The Tin Can Tree
by Anne Tyler
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In the small town of Larksville, the Pike family is hopelessly out of step with the daily rhythms of life. Mrs. Pike seldom speaks, while Mr. Pike maintains a forced stoicism. Only their ten-year-old, Simon, seems able to acknowledge that their world has changed. He just doesn't understand why. The Pikes may choose to stand still, to hide from an unnameable past, but the strange shroud over their home cannot be contained. Soon it's inching its way toward their neighbors, where brothers Ansel show more and James will have to confront their own dark secrets if they want to bring their neighborhood back out into the light. show lessTags
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Photographs represent attempts to stop time, which is why we get out our cameras on Christmas morning, at birthday parties, at family reunions and when children and pets do cute things more than we do at funeral homes and in hospital rooms. Some moments we want to stop more than others.
Anne Tyler seems to have this thought in mind when she uses photography as a metaphor in one of her earliest novels, "The Tin Can Tree" (1965). James, the designated photographer, twice takes photos at gatherings of friends and family. One is soon after the shocking death of little Janie Rose, when smiles prove hard to find. Later he tries again, more successfully, after Simon, Janie Rose's runaway brother, is found and returns home.
Simon feels ignored show more and unloved after his sister's death. His mother, who hardly even gets out of her bed, ignores him, leaving him in the care of Joan, a young adult relative with a crush on James. Meanwhile Joan herself feels unloved and unappreciated, as James devotes himself to Ansel, his hypochondriac brother. So she runs away, too, later returning with hardly anyone even noticing she had left, finding the party for Simon, the young prodigal, already in progress.
Other times, both past and future, and other places, where the grass appears more green, have their appeal. Yet Tyler's familiar but timeless message seems to be that what we have in this moment's photograph, the place where we are and the people we still have with us, can be worth celebrating. show less
Anne Tyler seems to have this thought in mind when she uses photography as a metaphor in one of her earliest novels, "The Tin Can Tree" (1965). James, the designated photographer, twice takes photos at gatherings of friends and family. One is soon after the shocking death of little Janie Rose, when smiles prove hard to find. Later he tries again, more successfully, after Simon, Janie Rose's runaway brother, is found and returns home.
Simon feels ignored show more and unloved after his sister's death. His mother, who hardly even gets out of her bed, ignores him, leaving him in the care of Joan, a young adult relative with a crush on James. Meanwhile Joan herself feels unloved and unappreciated, as James devotes himself to Ansel, his hypochondriac brother. So she runs away, too, later returning with hardly anyone even noticing she had left, finding the party for Simon, the young prodigal, already in progress.
Other times, both past and future, and other places, where the grass appears more green, have their appeal. Yet Tyler's familiar but timeless message seems to be that what we have in this moment's photograph, the place where we are and the people we still have with us, can be worth celebrating. show less
In the small town of Larksville, the Pike family is in the midst of terrible crisis. They are hopelessly out of step with the rhythms of daily life after the tragic, accidental death of six-year-old Janie Rose. Janie Rose's absence is keenly felt by everyone and her family will never be whole again.
Lou - Janie's mother - blames herself for her daughter's death, and so has retreated into her own private world of grief. She seldom speaks to those around her and is barely aware of her surroundings. Roy - Janie's father - has been forced to emerge from his many years of long, comfortable silence. Janie's ten-year-old brother, Simon, is suddenly without his baby sister or any proper understanding of why she's gone.
Those closest to this show more shattered family must learn to comfort them - as well as confront their own private shadows of hidden grief. If time cannot draw them out of the dark, and thus foster any expectation of creating a meaningful future, then love just may be their only hope...
In my opinion, this was a gripping story. The plot was thoroughly engrossing and I was completely captured from the first page. I wanted to see how each character would cope with their grief. I give this book an A!
