The Tin Can Tree: A Novel: Amazon.ca: Anne Tyler: Books

Product Description

In the small town of Larksville, the Pike family is hopelessly out of step with the daily rhythms of life after the tragic, accidental death of six-year-old Janie Rose. Mrs. Pike seldom speaks, blaming herself, while Mr. Pike is forced to come out of his long, comfortable silence. Then there is ten-year-old Simon, who is suddenly without a baby sister -- and without understanding why she's gone.

Those closest to this shattered family must learn to comfort them -- and confront their own private shadows of hidden grief. If time cannot draw them out of the dark, then love may be their only hope....

Ingram

From the author of The New York Times phenomenal bestseller, The Accidental Tourist, comes a novel of love and courage. Little Janie Rose was dead. Each member of the Pike family dealt with grief in a different way, yet each had a wound that was raw and open. Perhaps time could heal, or love .

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5 Reviews

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Average Customer Review

3.0 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews)

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2.0 out of 5 stars Not one of Tyler's best..., Dec 16 2001

By

S. Turlington (Hillsborough, NC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Tin Can Tree (Mass Market Paperback)

I didn't think this novel lived up to the strength of Tyler's other publications. It concerns the aftermath of a little girl's accidental death and the effect of the death on the people who live in the same house -- her family and neighbors. While the prose and characterization, as always, are strong, the story isn't that compelling. It just seems to amble along to no particular spot in particular.

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3.0 out of 5 stars The whole was less than the sum of its parts, April 15 2001

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Ms Diva "cycworker" (Nanaimo, B.C. Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Tin Can Tree: A Novel (Paperback)

I am a huge Anne Tyler fan, so I was disappointed that Tin Can Tree wasn't up the the caliber of Accidental Tourist (my favorite Tyler novel) or Breathing Lessons. But it one of her first, and the signs of her ability are there. The story of Janie Rose and how her parents cope with her death is compelling, but the problem is the treatment of it is somehow superficial. The author is so intent on showing me life in small town America that she leaves the novel's core family, the Pike's inaccessible. All the relationships were superficial. The characters of James, and Ansell in particular, took up far too much space, especially since their story never went anywhere. In short, this book had alot of great elements that did not up to a novel worthy of Tyler's talent

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4.0 out of 5 stars Early signs of genius, Aug 23 1999

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"derbyram@hotmail.com" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Tin Can Tree: A Novel (Paperback)

My expectations for this book were very low, which might be why I found it so good. I had heard that this was her worst novel. but having read 12 of the other 13, I had to read this one. It lacks the complexities of plot and character of her later novels, but the simplicity is not a weakness. It is a gentle story of unexceptional people in a sleepy little town where nothing ever happens - apart from the odd accidental death - but Tyler pulls the reader in through the front doors and makes us care. Joan and James are probably too similar to several other early Tyler characters, but the author keeps our interest up. These people might be dull to the outside world, but Tyler shows us the spark of rebellion flickering deep inside - hinting at the one big decisive act of their lives (this usually involves running away from a big famlily - it happens in almost all of Tyler's books!). If you are not a big Tyler fan you won't like this book, but if you are, ignore the critics and treat yourself!

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Most recent customer reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Not as great as one would have hoped.
As an avid reader of Anne Tyler's works, I found The Tin Can Tree to be a surprising letdown. Over the past year I've read eight of the fourteen books Tyler's written and had... Read more

Published on Dec 13 1998 by E. Caldwell

4.0 out of 5 stars Early Tyler Still Glows
While a smaller, almost novella sized novel about characters familiar to those in Tyler's audience, it is simply amazing how this book, written in her early 20's, still manages... Read more

Published on Aug 14 1998 by Aaron Neptune