Noah’s Compass by Anne Tyler

I’ve always felt that the central beauty of Anne Tyler’s work is the way in which it ennobles the common man. Characters often fumble around in the existential darkness, but usually find their way. Liam Pennywell, the central character in Tyler’s Noah’s Compass, is the newest in a long line of characters who eventually find inspiration in unexpected places. Liam is a 61 year old teacher who has recently been fired and moves into a non-descript apartment, only to awaken one day in the hospital, with no memory of how he got there. The story definitely holds some surprises, but then, not a lot happens. We get to know Liam’s daughters, a grandchild, and his ex-wives more through his musings than through any actions taken by the characters. Readers of Tyler may be disappointed at the book’s brevity. Compared with Celestial Navigations or Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant, it might be considered slight. This is a spare and wistful story. I enjoyed it.