Liam Pennywell, teaching at a second-rate private school, loses his job just as he turns 60. He decides to move to a new, smaller apartment in Baltimore. Liam’s life changes and Anne Tyler delivers her patented “slice-of-life” novel. Will Liam have an affair? Will he find a new job? Will he draw closer to his children and his ex-wife? If you read this novel, you probably won’t like the answers. Noah’s Compass is Number Three on the New York Times Best Sellers List so there’s an audience that likes this kind of mundane novel. GRADE: B-
I gave up after Dinner at the Homesick Cafe. As you note, there are plenty of people who like her style–but I ain’t a-one of ’em.
Anne Tyler specializes in stories where women take care of distracted, disengaged men, Deb. THE ACCIDENTIAL TOURIST is a good example of this template.
I liked some of her earlier books – THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST and BREATHING LESSONS -but haven’t read her in some time.
Let’s jsut say she won’t be writing for 24 anytime soon.
No, Anne Tyler will not be writing for 24, Jeff. But last night’s episode was a snoozer.
I loved all of her books up through Breathing Lessons. The last 6-8 have been unreadable to me. She exhausted her themes much like John Irving, Pat Conroy, etc. Too bad. She was a great writer through the mid-eightes IMHO, of course.
It’s not much of a spoiler to say that nothing really happens in NOAH’S COMPASS, Patti. Anne Tyler’s last few books have been pretty much plotless.
Yeah, 24 was a zzzzzzzzz last night.
Throwing in New York references (“BQE” and “Newtown Creek”) did not make up for Dana and the trailer trash ex or Hassan’s marital woes.
Boring!
Boring is right, Jeff. The story line with the deadbeat boyfriend sucks. Who cares if a radioactive Russian terrorist lives or dies? The only story line that has any life to it is the main one with Renee and Jack.
Seems like I said this about something else here recently, but it;s worth repeating: success is a hard master. Conroy, Tyler and many others tend to rest on their laurels. Or perhaps they are so lauded by The New Yorker crowd that they forget they have to sell books to the rest of the people. But then this is on the NYTBSL. Perhaps that’s due to knee-jerk buyers?
You’re certainly right about Conroy, Irving, and Tyler having their audiences, Rick. My wife will read any book Anne Tyler writes. As long as these writers give their audiences what they want, their books will sell. But I’m not interesting in reading them.
Once you make it to best seller status it doesn’t seem to matter how good or bad your books are, Rick – you still sell.
Exhibits?
Robin Cook
Patricia Cornwell
Robin Cook and Patricia Cornwell have been writing the same book over and over for years, Jeff. But, people keep buying them.
Oh, and see my current post for an explanation of that dark lump beside my name in this and previous posts…
I’ll check it out, Rick.