As I may have said before, I think that Ms. Tyler is an excellent writer. Those books of hers that I've read, have been filled with characters that you can't help but care for, going through circumstances that are absolutely plausible. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. show less
Lou - Janie's mother - blames herself for her daughter's death, and so has retreated into her own private world of grief. She seldom speaks to those around her and is barely aware of her surroundings. Roy - Janie's father - has been forced to emerge from his many years of long, comfortable silence. Janie's ten-year-old brother, Simon, is suddenly without his baby sister or any proper understanding of why she's gone.
Those closest to this show more shattered family must learn to comfort them - as well as confront their own private shadows of hidden grief. If time cannot draw them out of the dark, and thus foster any expectation of creating a meaningful future, then love just may be their only hope...
In my opinion, this was a gripping story. The plot was thoroughly engrossing and I was completely captured from the first page. I wanted to see how each character would cope with their grief. I give this book an A!
As I may have said before, I think that Ms. Tyler is an excellent writer. Those books of hers that I've read, have been filled with characters that you can't help but care for, going through circumstances that are absolutely plausible. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. show less
The story concerns the aftermath of a little girl’s accidental death and its effects on the people who live in the same house: her family and neighbors.
I didn’t think that this novel lived up to the strength of Tyler’s other publications. While the prose and characterization, as always, are strong, the story isn’t that compelling. It just seems to amble along to no spot in particular.
I didn’t think that this novel lived up to the strength of Tyler’s other publications. While the prose and characterization, as always, are strong, the story isn’t that compelling. It just seems to amble along to no spot in particular.
In her second book , Anne Tyler again squeezes out emotional power from her characters.
"Bravest thing about people, Miss Joan, is how they go on loving mortal beings after finding out there's such a thing as dying.”
"Bravest thing about people, Miss Joan, is how they go on loving mortal beings after finding out there's such a thing as dying.”
A good portrait of working people in small-town America in the 1960s. It didn't really move me, though, despite being set in the aftermath of a terrible tragedy for the community.
Tyler's observational skills are excellent, as usual, but there's too much minor detail for my tastes, and the story is rather slow-moving. The ending isn't all that encouraging, either.
Pleasant enough as a light read for odd moments, but not one of my favourites by this author.
Longer review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2023/12/the-tin-can-tree-by-anne-tyler.html
Tyler's observational skills are excellent, as usual, but there's too much minor detail for my tastes, and the story is rather slow-moving. The ending isn't all that encouraging, either.
Pleasant enough as a light read for odd moments, but not one of my favourites by this author.
Longer review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2023/12/the-tin-can-tree-by-anne-tyler.html
This is my favorite author! I have been reading her book for over twenty years and now going back to find the ones that I have missed.
Anne Tyler says that it is not her best. She needed a rest after her first book and she would have written it differently today. There is a Reader's Guide and another section for questions and answers. This is a more simple storyline but is about family again. A little girl, Janie died in an accident. Her mother is deeply depressed and takes to her bed and cannot get on with her life. Janie was one that she cared the least about, Janie was eternally optimistic but was desperate to be loved. Her older brother, Simon is ten years old and is dependent on his aunt Joan who came for a visit and stayed. Joan show more never felt like she was part of a family. Her parents pretty much ignored her. So she lived with her aunt and uncle Pike.
Next door in the duplex were James, a photographer, and his brother Ansel. James left his home and took his brother with him so he could take care of him. Ansel was anemic and was always recovering or getting worse but he could drive you up a wall with his endless talk. He is not employed and expects James to take care of him.
His caretaking is mirrored by Joan's caretaking of Simon and Janie until she dies.
After the death, the Pike family fell apart. Mr. Pike never talked and finally decided he had to get back to working instead of just staring at things. Joan worked in the summer at a tobacco place and her co-workers discussed how to get Mrs. Pike back to her life.
It is a little depressing and it would be impossible to think of the family members and their neighbors growing socially and getting to be back to being sort of a family. But it is difficult to stop reading and I loved the ending. show less
Anne Tyler says that it is not her best. She needed a rest after her first book and she would have written it differently today. There is a Reader's Guide and another section for questions and answers. This is a more simple storyline but is about family again. A little girl, Janie died in an accident. Her mother is deeply depressed and takes to her bed and cannot get on with her life. Janie was one that she cared the least about, Janie was eternally optimistic but was desperate to be loved. Her older brother, Simon is ten years old and is dependent on his aunt Joan who came for a visit and stayed. Joan show more never felt like she was part of a family. Her parents pretty much ignored her. So she lived with her aunt and uncle Pike.
