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Earthly Possessions Kindle Edition

by Anne Tyler (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 751 ratings
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From the beloved Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Breathing Lessons—Charlotte Emory has always lived a quiet, conventional life in Clarion, Maryland. She lives as simply as possible, and one day decides to simplify everything and leave her husband.

Her last trip to the bank throws Charlotte's life into an entirely different direction when a restless young man in a nylon jacket takes her hostage during the robbery—and soon the two are heading south into an unknown future, and a most unexpected fate.
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  1. Print length
    210 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Vintage
  5. Publication date
    January 26, 2011
  6. File size
    3900 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"To read a novel by Anne Tyler is to fall in love."—PEOPLE Magazine

“A taste of Anne Tyler, once acquired, is a splendid addiction.”—The New York Times

From the Inside Flap

d a novel by Anne Tyler is to fall in love."

PEOPLE

Charlotte Emory has always lived a quiet, conventional life in Clarion, Maryland. She lives as simply as possible, and one day decides to simplify everything and leave her husband. Her last trip to the bank throws Charlotte's life into an entirely different direction when a restless young man in a nylon jacket takes her hostage during the robbery--and soon the two are heading south into an unknown future, and a most unexpected fate....

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B004IK8PQ4
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vintage; 1st Ballantine Books trade ed edition (January 26, 2011)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 26, 2011
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3900 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 210 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1446419088
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 751 ratings

About the author

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Anne Tyler

Anne Tyler

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Anne Tyler was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1941 and grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina. Her bestselling novels include Breathing Lessons, The Accidental Tourist, Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant, Ladder of Years, Back When We Were Grownups, A Patchwork Planet, The Amateur Marriage, Digging to America, A Spool of Blue Thread, Vinegar Girl and Clock Dance.

In 1989 she won the Pulitzer Prize for Breathing Lessons; in 1994 she was nominated by Roddy Doyle and Nick Hornby as 'the greatest novelist writing in English'; in 2012 she received the Sunday Times Award for Literary Excellence; and in 2015 A Spool of Blue Thread was a Sunday Times bestseller and was shortlisted for the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction and the Man Booker Prize.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
751 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

E. Bartley
5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite
Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2017
Verified Purchase
Earthly Possessions is probably my favorite novel by Tyler, who is probably my favorite author. Her characters are so beautifully fleshed out that I KNOW them! And often, I will learn something of my own personality in discovering my quirks (especially those of which I am unaware) in her people. And that's why I love THIS book the best. Charlotte, the heroine, has absolutely no circumstance in her life that mirrors my life, and yet I feel that I could BE Charlotte. Another characteristic of Tyler's writing is that she can ever so deftly lead a reader gradually to a discovery about some background truth or a character without actually articulating it.
9 people found this helpful
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cindyloohoo
4.0 out of 5 stars An unfortunate adventure that turns into everyday life.
Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2013
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I have had the pleasure of reading Ann Tyler in the past. This was another great read. Ann has a style of writing that I really enjoy. She is succinct and to the point in her sentencing and at the same time deep and thoughtful with the content. The characters come true to life with their consistent nature and charm. The story weaves you through everyday life issues with metaphors that aren't overstated and add light and color. This is a story I will read again.
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Nancy Crays
3.0 out of 5 stars Well Written But ...
Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2012
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The book begins with Charlotte Emory, a middle aged woman, going to the bank to withdraw money, as she has decided to leave her husband. However, a young man named Jake robs the bank and takes her as a hostage. Their journey takes them to Florida, to get Jake's pregnant, teenage girlfriend who is in a home for unwed women. The trip itself seemed less important to me than Charlotte's reminiscing about her life with her quirky family.

The Emory family was perhaps dysfunctional, but perhaps they were just a quirky family that Charlotte didn't like. Charlotte's husband was unemployed when they married but then became a preacher. Charlotte was not religious and was not happy with his vocational choice. He was always bringing people home to live with them including his three brothers. Some others he brought home were quirky. He also brought home a young boy to be their son. Charlotte complained about the additions to their household, but she always put up with them. Despite her unhappiness, she passively put up with her lot.

This is my third Anne Tyler book. Like the others, it is very well written and has excellent character development, but I didn't really enjoy it as I did the others. Perhaps it was because I couldn't relate to any of the characters or even like them. Charlotte was somewhat sympathetic, but I kept wanting to give her a shove and tell her to do something instead of continually bemoaning her fate and doing nothing about it. Jake was irresponsible, had had several scrapes with the law and was disliked by many people whom he knew. Her husband was very inconsiderate of his own family. Although I was not surprised by the ending, I found it rather unsatisfactory.

