Author: Anne Tyler
Published: 2009
Genres: Fiction
Rating: 4
Summary
A wise, gently humorous, and deeply compassionate novel about a schoolteacher, who has been forced to retire at sixty-one, coming to terms with the final phase of his life. Liam Pennywell, who set out to be a philosopher and ended up teaching fifth grade, never much liked the job at that run-down private school, so early retirement doesn’t bother him. But he is troubled by his inability to remember anything about the first night that he moved into his new, spare, and efficient condominium on the outskirts of Baltimore. All he knows when he wakes up the next day in the hospital is that his head is sore and bandaged. His effort to recover the moments of his life that have been stolen from him leads him on an unexpected detour. What he needs is someone who can do the remembering for him. What he gets is—well, something quite different.
Review
In Liam, Tyler demonstrates her amazing ability to create incredibly flawed yet symapthetic characters. As Liam travels his road of trying to remember, you are rooting for him to succeed despite his obviously quirks and challenges. And you are unsure--in a moment of challenging decision--which side he will take.
Notes
Anne Tyler is one of my favorite character writers.
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