Tag Archives: Family

Ann Patchett’s ‘Run’ — Book Review

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ANN PATCHETT

Blogger’s note: This review was originally published in December 2007, in three installments, on my first WordPress blog, Maryland On My Mind. Time flies, posts get buried, new blogs are born, and great books live forever. The original review has been deleted from the old blog in compliance with search engine policy. — John Hayden

Ann Patchett’s ‘Run’ — Preview

Dec. 8, 2007 — When you read about Bernard Doyle, the former Boston mayor with great ambitions for his sons, you can’t help but free-associate: Kennedy.  At least I can’t. Two of the sons are named Tip and Teddy!

And then I free-associate: Skeffington. Bernard Doyle and Frank Skeffington. Two Irish-Catholic mayors who loved their city, and were beloved by many. The voters turned on both of them. Doyle told a lie to protect his family and faded away without achieving his own ambitions. Skeffington stayed on too long. Again, I free-associate: William Donald Schaefer, late great mayor of Baltimore.

Ann Patchett reminds me of Edwin O’Connor. I discovered O’Connor’s 1956 novel, The Last Hurrah,  in high school, and read all his other books. The two authors have insights about the same subjects — people, politics, family, God — and breath-taking writing talent, honed by attention and effort.

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Anne Tyler — ‘Noah’s Compass’ — The End

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Liam and Eunice were in the blush of romance, last we saw them. That didn’t last long, naturally. What “Noah’s Compass” needs is a little more love and a little less reality. I won’t spoil the story by revealing the details of the relationship’s failure. It was painful, and sad, and just plain disappointing. But you knew that.

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Anne Tyler — ‘Noah’s Compass’ — Take 2

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I’ve read nearly 100 more pages of “Noah’s Compass.” When we left Liam Pennywell, he was alone and depressed, and, as he put it, “Almost waiting to die.” Naturally, Anne Tyler wasn’t going to let Liam’s story go in a straight line.

Liam soon becomes involved with a younger woman, a woman who says, “My parents think I’m a failure.” Next thing you know, Liam’s teen-age daughter, Kitty, has moved out of her mother’s house and settled in  Liam’s den, for the summer. Liam’s romantic interest, Eunice, is coming over every evening, under the pretense of helping him with his resumé, Kitty’s teen-age boyfriend visits all the time, and Liam is providing taxi service for the two teens. ‘Nother words, Liam’s life is getting complicated.

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Anne Tyler — ‘Noah’s Compass’ — Take 1

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It doesn’t take long for Anne Tyler to establish our hero, Liam Pennywell, as a  pathetic character. He has been recently “fired,” or “downsized,” depending on your viewpoint, from his teaching job.

In the first few pages of “Noah’s Compass,”  Liam bravely assesses the situation and recognizes that he ought to live more simply and frugally. He gives up his comfortable apartment and moves to a small, nondescript one-bedroom place.

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Thanksgiving Simplicity in America

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[picapp align=”center” wrap=”false” link=”term=thanksgiving&iid=7129735″ src=”4/a/b/8/Las_Vegas_Performers_6b13.jpg?adImageId=7834475&imageId=7129735″ width=”380″ height=”539″ /] [picapp align=”center” wrap=”false” link=”term=thanksgiving&iid=7129234″ src=”2/0/8/4/Bay_Area_Food_0325.jpg?adImageId=7834773&imageId=7129234″ width=”380″ height=”257″ /] [picapp align=”center” wrap=”false” link=”term=thanksgiving&iid=7129230″ src=”c/d/5/d/Bay_Area_Food_ebe2.jpg?adImageId=7834666&imageId=7129230″ width=”380″ height=”261″ /] [picapp align=”center” wrap=”false” link=”term=thanksgiving&iid=7129788″ src=”f/4/5/5/Las_Vegas_Performers_2eb8.jpg?adImageId=7833951&imageId=7129788″ width=”380″ height=”286″ /] [picapp align=”center” wrap=”false” link=”term=thanksgiving&iid=7129744″ src=”a/4/2/5/Las_Vegas_Performers_44c6.jpg?adImageId=7834155&imageId=7129744″ width=”380″ height=”270″ /] [picapp align=”center” wrap=”false” link=”term=thanksgiving&iid=7129239″ src=”3/a/3/f/Bay_Area_Food_93cc.jpg?adImageId=7834269&imageId=7129239″ width=”380″ height=”258″ /] [picapp align=”center” wrap=”false” link=”term=thanksgiving&iid=7112612″ src=”7/8/c/0/Thanksgiving_Meals_Delivered_9f36.jpg?adImageId=7835021&imageId=7112612″ width=”380″ height=”260″ /] [picapp align=”center” wrap=”false” link=”term=Thanksgiving&iid=7112610″ src=”5/8/b/6/Thanksgiving_Meals_Delivered_f77a.jpg?adImageId=7835139&imageId=7112610″ width=”380″ height=”253″ /]

I’m enjoying Thanksgiving with family in Montgomery County, in the neighborhood where we grew up. Lilley, Poe, Bubbles, et. al.  They have an entire guest basement for me, with full bath.

Thanksgiving in America

This year we’re simplifying Thanksgiving.  Instead of a whole turkey with all the trimmings, the menu will include hot turkey-vegetable soup, cheese, wine, bread, pumpkin and apple pie, whipped cream. What more could we possibly need? I can hardly wait. Lots of talk. Scrabble. Maybe good movies on TV.

We have much to be thankful for, and we know it!  Thankful to the Creator, and thankful for each other. (And thanks to PicApp for making this selection of Thanksgiving photos available.)

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all! God Bless America! And God Bless The Whole Wide World, No exceptions!

[picapp align=”center” wrap=”false” link=”term=thanksgiving&iid=7112611″ src=”5/c/6/c/Thanksgiving_Meals_Delivered_6406.jpg?adImageId=7835277&imageId=7112611″ width=”380″ height=”253″ /] [picapp align=”center” wrap=”false” link=”term=Thanksgiving&iid=218836″ src=”0215/d1621a26-ecc3-4508-ab5f-04b0d1bb9bd7.jpg?adImageId=7833240&imageId=218836″ width=”380″ height=”318″ /]