a spool of blue thread by anne tyler summary
A Spool of Blue Thread Tyler's story encompasses three generations of the Whitshank family, wandering back and forth over 7 decades of the 20th century. As in many of her previous novels, Tyler explores the resentments that develop and fester between siblings, spouses, and in parent-child connections—as well as their affectionate bonds. “She predisposes her characters to crave the unattainable—parental love (in both directions), a sense of belonging, … forgiveness, amnesty from familial wrongdoing, the comfort of home.” [1] Much of the story is built around Abby—as mother of four, as wife, as daughter-in-law—and around a sprawling Baltimore house with a huge wrap-around porch and the “power to draw the family back to it over generations.” [1] The house almost acts like an additional character, interacting with builders, repairers, and family members coming and going. The story’s principal characters include a mysterious prodigal son (Denny) who has a hard time with commitment (to his family, to any job, career, project, or partner); an “adopted” (unsanctioned) and reliable son (Stem) and his beautiful, evangelical, overly helpful wife (Nora); Abby’s husband Red, the “maintainer” of the capacious house that his socially mobile, “backwoods” father (Junior) originally built for another family; and Junior's wife (Linnie) who entrapped him at age 13. “Give or take a few details, this extended/blended/fouled-up family could be any of ours. That makes it … quintessential Anne Tyler.”[1]