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 17-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 ...
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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 17-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.
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Add this copy of Saint Maybe to cart. $35.92, fair condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Baltimore rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Halethorpe, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2019 by Audible Studios on Brilliance.
Late in Anne Tyler's novel, a young woman, Daphne, refers to her uncle and primary character in the story, Ian Bedloe, as "King Careful. Mr. Look-Both-Ways. Saint Maybe." Daphne's description helps the reader follow the course of Ian's complex character through the course of more than two decades.
The story is set in Tyler's Baltimore beginning in 1965 with the large and closely-knit Bedloe family in a Baltimore rowhouse. The two lengthy stage-setting opening chapters tells how one of the Bedloe children, Danny, falls in love with and marries a young divorcee with two children from a prior marriage to a mysterious, missing father. The pair soon have a child of their own, Daphne. One evening Ian, concerned about his older brother's marriage and with parentage, says harsh words to Danny who, with some beer in him, drives his car into a wall resulting in death. Ian blames himself. A few months thereafter, Danny's young widow dies from an overdose of sleeping pills.
Religion, guilt, and repentance play a large role in the story as Ian accidentally falls in with a small storefront church, the "Church of the Second Chance" led by one Reverend Emmett. Ian is convinced he must repent for the guilt he feels by helping to raise the three abandoned children which he does with the help of his parents. He drops out of college, loses his girlfriend, becomes attached to the Church of the Second Chance and also leads a celibate life. He becomes a carpenter and a maker of craft furniture to support himself.
Tyler follows the course of Ian, the three children, the Bedloe family, the Church of the Second Chance, Reverend Emmett, and several others over the course of the novel. The characters sometimes develop linerally over time but more often seem to have their courses impacted by chance events.
Tyler offers particularized and sharp depictions of places and people in her beloved city of Baltimore. The book emphasizes the nature of family life for ill but I think mostly for good. With its emphasis on the Church of the Second Chance and on the redoubtable Reverend Emmett, the book encourages reflection on religion and theology. For all the delights of Tyler's writing, the depth of the story with its religious issues makes it move slowly. It is less accessible than the other books of Anne Tyler I have read. It is a serious novel with much to be pondered.
I was interested in reviews of "Saint Maybe" by online readers and by others. In his August 25, 1991 "New York Times" review, Jay Parini wrote: "Anne Tyler likes to break America's heart, and she will do it again with 'Saint Maybe'". Parini finds the book "Anne Tyler's most sophisticated work, a realistic chronicle that celebrates family life without erasing the pain and boredom that families almost necessarily inflict upon their members. Ian Bedloe, for his part sits near the top of Ms. Tyler's fine list of heroes."
A "multifaith and interspiritual website" "Spirituality and Practice" also reviewed "Saint Maybe". The review by the founders of "Spirituality and Practice", Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, emphasizes the spiritual themes of the novel as illustrated by Reverend Emmett's advice to Ian: "View your burden as a gift. It's the theme that has been given to you to work with. Accept that and lean into it." The review praises Tyler's novel as "an invogorating spiritual journey filled with revelations about the meaning of grace, giving yourself to God, forgiveness, and prayer."
Life is messy and ambiguous in terms of spirituality, individual growth, family and much more. Tyler encourages the reader to see and to reflect upon this messiness and ambiguity in this, her 12th novel, "Saint Maybe".
