Ladder of Years

Eah.

This book was too slow paced and predictable. I reccomend it for adults, because they would most likely understand married life better, but it is good for young adults and teens too. There is some intimate kissing, but no sex,if that's what your worried about. I didnt think it was worth the money, but you might disagree. Try it and see. You might enjoy it.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Thank you, Anne Tyler

As a 45 year old man, I found Delia to be expressing my emotions perfectly. And since she has, now I don't need to leave my wife of 23 years. I admire Tyler's courage and skill in portraying the nagging unfulfillment and downright rejection we feel in our marriages and families, while still believing in the power of marriage and family to connect and support each other.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I loved it to a point -- and then I didn't

I found this story to be a page-turner. I could relate to her, immature though she was. But she had her reasons for leaving. It got a bit unbelievable, just drifting, not really making any decision. On the other hand, I could go along with this fantasy of just starting over, remaking oneself. The end, however, was not satisfactory. We are left hanging. I suppose I should have expected just such an ending; but it is sad, not satisfactory.

Love this story

I read this story many years ago and loved it. Although I was much younger I identified with the lack of identity suffered by the main character. Selfish her actions may have been but who has not at least dreamed of reinventing themselves?

Eeeh...just okay.

I have to say, I could actually relate to the main character of this book, but only to a point. The story is of a passage into independence and liberation for a woman who has never experienced either in her lifetime. I couldn't get over the feeling of abandonment for her family. The manner in which she took this journey was intensely selfish. The ending was truly unbelievable and unsatisfying.

love it

love it

Writer Matures

It's been a number of years since I last read Anne Tyler. She's a Baltimorean and for all intents and purposes I am as well.

Some years ago I got a little tired of her characters. However when I returned to her books with Ladder of Years, I found that not only had Tyler's writing matured, but so had her characters. Truth be told, we have all matured in the past 20+ years or since I first read a book by Tyler (probably Accidental Tourist).

Her characters still exhibit a muted or--flat--affect, even. But I think this makes more sense now than it did with some of the younger characters in her earlier books. Their lack of intensity in spite of great upheavals in their lives either suits these particular characters better or suits older, more middle-aged characters better.

Funny, but there is a Thanksgiving dinner scene in Ladder as there is in Accidental Tourist -- how's that for consistency over the years?!?

I read Ladder because the scenes and main character appealed to me. The story takes place in Ocean City and Roland Park -- places I know well. As it happens, I finished reading Ladder during a brief trip 'down the ocean! There couldn't have been anything better than to have been curled up near the beach and reading about the very place!

The main character, Delia, is one I could relate to -- albeit only somewhat. What busy and somewhat foraken mother hasn't wanted to escape it all, if only briefly, at some point?

I encourage you to read Ladder of Years!

Pointless and no character development

I have no idea as how this book received time magazine's book of year when this book was published. There is no character development, the events at the beginning of the book are completely unbelieveable, and the book is mostly diaglogue. After plodding halfway through the book I just stopped reading it as the turn of events became too predictable and I could start to figure out what was going to happen. I shouldn't be too surprised that this book was so bad, this author publishes so many book the quality of the stories and characters eventually has to decline.

Novel fiction by Tyler

Anne Tyler's Ladder of Years is, well, not quite what I expected. . . I will just say that it doesn't measure up to The Accidental Tourist. However, her characters, excluding Delia's immediate family, are completely lovable. A good read.

My absolute favorite Anne Tyler!

The story of Delia and her family (actual one and the one she creates for herself) is my absolute favorite Anne Tyler book. Is there anyone on the planet who hasn't daydreamed about just walking away and leaving it all behind? I don't know why this book spoke to me in such an eloquent way...but it did and I am forever glad. Thank you Anne Tyler.

Ladder of Years a lesson in Life...

Anne Tyler's novel is really about the 'rebirth' of the main character as she reacts to the changes in her life and the death of her father. Although not realistic with regards to her 'walking away' from her life...she gives the readers a chance to slip into her shoes and see how much we are needed and need those in our life. It is also about taking a good look around your own life to sort out what is important and what is not.

A Story of Self Worth

The story of Delia made me think about the people in my own life. Her story was sad, really, in that she was so taken-for-granted by her family. In Ladder of Years, she was able to find herself, build a sense of self worth, and show that she could survive quite well on her own. Ever since reading this, I've made much more of an effort to appreciate those in my own family.

touching and real

The simple life Delia leads, the confused and confusing mix of emotions she feels...these are what make this book great. The blurred lines--what should Delia do? what does she deserve?--these blurred lines are what people are made of. I was happy to see it in writing.

hard to put down

I found that once i got into the story i hardly put it down. the characters are so believable that i myself wishing that i could just walk away like delia. the story is not hard to follow and descriptions make the imagination run wild.

not quite outstanding, but definately worth the effort

Ladder of Years is one of those books that English teachers love. For the average reader however, it seems a bit ... pointless. Sure it has beautiful language and complex characters, but PLEASE just give me more of a plot! I want a buildup! I want a climax! A Resolution! But for the english teacher within me, (although I really am not an english teacher), I can certainly appreciate its beauty. The book seems to answer the question of 'What happens at the end of Ibsen's play 'A Doll's House''?. Once Nora leaves her family to grow up on her own, what does she do? Delia's answers this question with her own story. However, Sam isn't quite as domineering as Torvald, simply misunderstood. And as with most books, everything seems to be rooted in the fact that Delia's mother died when she was young. It's hard to be critical of Delia as she walks out on her family when the novel is told from her point of view, but the reader can't stop wondering about how the children must feel about their fickle mom. It seems as if all the women are either trying to find men or run away from men, but none are actually happy with the men they have. And all the men are misunderstood in their less-than-satisfactory efforts to be the 'perfect' husband for these women who cannot be satisfied. And the conclusion? Well. There is more to be desired of the conclusion. (sorry for the spoiler here). One way to look at it is that Delia has finally become an adult and sought out her own life, and so is able to return to her family as a wife, parent, and adult. But what about Joel and Noah? Is she really healing herself, or simply unconsciously following her pattern of leaving others? Surely it is a different situation with Delia as a whole new person, but suddenly the reader is once again stuck with feelings of sympathy for Joel and Noah, and conflicted with either feeling glad or critical of Delia.

Inspiring and uplifting

Watching Delia Grinstead, a former 'it-girl' in high school and married, living in her childhood home, simply walk away from her no-longer-seeming-to-need-her family without any clue as to the future was truly inspirational. I had to cheer for her! The inner theme of the book of time travel of sorts shows as Delia goes out on her own for the very first time, gets her own job, meets a man with a child, then sees her own family. The trip works for Delia, who ends up back where she started but with a lot more knowledge. An excellent novel!

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