it passeth all understanding that the gifted, compelling author of such innovative engrossing novels as Celestial Navigation and Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant could have put forth for publication this awkward, disjointed, banal badly written mess. what also passeth understanding is that it got published even if it was written by Anne Tyler. Apparently, no matter how bad a book is, if its author has a name, even respectable publishers will print and promote it.

There is zero character development in this book. Indeed, there isn't an interesting fully-fleshed character in it We see characters from superficial exteriors only Not one has any ideas nor does any enlighten us in any facet of human behavior or character development. There isn't one character who would be a welcome addition to a dinner party

Moreover, either they are walking cliches or presented as being so fragmented and unreal that the reader can't care about them in any way One example: a 3 year old child abandoned and abused by his inexplicably drug addicted mother is rescued by grandparents and miraculously develops into a completely normal child who never shows any trauma. That just does not happen Such maltreated children can be rescued but only with great difficulty over many years

This book takes place between 1941 and the upheavels of the 60's and 70's, but not once does any character view those turbulent years and tell the reader their reactions to what was going on--even the one who drops out. There is no reason given for her flight. Similarly, the couple that gets divorced never once speaks in his or her voice about their marriage Tyler just gives us unconvincing external snippets of dialogue