Ladder of Years

By: Anne Tyler

Narrated by: Elisabeth Rodgers

Length: 12 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

"Baltimore Woman Disappears During Family Vacation."

The headlines are all the same: Beloved mother and wife Delia Grinstead was last seen strolling down the Delaware shore, wearing only a bathing suit and carrying a beach tote with $500 tucked inside. To the best of her family's knowledge, she has disappeared without a trace.

But Delia didn't disappear. She ran.

Exhausted with her routine and everyone else's plans for her, Delia needed an out, a chance to make a new life for herself and to become a different person. The new Delia can let go of all the hurt and resentment that left her stuck in her past. As she eagerly sheds the pieces of herself she no longer needs, Delia discovers feelings of passion and wonder she'd long since forgotten. The thrill of walking away from it all leads to a newfound sense of self and the feeling that she is, finally, the star of her own life story.

©1995 Anne Tyler (P)2020 Recorded Books

My most read Anne Tyler book

I’ve read the print version of this book every summer, preferably outside in the blazing sun, sometimes with ocean sounds playing in the background. Now I will enjoy the audio presentation which is excellent. Every time I’ve read it I’ve found something new in it. Anne Tyler knows human behavior and makes the mundane interesting and entertaining. I laugh out loud at many of her characters and their situations. It is my favorite Anne Tyler book.

The chain of events that led back home!

I really liked this book and the storyline. Some times we find ourselves while trying to lose ourselves. I enjoyed the journey Dee made trying to be important and not taken for granted only to return home to see how much she was loved and needed. Such a good book!

Really Unsatisfying Ending…

I listened to this whole book only because I’ve gotten used to listening to a story before going to sleep. I never warmed up to the main character Delia and didn’t feel like the author gave any insight into her behavior. I kept listening hoping the narrative might shift into a more interesting or compelling point of view but it didn’t. I particularly hated the ending. This author has written many books so I guess people like her style but I don’t.

The ending is a giant let down!

Narration was top notch! I was so invested in the story and it just abruptly ends with ZERO closure. The last 5 minutes made me regret the first 11 hours. This had the potential to be an amazing story of discovery and hard truths but it feels like the author got bored and just stopped writing. So disappointed in the ending.

my fav Anne Tyler book

I have loved this book for many, many years. I reread or re-listen to it at least once a year. I love the main character and her journey to find where she belongs.

Terrific book, outstanding narration.

First narration: Elisabeth Rodgers is an outstanding narrator. This is the first book I’ve listened to narrated by her and I will go through the list of books she has narrated to seek out more. I wish there were more than 5 stars for performance.

The book. I could make an essay out of a review, a long essay. I have a personal history with this title, having read it in hardcover in 1995. I was at that time a mother of young children, babies, and the book made me so angry at the main character (and Tyler) that I threw the book against the wall 2/3 through, vowed to never read another word by Tyler, and kept my vow.

Here I am 25 years later, first I’ve picked up by Tyler since, back where I left off with an ENTIRELY different perspective.

Delia, I get it.

I’d like to argue with the book’s end, oh I want to argue!, but the ending is typical Tyler (as I recall all these years later), and typical Tyler is generally a good thing. Her work (prior to Ladder of Years) was healing to me in my 20’s as I sorted through the wreckage left from a chaotic childhood and dysfunctional family. Nobody sorts dysfunction better than Tyler, even if she never actually fixes anything.

Anyway, the part where this book has affected me this deeply over this many years, well, that says a lot about the book, the author, and me. The part where I’m now furious at the end and not the middle? Gonna have to sort that!

Terrific book. I’m glad to be back in Anne Tyler’s world.

Young Adult book disguised as a book for over 40

I’m sure teens would love this book, but not for adults. Not this one anyway.
Narration was very good

Ladder of Years

This was a strange, weird book. Not sure how it became a bestseller because it certainly is not, though there are a few parts that are decent.
I know Baltimore and I’m familiar with the eastern shore. Mrs. Grensted reminds me of the typical suburban wife flip flopping through midlife. Not to make light because we women do get in midlife, but most do not do what she’s done then return back. The book shows she’s all over the place. We certainly know this is suburbia with the lippy, even disrespectful kids who, more than likely will rise and run companies.
Horrible communication. Mrs Grensted is a lonely person who welcomed anyone and was led by every else’s desires and requests even after she walked away.
I certainly would not recommend this book. I read it because I always wish to finish a book I start but this one🤔🤔Ugh!!
The writer must have been good pals with the publisher because no wayyyyy in this world should this book be a best seller. It’s a dud.

Can we just re-set our lives?

Tyler's brilliant and loving exploration of a woman, at mid-life, trying a fresh do-over of her life. Beautifully crafted to offer a range of views on life, marriage, children and aging. All with Tyler's signature style of storytelling.

Very Good

Another great book by Tyler--subtle in plot but strong in capturing the reality and essence of the characters involved. Her scenes are vivid, real and true. I enjoyed it.