A Patchwork Planet by Anne Tyler
Reviewed by Vicki Carver
It is always a satisfying experience to find an author who writes consistently
high quality novels. Anne Tyler is an author whose ability as an author is
evident in everything she writes. She is able to develop characters and plots
in such a way that the reader is pulled in and becomes involved in the
unfolding of the story being told.
Tyler’s novel, A Patchwork Planet, was published in 1998 and is the
story of 30 year-old Barnaby Gaitlin, a man who has made some mistakes in his
past and is attempting to come to terms with his present and future.
There are several themes addressed in A Patchwork Planet. Gaitlin works
for a company called “Rent-A-Back” which provides a wide variety of services
to their clients, many of whom are elderly. Gaitlin completes tasks as such
putting up Christmas lights, buying groceries and cleaning closets. His family
considers his job to be “menial” employment even though Gaitlin thoroughly
enjoys his work and is able to support himself. The issue of how to
measure success is central to the plot. Is Gaitlin a failure even though he
loves his work? How does our culture define success?
When Gaitlin was a younger man he was arrested for burglary. His parents’
position and influence enabled him to stay out of prison. However, his
family has never allowed him to forget his past criminal life. A second
question is addressed. When is a person free from mistakes he has made in the
past?
There is a belief in Gaitlin’s family that angels exist and have an influence
on a person’s life. Sophia becomes an important romantic influence in
Gaitlin's life and he wonders if she is his “angel”. Or perhaps a quirky
co-worker named Martine is fulfilling the role of “angel” for Gaitlin. A third
question arises. How does a person define and justify the role angels play in
his or her life? What characters in A Patchwork Planet are potentially
angels in helping Gaitlin come to terms with his own life?
The evolution of Gaitlin in A Patchwork Planet is compelling and
worthwhile reading. He begins and ends the story by stating “I am a man you
can trust”. By the end of the book the reader is assured that Gaitlin is
indeed a person who can be trusted.