A New York Times best-selling novel of self-discovery and second chances from the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Redhead by the Side of the Road Willa Drake has had three opportunities to start her life over: in 1967, as a schoolgirl whose mother has suddenly disappeared; in 1977, when considering a marriage proposal; and in 1997, as a young widow trying to hold her family together. So she is … trying to hold her family together. So she is surprised when in 2017 she is given one last chance to change everything, after receiving a startling phone call from a stranger.
Without fully understanding why, she flies across the country to Baltimore to help a young woman she’s never met. This impulsive decision, maybe the first one she’s consciously made in her life, will lead Willa into uncharted territory—surrounded by eccentric neighbors who treat each other like family, she finds solace and fulfillment in unexpected places.
A bewitching novel of hope and transformation, Clock Dance gives us Anne Tyler at the height of her powers.
One of the Best Books of the Year: O, The Oprah Magazine, Real Simple, The Christian Science Monitor
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Anne Tyler’s gift to literature are her characters, especially women. Willa Drake’s ability to cope with ever changing events in her life is what attracts me to her and the novel.
Anne Tyler is on of my favorite writers. When you read one of her books, you are there. She crestes a scene so beautifully.
I was not disappointed with this book but it was bittersweet reading it as an empty nester. No one can do poignant like Anne Tyler.
All of her characters are well developed in this book but the premise is a little hard to go with. Would you drop everything to go care for the daughter of your distant son’s former girlfriend? Everything else flies but the premise seems a bit far fetched. I still give it a 5 star, well, because it’s Anne Tyler, of course.
One of my favorites, altho note ner best work, worth reading as it’s arelatively quick read.
Different in that it was about a person changing her life in unpredictable ways. She didn’t even know she was bored, unhappy, or… whatever, but had a willingness to see what else life has to offer.
I love anything authored by Anne Tyler. I come from older, small town, humble family. She gets it and her detail is incredible.
Good character development and like the evolution of the main character
She still writes a great novel
Lousy ending.
I love every book that Anne Tyler writes. Her characters are quirky, interesting, and very unusual.
Not Anne Tyler’s best
Much better than I expected!
Anne Tyler is an excellent author
I enjoyed the journey of Willa and her family and the changes throughout her life. I never wanted the book to end.
Courage of the highest order in retirement we can choose to entertain ourselves or reach out to those in need Anne Tyler is once again a master of the human condition her writing makes us consider do we allow our life to be self serving cut off from the chaos and messiness of our brother or do we reach out to another and help guide them through the confusion Where does true liberation lie
Loved the story.
As always, Ms. Tyler entertains us with her “slice-of’life” characters and plot. Always just a little “out-there” but she brings it all together so the reader is left with a tale that is whimsical and believable.
The book was so well written. The main character could have been me. I loved how the character went from a suppressed woman to someone who realizes her life is not dominated by men including her first and second husband and sons. She realizes that she is a person. It took a child to help her realize her self worth. I loved the ending and was cheering her on. You go girlfriend.
As always Anne Tyler takes what might be considered ordinary characters and breathes life into them, so that they wind up actually larger-than-life. This story of one woman’s journey toward self-discovery is full of wonderful surprises. Willa’s tale will stay with you long after you finish this terrific read.
Clock Dance is a story of the passing of time for Willa Drake. 1967, a young version of herself is trying to cope with her exuberant mother and passive father while navigating a relationship with her younger sister who she does not understand. 1977, Willa returns home from college with her boyfriend who is pressing her to drop out of college and get married. This return home visit and seeing her parents while spending what seems like short minutes with her sister forces Willa to make the decision she really does not want to make. In 1997, Willa, now a widow tries to become the person she wanted to be years ago yet the arms of her clock keep moving in every direction. Then finally in 2017, we find Willa still yearning for something she believes is missing from her life. We are caught up once again as time continues forward and Willa receives a telephone call. Like a clock dance, the arms moving and changing and time moving forward and sometimes the time finally is just right.
Thoroughly enjoyed this—if you like Anne Tyler, this book will not disappoint.