Ladder of Years

"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

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.

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!

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.

Anne Tyler knows humanity

Once again Anne Tyler has proven how well she understands humanity. She writes with simple, quiet, nuanced prose about people you know. You will find pieces of yourself on the page. You will find your spouse, parents, best friends. Her insightfulness always leaves me feeling seen.

In Ladder of Years we meet Delia, a sad, lonely woman surrounded by people. She feels like a stranger to the world, to those she loves, and even to herself. At times she feels quite self-centered and without the ability to understand that the words and actions of those around her may have nothing to do with her. But, mostly, she just feels like a confused and sad woman who has lost her identity. I think most of us have felt that way at times, and so she is relatable and inspires so much compassion.

This is a book about family, abandonment, loss of connection, and also hope.

As a woman who is turning 63 tomorrow, I found a lot of these emotions resonated with me. I remember the pain I felt when I became an empty-nester. My husband still worked full-time, but my role changed overnight, and I had to find the way to understand it and grow through it.

Delia makes a choice that is devastating to everyone, almost impossible to understand, and has a lasting impact. It is a choice that I wouldn't have made, but I found that I could relate to it nonetheless, and that is because of Ms Tyler's deft, beautiful writing.