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Noah's Compass
Noah's Compass
Author: Anne Tyler
From the incomparable Anne Tyler, a wise, gently humorous, and deeply compassionate novel about a schoolteacher, who has been forced to retire at sixty-one, coming to terms with the final phase of his life. — Liam Pennywell, who set out to be a philosopher and ended up teaching fifth grade, never much liked the job at that run-down private school...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780307272409
ISBN-10: 0307272400
Publication Date: 9/29/2009
Pages: 288
Rating:
  • Currently 3.1/5 Stars.
 45

3.1 stars, based on 45 ratings
Publisher: Knopf
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback, Audio CD
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

Tunerlady avatar reviewed Noah's Compass on + 581 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
A very sensitive witty story; a little offbeat with some humor, but very clever and thoughtful. This author is wonderful.
reviewed Noah's Compass on + 120 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Have you ever read a book where you wanted to slap the protangonist? If not, read this one. Liam Pennywell (name, ugh!!)is completely ineffectual. Life sort of happens to him. In addition, he is 61, has decided that his life is winding down, so the likelihood of his finally grabbing the reins is slim. To Ms. Tyler's credit, the character of Liam is completely genuine - there is not a false note in his behavior through out the book. And there is a completely unexpected twist about 2/3rds through the book which almost makes it worthwhile because that moment is a stunner.
reviewed Noah's Compass on
Helpful Score: 1
I was very excited to see Anne Tyler had a new book but I was so dissappointed:( i finished the book but I wasn't moved in the least:( I love all her other books:)!
reviewed Noah's Compass on + 51 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This book resonates in your mind long after the story ends. It is very personal as it peeks into the mind of a man who thought he had an ever-diminishing role in society, only to find that around many corners there are high points and low points never expected.
myanniecat avatar reviewed Noah's Compass on + 218 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Beautifully written, as are all of Anne Tyler's books. I love the way she gets into a characters mind and you can feel and picture just exactly what they're feeling. I've read all of her books and enjoyed them all. I liked this book, but I didn't love it. Even though I'm still thinking about the MC, I thought the ending could have been better. I felt like it just stopped. I wanted to know more....
Read All 12 Book Reviews of "Noahs Compass"

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reviewed Noah's Compass on
Like all of Anne Tyler's books I found Noah's Compass to be touching, witty, and a tad melancholy. To me this is a textbook-perfect ending. I loved this story about an older man and a not young woman, a not glamorous story with a moral bent and a serious twist. Tyler's gift is in making the mundane and everyday people and situations shine.
reviewed Noah's Compass on
I liked a lot. A laid back easy read that is thoroughly enjoyable.
reviewed Noah's Compass on + 17 more book reviews
This book is about Liam, who is a somewhat sad figure who is laid off from his job, moves into a much smaller apartment, and wakes up in the hospital the next morning with no memory of what happened. He struggles to try to remember what happened and meets a woman in the process. The story is pretty sad about a sad man, several sad women, and unhappy relationships. But Anne Tyler keeps you turning pages and at the end I felt satisfied that Liam was fixing relationships and building new ones and moving on with his life.

Book Wiki

People/Characters
Liam (Primary Character)
Eunice (Primary Character)

Genres: