Clock Dance by Anne Tyler

Dec 28, 2022

The group agreed that Anne Tyler, while being obtuse, is a master of characterizations and relationship nuance. We discussed in great detail aspects of protagonist Willa’s quirky new family-of-choice as opposed to her family-of-origin, which is the crux of the story. Why does she choose to live among these strangers? Willa’s bi-polar mother, Gandhi-like father, closed-off sister, and two husbands never properly nurtured her, so didn’t she have to find a different tribe? With this novel, readers of Anne Tyler will recognize people choosing to love the wrong people, the bumpy ride, and dialogue that would thrive in a movie version.

The Federation Book Club meets via Zoom at 4:00 PM on the first Thursdays of every month.

January 5: Three Ordinary Girls, non-fiction by Time Brady
February 2: Horse, novel by Geraldine Brooks
March 2: The Clockmaker’s Daughter, novel by Kate Morton

A guest post by

Beth Buechler

Beth Buechler writes and teaches fiction writing, organizes two feedback groups, and based her MA thesis—a collection of Jewish folktales—on her childhood classes in Yiddish. In 2013, she moved to Indiana from Maine.