Earthly Possesions: Amazon.ca: Anne Tyler: Books

Product Description

"To read a novel by Anne Tyler is to fall in love."

PEOPLE

Charlotte Emory has always lived a quiet, conventional life in Clarion, Maryland. She lives as simply as possible, and one day decides to simplify everything and leave her husband. Her last trip to the bank throws Charlotte's life into an entirely different direction when a restless young man in a nylon jacket takes her hostage during the robbery--and soon the two are heading south into an unknown future, and a most unexpected fate.... --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Ingram

A simple trip to the bank turns into a grand adventure for Charlotte Emory when a restless young man in a nylon jacket takes her hostage during a robbery. Reprint. LJ. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

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Customer Reviews

18 Reviews

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

Average Customer Review

4.1 out of 5 stars (18 customer reviews)

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Most helpful customer reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Not her best, but still not bad...., Nov 5 2003

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

Ce commentaire est de: Earthly Possessions (Paperback)

This is my fourth Anne Tyler novel, and although I liked it a bit better than The Tin Can Tree, it is still not on par with Breathing Lessons or The Accidental Tourist. I somewhat liked the character of Charlotte, but she wasn't as sympathetic to me as other Tyler heroines. I could, however, relate to her dissatisfaction with life - I just wished she'd do more, be more proactive, and not complain so much. That said, Tyler give a clear glimpse into her family life, which made it possible to comprehend how she'd become the person she was, even if I found her hard to put up with in long doses. I was interested in her marriage and family life. Wat I wasn't interested in was the subplot with Jake, the bank robber. This angle to the novel was so far fetched that it kept me from fully embracing the story. If Jake and his girlfriend were more well rounded characters, I might've cared more about that subplot. In general, I found that the book should've been longer. The fact that the book was so short made it difficult for Tyler to fully explore the differing points of view of the various characters, which she does to full effect in Breathing Lessons. In short, this is a good, not great book. If you've never read Tyler's work before, I wouldn't start with this book - I doubt you'll fully grasp the level of her talent. This book is more for hardcore Tyler fans who, like me, are determined to read all her books, just on principle.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Charlotte used to have a boring life, Sep 2 2003

By	Peggy Vincent "author and reader" (Oakland, CA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

Ce commentaire est de: Earthly Possessions (Paperback)

Then she gets kidnapped by Jake, an inept bank robber with 200 $1 bills in his pocket from the robbery (inept in a way that only an Anne Tyler character could be), and off the two of them go to Florida to hunt up Jake's pregnant girlfriend. Charlotte is having the time of her life. She'd been about to leave her husband of forever-many years, and here she suddenly finds herself off on an adventure she never could have dreamed up in her wildest imaginings. Hard to believe a story that begins with a robbery and a kidnapping could end up as touching and poignant - but it does.

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5.0 out of 5 stars always fresh, May 14 2003

By	P. Schumacher (atlanta, GA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Ce commentaire est de: Earthly Possessions (Paperback)

This was the first Anne Tyler book I read, and I liked it so much I have gone on to read them all--some, several times.

Tyler really only has one theme: Families--you can't live with them, and you can't escape them.

This book has that theme, and it treats it humorously and sadly and beautifully.

It starts with a bang--a failed bank robbery and hostage situation. This is an unusual scene for Tyler, but it quickly goes back to her usual territory: the maddening minutiae of everyday life.

As always the characters are quirky and fun.

The chapters alternate between the present and the past, so all the elements of the picture gradually come together.

It isn't really a love story; but none of Tyler's books are love stories--unless you count, being in love with being.

To anyone who hasn't tried Tyler, I would recommend this book. It avoids the schmaltziness of "Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant" and even "Accidental Tourist."

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars OMG!! What a great book!!
WOW! one of the best books ever written! I have read other anne tyler books and this one is totally my favorite! Lisez davantage

Published on Oct 28 2002 by Sarah from Sahara

4.0 out of 5 stars Generational Family Sorrow
This book does not entirely succeed in its premise, but it is nevertheless a very good work from Anne Tyler. Lisez davantage

Published on Jul 14 2002 by Pamela

1.0 out of 5 stars Horribly Bland and Depressing
I read this book in my high school AP english class for independent study and could not believe that it had such a high rating on this website. Lisez davantage

Published on April 30 2002

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book, awful movie
There's not much I can write that someone else hasn't already said. As well as being "quirky" the female protagonists are usually imperfect physically--middle aged,... Lisez davantage

Published on Nov 30 2001 by P Bode