![]() ![]() Abby is obsessed with family perfection: they are all to be seen and admired by the neighbourhood as they sit in decorative arrangement on their vast and fabulous porch. They have four children, mainly grown up and with children of their own. Abby is the wife of Red, who takes over the house and business after Junior’s sudden death. Although members of each generation receive respectful attention and space, two characters dominate: Abby and Denny. ![]() The novel moves back and forth through time, ranging from the 1950s to the present day, from the original construction of the house through its long occupation to its final abandonment as the family disperses. The titular spool serves as a metaphor for the passing down of these things, a powerful reassurance. The house passes down through the generations, along with Junior’s construction company and the inherited twists of character and talent that reappear in different permutations, nature and nurture at odds, surprising and unquenchable. It is the story of three generations of the Whitshank family, starting with Junior, his wife and two children, and, most importantly, the house he built, the repository of his life’s significance. ![]() Anne Tyler’s 20th novel will bring joy to her legions of admirers. ![]()
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