I recommend this book to those who enjoy reading about oddball characters.
7 people found this helpful
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J. T
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Story
Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2013
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I love this Anne Tyler story. She has such a wonderful writing style and her characters are wonderfully full and developed. Like all her books this is a great read and so far one of my favorites of her books.
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Lloyd S
4.0 out of 5 stars A little different
Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2013
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This novel is somewhat different than what we usually get from Anne Tyler. Usually her characters are quirky in a funny way and I find myself comparing her characters to people in my life. This time is different. Her characters are quirky but in a way that's sad and endearing. You want to reach out and help them. That being said, Anne has done a remarkable job in developing her characters. Each one can easily comes to life. The story line moves along smoothly, going back and forth between past and present. I would easily recommend this book. Just don't expect to laugh out loud this time.
2 people found this helpful
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Valski
5.0 out of 5 stars A Delightful Surprise
Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2013
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I know that Ann Tyler said this book (her first 4 books actually) aren't her best--but I really liked this. It's not the style we are used to, but it's a sweet, poignant narrative with a universal theme. It's far from maudlin and especially creative. I really liked it--and I've read everything she's published. Don't expect Homesick or Ladder of Years or anything along those lines--just go into it with an open mind, and an open heart. :)
One person found this helpful
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Lazy Day Gardener
4.0 out of 5 stars I'd run away from home, but I can't cross the street...,.
Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2009
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Anne Tyler's characters are quirky - that's a given. And this is an especially quirky and interesting lot. Although an early book, this is a vintage Tyler plot - the woman who needs to run away from home.

Thirty-five-year-old Charlotte is in the process of leaving her family - again - when she is taken hostage by the world's most ineffectual bank robber. The two flee by bus to liberate the robber's girl friend from a home for unwed mothers, and in the process we learn Charlotte's story.

It's an early Tyler and the characters are a bit over-the-top, but nevertheless worth reading.
One person found this helpful
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Signa
5.0 out of 5 stars I feel like I know the people when I am finished with ...
Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2015
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Anne Tyler is such an exceptional author with her characters. I feel like I know the people when I am finished with one of her books. I am currently reading all of her books. I am more than half way through and I have loved all of them. I am so happy I found her books. It has been an enjoyable fun getting to know all the people and especially the quirky ones.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Mrs Jarvis
5.0 out of 5 stars Always a soothing read, chicken soup for the mind
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 14, 2024
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I always enjoy Anne Tyler’s observational narrative and the comfortable, soothing feeling you get from reading one of her books, even though the seemingly dramatic events of a bank robbery and hostage taking sound alarming, the authors treatment of her characters and the melancholy, minutiae and irony that is the fabric of their lives, feels like pulling on a comfortable, old sweater and curling up somewhere cosy. I could read her books forever.
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4.0 out of 5 stars Loved Digging to America & A spool of blue thread ...
Reviewed in India on March 9, 2018
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She is not very well known in India...don't know why. She should be. Her books are seemingly simple, but have a depth that gets revealed as one immerses themselves in them.

Loved Digging to America & A spool of blue thread and this one is no exception.
One person found this helpful
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AHD
5.0 out of 5 stars Erstaunlich
Reviewed in Germany on August 1, 2012
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Nicht nur erstaunt mich Tylers Fähigkeit immer aufs Neue, hineinzutauchen in das, was uns Menschen ausmacht, dabei ein Feuerwerk von Empfindungen freizusetzen, nie pathetisch zu sein, kunstvoll zu jonglieren zwischen bedrückend Traurigem, Komik, Poesie, Skurilem. Auch erstaunlich ist an dieser Stelle für mich, dass die letzte Rezension dieses Buches auf das Jahr 2000 zurückgeht. Kann es sein, dass solche phantastischen Bücher nicht mehr gelesen werden, irgendwie untergehen in all dem, was man "heute so gelesen haben sollte"?

Die Geschichte von Charlotte und Jake, dem kleinen Bankräuber und Tunichtgut auf der einen Seite und die Geschichte von Charlotte und ihrer Familie auf der anderen Seite, ist so atemberaubend gut, dass ich nur hoffen kann, diese Autorin wird auch noch in Zukunft das eine oder andere Buch schreiben. Für mich bleiben bis dahin zum Glück noch ein paar ungelesene zurück!
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Frances Stott
4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, if not one of her best
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 4, 2014
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Charlotte, bored with her priest husband and her rather random houseful of family members and guests, has decided to leave home. But her plans are interrupted when she is caught up in a bank raid, and kidnapped by the bank robber, Jake.

These are the bare bones of what is actually a gentle, slow-paced novel. The narrative moves back and forth between Charlotte's past and then married life, and her present predicament, and as the story progresses, we get to know both Charlotte and Jake, as Jake takes her on his travels, battling with his own problems as he goes. The family Charlotte has left behind - her husband and daughter, her three brothers-in-law, a strange baby she seems to have picked up along the way, and a couple of lodgers - is beautifully descibed, and as always with this author, it is hard to dislike any of her characters.

I think I have now read pretty well all Anne Tyler's books, and have enjoyed them all. However, this (an early one) lacks some of the depth of the later novels, and while I enjoyed it, it's not one of my favourites. But Tyler writes like a dream, and she knows how to tell a story, and like all her novels, this one is well worth reading.
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Bookworm
3.0 out of 5 stars definitely not her best
Reviewed in Germany on April 9, 2013
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I love Anne Tyler, but this wasn't up to her usual standard. I found the characters unbelievable and the plot weak.
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