Great writer. Picked up second hand. Different cover art.
This is a duplicate copy.

From Publishers Weekly:
"At 40, Delia Grinstead seems more likely to have an attack of anxiety, or of whimsy, than to become a runaway wife. Yet, in Tyler's 13th beguiling novel, Delia's impulse to escape her disapproving physician husband and three surly children turns into an adventure that sweeps her from her staid Baltimore orbit into a new existence as Ms. Grinstead, spinster, in the Delaware community of Bay Borough. It's the unexamined life that's Delia's problem, and when she finally strips away layers of hurt, resentment, guilt and anger, she confronts her inner self and begins to deal with the chronic insecurity that has kept her childlike, flighty and dependent. Gradually, she becomes part of her new community, and has the courage to take a job caring for Noah Miller, an appealing 12-year-old whose mother has also run away from home and family. Over the course of a year, Delia discards her timorous personality and gains an understanding of the person she wants to be. One of the satisfactions of this novel is Tyler's evocation of typical family life. While in the past some of her characters have been too eccentric or fey, Delia and her family and friends all have both feet planted in the real world, even if their heads and hearts are sometimes elsewhere. Some readers may have difficulty accepting Delia's ability to absent herself from her children, but Tyler engages our sympathy and growing respect for a character who finally realizes that "the ladder of years" is a time trip to the future."

Giving to waddapoo. Enjoy.

Returned to me to organise a further journey. Not journalled (!) but the comment was "pretty good". I have yet to read this book, but this is a duplicate copy, so I'll find it a good home.

Sending to celestewa as a RABCK.

Thanks so much Crimson-tide. My bookclub is reading this book this month, so I will journal what they thought as well.

This was my bookclub reading for this month. I was looking forward to reading it as I enjoyed her other book "Accidental Tourist".

GOOD...The book was well written and I found it hard to put down at times. The character that I related to mostly to was Delias daughter Susan. I felt for her as she was abandoned by her mother when she really needed her.

BAD...I was annoyed by the character Delia, I expected her to be a stronger character. Once she left I thought she would change her life around. I didnt like the ending at all, I wanted to hit Delia with a big stick. I wont say more as I dont want to spoil it for other readers. There were also some annoying contrivances as well, such as how Delia was discovered by her sister Eliza.

It was quite interesting that a few of the bookclub had read thr book before, enjoyed it on the first reading, but not the second. I think it was because Anne Tyler is a good writer but her character wasnt that likeable.

RELEASE NOTES:

To be released at the BC Meetup at South Perth book cafe.