Next door in the duplex were James, a photographer, and his brother Ansel. James left his home and took his brother with him so he could take care of him. Ansel was anemic and was always recovering or getting worse but he could drive you up a wall with his endless talk. He is not employed and expects James to take care of him.
His caretaking is mirrored by Joan's caretaking of Simon and Janie until she dies.
After the death, the Pike family fell apart. Mr. Pike never talked and finally decided he had to get back to working instead of just staring at things. Joan worked in the summer at a tobacco place and her co-workers discussed how to get Mrs. Pike back to her life.
It is a little depressing and it would be impossible to think of the family members and their neighbors growing socially and getting to be back to being sort of a family. But it is difficult to stop reading and I loved the ending. show less
“The Tin Can Tree” by Anne Tyler details the sad aftermath of the death of a child, Janie Rose, beloved by family and friends. Midway thru the story we learn the significance of the title: “she had dedicated the tree to God, and hung it with tin cans and popcorn strings. . .the birds ate the popcorn but the cans still rattled in a breeze.” Now her bereaved father stares at them as he mourns.
The characters are a close-knit group, in and out of each other’s houses, and Tyler lets us see them as if we too could enter without knocking. As we watch them we eavesdrop on the relationship between two brothers (and the quiet love affair of one of them), learn how the grieving mother is drawn out of her solitude, and see a sturdy show more little boy insist on having his portrait taken with a cigar in hand. show less
The characters are a close-knit group, in and out of each other’s houses, and Tyler lets us see them as if we too could enter without knocking. As we watch them we eavesdrop on the relationship between two brothers (and the quiet love affair of one of them), learn how the grieving mother is drawn out of her solitude, and see a sturdy show more little boy insist on having his portrait taken with a cigar in hand. show less
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Author Information
62+ Works 56,019 Members
Anne Tyler was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on October 25, 1941. She graduated from Duke University at the age of 19 and completed graduate work in Russian studies at Columbia University. Before becoming a full-time author, she worked as a librarian and bibliographer. Her first novel, If Morning Ever Comes, was published in 1964. Her other works show more include Saint Maybe, Back When We Were Grownups, Digging to America, Noah's Compass, The Beginner's Goodbye, A Spool of Blue Thread, and Vinegar Girl. She has won several awards including the PEN Faulkner Award in 1983 for Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant, the 1985 National Book Critics Circle Award for The Accidental Tourist, and the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for Breathing Lessons. The Accidental Tourist was adapted into a 1988 movie starring William Hurt and Geena Davis. In 2018 her title, Clock Dance, made the bestsellers list. (Bowker Author Biography) Anne Tyler was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina. "Back When We Were Grownups" is her 15th novel; her 11th, "Breathing Lessons", won the Pulitzer Prize in 1988. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts & Letters. She lives in Baltimore, Maryland. (Publisher Provided) show less
Work Relationships
Common Knowledge
- Original title
- The Tin Can Tree
- Original publication date
- 1965
- People/Characters
- James; Joan; Ansel; Simon Pike; Janie Rose; Mrs. Pike
- Important places
- Larksville
- First words
- After the funeral James came straight home, to look after his brother.
- Quotations
- "He's the only one can help now. Not hot tea, not people circling round. Not even her own husband. Just her little boy." "I don't see how," said Joan. Missouri made an exasperated face. "You don't know," she told her. ... (show all) "You don't know how it would work out. Bravest thing about people, Miss Joan, is how they go on loving mortal beings after finding out there's such a thing as dying. Do I have to tell you that?" (end of chap. 5)
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)She kept her head down and stared at the camera, smiling as if it were she herself being photographed. The others smiled back, each person motionless, each clutching separately his glass of wine.
- Publisher's editor
- Jones, Judith
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