Title: A haunting tale of the dreams and nightmares of a family.
Product review: This was required additional reading for an undergraduate developmental psychology course at George Mason University in 1984. Fifteen years and two academic degrees later, I am still haunted by this story. Tyler's portrayal of a child in a dysfunctional family depicts more danger to the human spirit than being homeless in the dead of winter. Having been a single parent of four wonderful daughters has made me appreciate what Anne Tyler brought to life in "Homesick." I almost felt guilty for being so lucky by comparison. I've since read other Tyler "monuments to humanity" and was finally able to enjoy a comparatively happy ending in "Ladder of Years" (which was recommended by a member of my fiction-writers monthly critique group). Although real-life happy endings are often mixed blessings, this long-overdue conclusion left me glad for the journey.
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