bit later it changes to Baltimore in 1980. Anne Tyler told most of the story in Maryland, but at the end, she changes to Louisiana. The story was about the Peck family, which was a very sophisticated family. Wealthy, respectable, self-involved, they always wore hats. Even the little girls never went out of the house without a hat on. Basically the story was about Daniel Peck's search for his brother, Caleb, who walked off in 1912. It was also about his granddaughter Justine Peck's realization that she will never be the Peck that she always dreamed to be. The concept of this book, then, is finding oneself.
Daniel Peck's main conflict was evident in his search for Caleb. When Caleb was in his twenties he just walked out on the family and didn't return or make contact with any family member. The search started when Daniel moved in with Duncan and Justine Peck. Daniel spent years researching and visiting people who might have known Caleb. He would visit people that were Caleb's friends or appeared in pictures with Caleb. Unfortunately, he had absolutely no luck. So when Daniel's birthday came, his oldest son "Two" hired him a private investigator to search for Caleb. The private investigator headed straight to work asking questions. He found out that when Caleb was younger all one would have to do to find Caleb was "Hold still a minute and listen." He found out how Caleb loved music. He also went searching to Caleb's home in Baltimore. Then the private investigator learned where Caleb was just outside of New Orleans, Louisiana. The private investigator told the Pecks this but before Daniel could meet Caleb, Daniel died of a heart attack.
This book was draining yet funny; mostly draining. The hardest part was keeping track of what part the story was in, whether the past or the present. Also the Peck family was absolutely insane. Actually two cousins ended up married to each other. That caused so much chaos that a separation, a disowning and a suicide happened over the event. Then Justine and Duncan were constantly moving because Duncan would become restless and wanted a change. Justine just went along very easily but Meg, their daughter, hated moving. She locked herself in the bathroom a few times. Daniel did not begin looking for his brother for practically 30 years after Caleb walked out. The comical parts were the best. For instance, all the time that Daniel was searching for Caleb his old maid knew right where Caleb was. When Caleb left, he had told her where he was going. Yet she never told anyone because no one ever asked her. In addition, Duncan would cut out newspaper clippings and stick them to things. To the old Ford that the door was torn off he stuck a clipping that said "Wouldn't you rather have a Buick?". When Meg bought an expensive dress, his cut out was "Have you ever had a bad time in Levi's?" One of Justine's neighbor was divorced and the father of her child who had no visiting rights would come and take the daughter. The mother would scream and shout about her daughter being kidnapped, yet every night the father brought the child home safe and sound.
This book was very interesting, but a strange kind of interesting. It never really caught my attention; rather it often put me to sleep. It was summer reading, the kind you get on a book list. I would suggest it to people if they didn't really have anything else to read. But some will like it. I found it too scattered in place and time and too slow moving.


Rating:
Summary: Classic Tyler
Review: Searching for Caleb is quintessential Tyler -- quirky and bittersweet with characters you'll remember for a long time after you read the book. If you are an Anne Tyler fan, you will enjoy this one -- I couldn't put it down.

Rating:
Summary: A bit aimless (just like all its characters)
Review: This is my second Anne Tyler within the last several months, the first being "Patchwork Planet." Though it's clear that this author has a gift of sorts, I would have to say this is probably my last book of hers. Why? Because I can't get excited or care that much about any of the main characters. They do appear to be an aimless, quirky and petulant bunch. None of them are particularly good (or bad, for that matter). They just seem to wander through life propelled by their inner imperative.

I suppose the theme that runs through this book is the centrifugal vs. centripetal forces created by family. We are dying to escape but, boy, does that "pull" keep operating. To a certain extent, perhaps these forces are best embodied in the two main senior characters Daniel/Caleb. Still, to me it's a bit of a tired theme!

Rating:
Summary: Weak women -- an Anne Tyler speciality
Review: This is only the second Anne Tyler book I've read and I'm not impressed. The book was depressing. I had hope as the book progressed that the main character would "triumph" over her circumstances but instead she subsumed her own dreams for her husband's wants and needs. Anne Tyler implies that this is a noble sacrifice but I thought it was weak. She should have left her loser husband!

Rating:
Summary: Better than most
Review: This was not my absolute favorite Tyler book, but it is still better than most of what is out there! I was so glad to find one of her books that I had not read. I also enjoyed reading this early Tyler book to be able to see her growth as a writer in the last 25 or more years.

The characters in "Searching for Caleb" are typical Tyler: quirky, odd, flawed, and appealingly annoying. Most of them are what someone would describe as a "character", someone unusual.

Justine, Duncan, and Daniel Peck are so finely and realistically drawn by this talented author that one wonders where they have gone when the book is finished. Tyler makes them so real...I found myself wanting to kick Justine and Duncan in the seat and telling them to get their acts together and end their fly-by-night life for the sake of their daughter.

I think it is the mark of a great author when s/he gets a reader to feel this involved in a book, even if the feelings are ones of frustration, or even of anger, at the characters' actions.

Rating:
Summary: There's better, there's worse...
Review: To [e-mail] from Canada: try "Saint Maybe," before you give up on Anne Tyler. I think you'll like it much better than these two. As for this particular book, I agree with your assessment. Duncan surrounds himself with a wall of intolerance. He is unlikable, and doesn't like others, from start to finish. Justine is annoying in her desire to adjust to even the most absurd circumstances. It shows her insensitivity, and downright lack of good sense, when she tells her daughter Meg to 'adjust,' when it is obvious that Meg is married to a wimp and his whacko mother, and wants out. The characters go from dead end to dead end... It is fortunate that the story ended when it did, just before Justine and Duncan joined the carnival!