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There are currently 28 member reviews
for Clock Dance
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Elizabeth S. (East Hartford, CT)
Another Tyler Gem
Anne Tyler again focuses her keen eye on the kind of woman, Willa, who rarely takes the center of a novel. Willa, ironically named since she has had no will of her own for most of her life, leaves Arizona for Baltimore. There she will find a collection of quirky, challenging and overlooked characters who will test her view of herself. Despite her lifelong passive nature, Willa finds unexpected strengths in this welcome addition to Tyler's focus on working class Baltimore.
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Anita P. (Lutherville, MD)
A sincere, sympathetic soul is the core of Clock Dance
Subtle, yet heartwarming and inspiring, Clock Dance manages to create a protagonist, Willa, that represents the internal voice that so many women have. The voice that tells us to act politely under all circumstances and never create a fuss. The voice that asks ourselves "why haven't I done more with my life?" The voice that tinges all new experiences, large and small, with anxiety. What makes the book worthwhile is seeing how Willa grows from a timid young woman to an empowered individual. The small details bring the story to life and keep the reader engaged and turning the pages.
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Catherine H. (Barnegat, NJ)
Clock Dance
Willa Drake's ordinary life is challenged when she responds to a frantic call from a stranger demanding that she fly cross country to care for a nine-year old girl whoes mother is the victim of a gun shot wound. Not having ever met the mother or child, Willa moves into a community not at all like her own. I found the eclectic neighbors interesting as Willa is transformed by her ordeal. Although, at times Willa's co-dependency and need to please others is overwrought , I enjoyed the dynamics of the characters relationships with one another . Their acts of kindness and trust as well as jealousy and betrayal answered the big question, "What do you live for Willa?"
Clock Dance is a story of "family" and a woman yearning for something more as she gives her all to others.
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Eileen F. (Media, PA)
Family?
We are back in Anne Tyler land. Baltimore, disappointing family, finding a purposeful life and who makes up a family are some of the themes that crop up. Her writing is like slipping on an old sweater, warm and comforting. This may not be her best work but it was enjoyable.
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Jo (DeRidder,LA)
Bland
I have read all of Tyler's books and really enjoyed most of them. This one left me wanting more. I felt that the short bits of Willa's life that we were shown were not enough to feel like I knew her. The last half of the book was more satisfying and the characters more fully developed. I would not recommend this for my book group to discuss. But Tyler's characters in the last half of the book were quirky and interesting as always.
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Cynthia S. (Richmond,, CA)
Beautifully written and observed, but formulaic
Anne Tyler is a master storyteller, able to create characters who breathe right off the page. But her latest novel, Clock Dance, can't help but feel derivative. Willa, a middle-aged, empty-nester going through spiritual malaise, meets a cast of eccentric Baltimoreans who breathe new life into her dull, boring life. We've seen this story before in previous novels like The Accidental Tourist, Saint Maybe and others. Clock Dance is a decent read, beautifully written and sharply observed, but I kept waiting for something more transgressive to happen to break up the well-worn formula.
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Babe H. (Augusta, IL)
Clock Dance
Readers often need to feel connected to the protagonists in novels. Although the cover piece noted that this novel would be covering significant events within a 10 or 20 year span, I didn't feel involved enough with Willa to realize that the discussed events were significant. Willa felt more like a woman that I might have politely met at a shower or birthday party with whom I would not be concerned about meeting ever again. This lasted through Part I of the book.
By the time Willa made a real decision accompanied with real action, although a bit out of character, the new people introduced were much more interesting. The newer characters had much more depth and were easier to visualize. I was also surprised by how much Willa's sons disliked Peter. I didn't believe that the previous storyline had prepared the reader for that development. There didn't seem to be enough build up to Willa's personality change to substantiate the novel's ending. It appeared that Taylor was tired of writing.
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