Celestial Navigation [Hardcover]

Anne Tyler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 20, 1975

Jeremy Pauling is a bachelor with a passion for making sculptures out of odds and ends. He is also fearful of beautiful women, so when his new lodger, Mary, arrives, he is faced with a challenge he really cannot handle. From the author of THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST and BREATHING LESSONS.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

"Tyler is steadily raising a body of fiction of major dimensions."

THE NEW YORK TIMES

Thirty-eight-year-old Jeremy Pauling has never left home. He lives on the top floor of a Baltimore row house where he creates collages of little people snipped from wrapping paper. His elderly mother putters in the rooms below, until her death. And it is then that Jeremy is forced to take in Mary Tell and her child as boarders. Mary is unaware of how much courage it takes Jaremy to look her in the eye. For Jeremy, like one of his paper creations, is fragile and easily torn--especially when he's falling in love.... --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Anne Tyler was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina. Her 11th novel Breathing Lessons, won the Pulitzer Prize in 1988 and her latest novel Digging to America was nominated for the Orange Prize for Fiction in 2007. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. She lives in Baltimore, Maryland. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Chatto & Windus (March 20, 1975)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0701120940
• ISBN-13: 978-0701120948
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Anne Tyler was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1941 and grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina. This is her 17th novel. Her 11th, Breathing Lessons, was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1988. A member of the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, she lives in Baltimore, Maryland.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazon's description of this book is inaccurate, February 21, 2001

By 

Mike P. (Toledo, Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Celestial Navigation (Paperback)

The synopsis and book review for this book are incorrect. Jeremy's mother is already dead at the opening of the book which begins with his sister fretting because Jeremy does not perform his responsibilities as the son of a recently departed widow.

Jeremy's sister does not move in with him. She merely stays at the house for the duration of the funeral. Jeremy's boarders do not "bring home babies" because he is the father of those babies.

Many of the other reviews posted by readers focus on how miserable the characters are. But an underlying theme seems to be the role of the artist in our society. Jeremy's mental process of artistic creation is very unique,and in contrast to what most people believe "normal" should be.

Readers shouldn't dismiss the characters because they seem pathetic. Instead, they should read between the lines to see the struggles that are taking place inside the characters as they try to define their lives in terms of social relationships and artistic vision.

I recommend this book to anyone who makes art or who wants to know how the process of making art is at odds with the rules society expects people to follow.

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars She paints a wonderful tale once again., December 13, 1998

By 

E. Caldwell "E.Caldwell" (New Jersey, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Celestial Navigation (Paperback)

Celestial Navigation is definitely one of my favorite books by Anne Tyler. With her extrordinary talent, she has become the master of modern contemporary writers. There is no one whose books I'd rather find myself reading than hers. Celestial Navigation is simply touching; the character of Jeremy Pauling is moving in his awkward attempt at gaining the love of the woman he so greatly admires. However, don't be fooled. Tyler's stories aren't entirely about love; they are about life and the strength needed to get past the everyday struggles that we all undoubtably face. Anne Tyler's novels are like fantastic jewels, both rare and precious. I only hope that in the remaining books I have yet to read by Tyler, that I find the joy I have found thus far.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tender, lovely heartbreaking story., June 4, 2003

By 

Tsila Sofer Elguez "Tsila Sofer Elguez" (Haifa, Israel) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Celestial Navigation (Paperback)

No...no... there must be more! I wanted to shout when I arrived at the ending of this book. I still remain under the impression of this story thinking over and again about the characters, searching for clues and trying to understand how everything about their description and evolvement has built up to such a conclusion. I am even a bit displeased with Anne Tyler of choosing to end the book in such a way. I negotiate with her in my mind but have to conclude she was right...
Celestial Navigation is presented from different perspectives. Each chapter has the voice of a different person and Anne Tyler manages to give each personality its own unique tone and its special, different thoughts. Jeremy for example thinks in colors shapes and contours. He is always being "told about" and not presented in his own voice like the other women characters. Maybe because his mind is so confused that the readers, like the people surrounding him, will not be able to understand it if his "inside" was presented. The writer sort of "explains him" to us.
There are no good or bad characters (well - the writer and the readers do not really appreciate Olivia but we understand her. We know where she is coming from) - all are human beings and you can understand what "makes them tick. Every character has flaws that are seen only when you look from the outside. When people think from the inside out they can think about personal faults that no one else seems to notice.
Jeremy's personality is explained very well and although he is totally different you feel you know him. Mary seems to be more easy to figure out but its with her we are surprised when we learn what other people think and feel about her actions.
These characters are so achingly real it hurts. These are no hot shots. We have a group of real life losers. When I say losers I mean if they are judged according to society strict rules of success and happiness. Anne Tyler however wants to tell us that happiness is not always what you see on the surface and people can sometimes know only after that they were happy. Also communication is the essence of it all and can be done in a variety of ways, as long as its done...
Tender, lovely heartbreaking story.