The Tin Can Tree: A Novel (1st Ballantine Books Trade Ed) [Paperback]

Anne Tyler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 27, 1996 | Series: 1st Ballantine Books Trade Ed

In the small town of Larksville, the Pike family is hopelessly out of step with the daily rhythms of life after the tragic, accidental death of six-year-old Janie Rose. Mrs. Pike seldom speaks, blaming herself, while Mr. Pike is forced to come out of his long, comfortable silence. Then there is ten-year-old Simon, who is suddenly without a baby sister -- and without understanding why she's gone.

Those closest to this shattered family must learn to comfort them -- and confront their own private shadows of hidden grief. If time cannot draw them out of the dark, then love may be their only hope....

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

In the small town of Larksville, the Pike family is hopelessly out of step with the daily rhythms of life after the tragic, accidental death of six-year-old Janie Rose. Mrs. Pike seldom speaks, blaming herself, while Mr. Pike is forced to come out of his long, comfortable silence. Then there is ten-year-old Simon, who is suddenly without a baby sister -- and without understanding why she's gone.

Those closest to this shattered family must learn to comfort them -- and confront their own private shadows of hidden grief. If time cannot draw them out of the dark, then love may be their only hope....

About the Author

Born in Minneapolis in 1941, Anne Tyler lives in Baltimore where her novels are set. She is the Pulitzer-prize winning novels of Breathing Lessons and other bestselling novels, including The Accidental Tourist, Saint Maybe, Back When We Were Grownups and The Amateur Marriage. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (August 27, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0449911896
• ISBN-13: 978-0449911891
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.6 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #624,821 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Early signs of genius, August 23, 1999

By 

"[e-mail]" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Tin Can Tree: A Novel (1st Ballantine Books Trade Ed) (Paperback)

My expectations for this book were very low, which might be why I found it so good. I had heard that this was her worst novel. but having read 12 of the other 13, I had to read this one. It lacks the complexities of plot and character of her later novels, but the simplicity is not a weakness. It is a gentle story of unexceptional people in a sleepy little town where nothing ever happens - apart from the odd accidental death - but Tyler pulls the reader in through the front doors and makes us care. Joan and James are probably too similar to several other early Tyler characters, but the author keeps our interest up. These people might be dull to the outside world, but Tyler shows us the spark of rebellion flickering deep inside - hinting at the one big decisive act of their lives (this usually involves running away from a big famlily - it happens in almost all of Tyler's books!). If you are not a big Tyler fan you won't like this book, but if you are, ignore the critics and treat yourself!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not as great as one would have hoped., December 13, 1998

By 

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

This review is from: The Tin Can Tree: A Novel (1st Ballantine Books Trade Ed) (Paperback)

As an avid reader of Anne Tyler's works, I found The Tin Can Tree to be a surprising letdown. Over the past year I've read eight of the fourteen books Tyler's written and had greatly enjoyed every other one. However, I had to force myself to finish The Tin Can Tree and was sadly disappointed as to how much I didn't love it. If you are a fan of Anne Tyler, read it; maybe you will enjoy it more than I did. If you have yet to read Anne Tyler, don't form your opinion on this book. I suggest reading Celestial Navigation or Ladder of Years, two of my favorite novels of Anne Tyler's mastery.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The whole was less than the sum of its parts, April 14, 2001

By 

Ms Diva "cycworker" (Nanaimo, B.C. Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Tin Can Tree: A Novel (1st Ballantine Books Trade Ed) (Paperback)

I am a huge Anne Tyler fan, so I was disappointed that Tin Can Tree wasn't up the the caliber of Accidental Tourist (my favorite Tyler novel) or Breathing Lessons. But it one of her first, and the signs of her ability are there. The story of Janie Rose and how her parents cope with her death is compelling, but the problem is the treatment of it is somehow superficial. The author is so intent on showing me life in small town America that she leaves the novel's core family, the Pike's inaccessible. All the relationships were superficial. The characters of James, and Ansell in particular, took up far too much space, especially since their story never went anywhere. In short, this book had alot of great elements that did not up to a novel worthy of Tyler's talent