Review: Saint Maybe by Anne Tyler

Saint Maybe by Anne Tyler

Published: August 1991

Publisher: Knopf

Format: purchased copy

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis

In 1965, the happy Bedloe family is living an ideal, apple-pie existence in Baltimore.  Then, in the blink of an eye, a single tragic event occurs that will transform their lives forever--particularly that of seventeen-year-old Ian Bedloe, the youngest son, who blames himself for the sudden "accidental" death of his older brother.

Depressed and depleted, Ian is almost crushed under the weight of an unbearable, secret guilt.  Then one crisp January evening, he catches sight of a window with glowing yellow neon, the CHURCH OF THE SECOND CHANCE.  He enters and soon discovers that forgiveness must be earned, through a bit of sacrifice and a lot of love.

My Thoughts

This is one of my favorite books of all time. I love everything about this one. It focuses on Ian and his family, his older brother Danny meets this woman and gets married very quickly. She has kids from a previous marriage and is pregnant though no one knows. Ian from the very beginning doesn’t trust this woman, Danny is a man who naïve and very much in love. One night he confronts Danny about his marriage how his wife is always gone and how Ian even doubts that the baby is his. Danny devastated gets into a car wreck down the street. Was it an accident? Or did Danny so hurt crash on purpose.  Ian from that day is hurt and remorseful knowing he might have played a hand into his brother’s death. He searches deep within himself and one night wanders into a church and decides he will raise these children since they have no one. Ian gives up everything his college education and his girlfriend at the time. After time he realizes that family doesn’t always mean by blood, family is anyone you love and care for. He loved and raised those kids as his own loving them no matter what.

I loved how this story took place in the 60’s at a time when the country was still very innocent. This story was all about family and faith, knowing sometimes God has a bigger plan for yourself than you could have every imagined. This is one book that demands to be read. Also if you like they did make this into a TV movie; while I’m one who doesn’t like 90% of book to films this one is quite nice. They tend to show it every time around Christmas on the Hallmark channel. If you can find it check it out it’s not to shabby.