What readers think of Clock Dance, plus links to write your own review.

Once again Ann Tyler has written a book that will delight her many fans. Willa, the main character, is a middleaged woman, who, although loved and cared for, has always been taken for granted by those in her family.That changes suddenly when she receives a strange phone call that will turn her world upside down. A gentle and encouraging book that is bound to be the choice of many, many book clubs this year

Sometimes a book finds you right where you are and turns out to be the perfect book to read in that very moment. Clock Dance was just what the reading doctor ordered. Here's what I needed and here's what I got: a beautifully gentle story of a woman's life with its inevitable ups and downs. Anne Tyler tackles difficult subjects with grace and amazing insight sprinkled with humor and a true understanding of human nature. I saw myself and my family reflected in the familiar characters of this novel which prompted frequent chuckles and "notes to self" along the way. What a pleasant reading journey!

Character development in Clock Dance is not only one of the reasons I like Anne Tyler's books; it's also the theme of this particular book.

The first part of the book is about pivotal times in Willa's life that made her the woman that she is in 2017; eager to please, to be taken for granted, to not rock the boat. One disturbing incident is never really explained and is dismissed by her boyfriend and family as all in Willa's head. We're never told otherwise.

The second, and more interesting, part of the story begins with a mistaken call for help, which Willa uncharacteristically answers, much to the surprise of the recipients and the displeasure of her current husband. In answering that plea, Willa is thrown in with a family and neighborhood that will change her.

The main characters in Clock Dance, especially Willa and nine-year-old Cheryl, are more fleshed out than those in The Beginner's Goodbye. The secondary characters in the second part of the book are pretty well-developed with the exception of Peter, who seems like a cardboard copy of Derrick, Willa's first husband.

Celebrated author Anne Tyler returns with a novel exploring important, if somewhat-repetitive, themes. Willa Drake's journey to self-reliance and the ever-broadening distance between herself and her children might be recognizable to long-time Tyler fans. However, I suspect that the majority of audiences reading Clock Dance come to Tyler for precisely that reason; her finely-drawn characters are comfortingly familiar in the same way that putting on that old cozy sweater is. Though Tyler is very much within her comfort zone with this novel, I still quite enjoyed following Willa across the country and through her interactions with a fun, zany cast of characters.

I received a free copy of this book for discussion on Book Browse. I know I am supposed to wait to discuss this book but wanted to get review out. I truly loved this delightful tale and loved all of the quirky characters in Baltimore. My least favorites were Denise and Peter, her second husband, but it certainly didn't deter from the premise of the book. Do yourself a favor this Summer, pick this up at your local book store and savor every page. I do not believe in retelling the story in my reviews I just provide you with my thoughts on whether you should read it or not. By ALL MEANS! read this. It is an escape from the heat and the bad news.

Anne Tyler happens to be one of my favorite authors. She can take a can of beans and make a whole meal out of it. Very talented author who writes about the everyday, often mundane parts of every mans life. I have always found her character development to be strong, her story line to be practical and her voice to be magical.

In this new book, Willa Drake moves through time. It starts with her in high school, at home with her family, moves to her college days and marriage, then on to the birth of her children and the loss of her husband.

Her next chapter in life is to surrogate-parent the ex-girlfriend of her oldest son, along with that ex's daughter. This is where Willa finally starts to see herself as a person and come to terms with her life, both past and present. Her new friends quietly set her on a path of self discovery and Willa starts running full steam ahead.

Another good Anne Tyler book. I liked following Willa through the stages of her life — seeing how she felt about her life and how she related to others. As a transplant from Minnesota to southern California I understand how she missed the seasons. I found the novel's characters to be interesting, eccentric and likable.
What makes a family?

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.