Cynthia S

Anne Tyler is a master storyteller, able to create characters who breathe right off the page. But her latest novel, Clock Dance, can't help but feel derivative. Willa, a middle-aged, empty-nester going through spiritual malaise, meets a cast of eccentric Baltimoreans who breathe new life into her dull, boring life. We've seen this story before in previous novels like The Accidental Tourist, Saint Maybe and others. Clock Dance is a decent read, beautifully written and sharply observed, but I kept waiting for something more transgressive to happen to break up the well-worn formula.

Eternal Life is an interesting look at what it's like to live forever, but it's primary aim is less about how to live a long time, then it is about how to live a blessed life. I enjoyed reading it for the most part, though there were sections where I wondered where the story was headed. The characters are well written and the plot, much of which takes place in a Jewish community in ancient Rome, is grounded in realism despite the story's fantastic elements. Rachel and Elazar and their immortal and very complicated romance is intriguing, but the novel digs deeper to create a rich and very complex exploration of life, love, family, and faith.