Genre: Novel
Grade: A-
Notable People: Anne Tyler
Title: Saint Maybe
Review: set in Baltimore, during the 1960s at the start of the book, as are many of Tyler’s novels (“The Accidental Tourist”, and was a follow up to her Pulitzer Prize winning “Breathing Lessons”. This warm and beautiful book was recommended to me by one of my Blog followers and friends (Dan P.)…..a great recommendation. Tyler is a superb writer with a great sense for characters and their connections to one another. This is a story of a family that suffers multiple tragedies but finds its way forward in spite of the losses. Guilt, regret and remorse are fended off by hope, faith and family ties. Ian, the reluctant main character, is a burdened young (and then older) man, who somehow keeps going, finding ways to find shelter from the storm, while raising three orphaned nieces and nephews and caring for two shell shocked parents he feels responsible for. I had trouble at the start getting interested in this book, but very glad I persevered. I found it to be greatly uplifting at the end.