Justine and her grandfather are searching for Caleb. Caleb,
her grandfather's brother, left home in 1912. Using tenuous leads found in
obituaries, old school photos, and phonograph records left behind, the pair
travel by bus and train to interview anyone who may know his whereabouts.
Meanwhile, Justine's husband has been fleeing his family
legacy for years. When the obsession of
the moment (health food, antique furniture, goats) has ceased to keep him out
of the bottle, they pack up and move to a town that's a little closer to or
farther from Baltimore, the family's home base. Tired of the transiency, Meg, Justine's
daughter, runs away to marry a minister.
Although there are several funny moments in Searching for Caleb, the laugh-out-loud-moment
(for me) occurs when the family goes to visit Meg. On her parents' first social
call, Meg is anxious to play hostess, but must abide by her mother-in-law's
ideas of hospitality. After an awkward visit, Meg confesses to her mother that she
realizes her decision to marry out of her "crazy" family has only succeeded
in bringing her into one even crazier.
Reading this earlier Anne Tyler novel, I was struck by a brightness
that defies its 1975 publishing date. The characters are endearing. The story
is charming. The end is satisfying.
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