Found at my local village show, I wasn't sure whether I had this already, a brilliant find.

(08/05/10) *includes spoiler* Now I remember why I like Ann Tyler's writing so much, i've abandoned her for so long! This is a typical 'everyman' family saga which chronicles the life of ?? Tull, her errant husband Beck and children Cody, Ezra and Jenny. The Tull family eventually settle in Baltimore (Tyler's adopted city), although the travelling salesman Beck keeps moving, out of their lives for ever - or so they think. However, the damage to the family and the children seems mostly to come from the matriarch, both homemaking and caring, as well as insular and domineering/bullying. The favourite son Ezra spends most of his adult life and energy running the 'Homesick Restaurant' and in the later years looking after his failing mother. But, he fails to bring the family together, despite many disastrous attempts to even get them to sit down and complete a meal ... until after ?? dies!

As ever the joy of an AT book is not the action or sweeping vistas of place or history, but the gentle detail of families, relationships, nostalgia, pathos and melancholy. Fans will love this, others - and I know because I have lapsed - may find it a bit dull.

This is going onto the book stall at our charity fete on Sunday in Playford (IP6 9DU) if you want to come and collect it, with a small donation for a good cause and good karma :)