Searching for Caleb

by Anne Tyler

Book Overview

The beloved bestselling, Pulitzer Prize-winning author brings us a novel that is "funny and lyric and true (The New Yorker). Through the syncopated rhythms of the ragtime era to the thumping, rocking... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0394498488
• Release Date: December 1975
• Publisher: Knopf
• Length: 309 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.

Customer Reviews

100 Years

Follow a century in the life of a family in this true to life story that leaps right off the page.

Mistress of Quirk

Anne Tyler succeeds in the difficult art of making essentially boring, humdrum, quirky, flawed, annoying, bizarre, weirdo social misfits the fascinating and eminently readable subjects of her books. The Pecks are no exception, who set about searching for the missing Caleb. What a rare and unusual talent this lady from Baltimore has. In reading a bio of her, I discovered she was a 19yo senior at Duke University when I was a clueless 17yo freshman there. Damn! If I'd only known...

My favorite Anne Tyler book, and that's saying something!

Anne Tyler is my favorite living author and one of less than a handful who produce books that I must rush out and buy immediately. In hardback, at full price - and I HATE paying full price! Novels like this are what made me fall in love with Anne Tyler. I do not understand other comments from readers. Apparently they want fictional characters to be inspirationally motivating role models that will save the world and enlighten us all. Well, sorry, but people are not like that in real life, either. They are exotic and boring and delightful and monstrously annoying, all at the same time, As are the Pecks. The story works brilliantly. While we are wondering if Caleb Peck will be found, we're learning about "black sheep" Justine and Duncan, how they met and married. Justine's story about the cousin who was such a bad influence on her, and what happened to him, is amusing, with a terrific ending line. I found all the Pecks delightful. I found neither Justine nor Duncan "weak" or "unpleasant," but flawed, and delightfully so. Perhaps other readers were made nervous by Justine's rootlessness; I don't know. I DO know that I have enjoyed all Tyler's books, and yet I constantly return to the Pecks - I love them! Anne Tyler has a great gift - that cannot be denied. Good writing like this is so hard to find, and needs to be treasured. I highly recommend this book - it's a gem!

Searching for Caleb

One of, if not THE BEST, of Anne Tyler's wonderful novels. After reading this book, I had a new understanding of Fortune tellers and more importantly of families and family interaction. The relationship between Justine and her daughter and Justine and her husband and Justine and her grandfather are all beautifully and memorably drawn.

My favorite from Anne Tyler

I have read everything from Anne Tyler, and this is without a doubt my favorite. Although I agree that Justine, Duncan, or any of the Pecks are hardly rolemodels, they are fascinating characters and not that hard to relate to - haven't you ever wondered what your life would have been like if you had run away every time you felt like it? One additional thought on Anne Tyler's writing style: she's amazingly talented. I've never read anyone who is as capable of making you understand a character though details of converstation as is Anne Tyler. It's more than worth giving her a chance.