• A Patchwork Planet

  • By: Anne Tyler
  • Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne
  • Length: 9 hrs and 27 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (45 ratings)

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A Patchwork Planet  By  cover art

A Patchwork Planet

By: Anne Tyler
Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne
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Publisher's summary

Barnaby Gaitlin was never a bad kid, but he was certainly doing his best to impersonate one. As a teenager, he developed a habit of breaking into other people’s houses. But he wasn’t interested in the valuable loot - he just liked to read people’s mail, peruse their family albums, and maybe pocket a few personal mementos. Now almost 30 and divorced, he finds himself working for Rent-aBack, which helps the elderly and infirm move furniture or take down their Christmas trees. It’s the perfect career for Barnaby: With each job, he’s able to steal a glimpse into a customer’s house and life.

Then Barnaby meets Sophia. Her inherent, unshakeable goodness is totally foreign to him - and irresistible. With small moments of growth, Barnaby struggles to become the good man he hopes to be, finding that life rarely happens all at once but rather builds over time, patch by patch.

©2010 Anne Tyler (P)2021 Recorded Books Inc.

What listeners say about A Patchwork Planet

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Such great insight into family dynamics and why “black sheep” struggle

Anne Tyler is masterful at building multifaceted characters. I think Barnaby Gatelin might be my favorite.

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details

such deep insight into characters and rich details. The reader was excellent also. loved it

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Engaging

I am a Tyler fan. I enjoyed the character development. It was not a predictable read. These families felt very real in their complicated lives and relationships.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Complex but easy to follow storyline

This was one of those books that I could start stop, read or listen to other books and come back to anytime. It was good listening in the evenings when I didn’t want to stress about what is going on in the world today.

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amazing

anne Tyler is a poet. this is a great story. it has a beautiful arc and ending

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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beautiful

My first Anne Tyler novel, and I'm so glad I finally read her. Beautifully written, touching interactions and relationships, realistic human experiences that touch on ways anyone could interact with their family, strangers, and themselves. Can't wait to read more or her.

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2 people found this helpful

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  • CJ
  • 11-29-22

Confused

Barnaby deserved mistrust because of his past. He should have thought about that before committing his crime. Besides, he was not honest in his dealings with other people. The ending was
full of ambiguity.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Delicate

The novel is a slowly opening flower. A gentle study in character development. But ultimately, depressing.

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