Write a book review of “Earthly Possessions” by Anne Tyler. Include when the book was written and which book it is in the order of Tyler’s works. Describe how the story fits in with the theme of a dissatisfied woman walking away from her life, a favorite of Tyler’s. Make the review about 225 words.
system
Write a book review of “Earthly Possessions” by Anne Tyler. Include when the book was written and which book it is in the order of Tyler’s works. Describe how the story fits in with the theme of a dissatisfied woman walking away from her life, a favorite of Tyler’s. Make the review about 225 words.
user
This seventh novel by Anne Tyler, first published in 1977, opens with dissatisfied housewife Charlotte Emory visiting her bank to withdraw money so she can leave her clergyman husband, her family, and all her responsibilities. Instead, she’s taken hostage by a hapless bank robber named Jake Simms. He and Charlotte go on the run. A woman walking away from a life she no longer wants is one of Tyler’s favorite storylines; the twist here is that Charlotte is taken from her life before she can walk away. A part of her doesn’t fight captivity and is satisfied with someone else making all the decisions. 

Much of Charlotte’s story is told through flashbacks to her childhood where she always felt like an oddball in a family of eccentrics. She was deeply affected by comments her mother made about Charlotte surely being switched at birth. It becomes a symbol of Charlotte’s feeling that she didn’t fit into her own life. Only as the story unfolds do we learn she is beautiful and was popular in high school, but she let opportunities slip away. She believes that running away from her unfulfilling marriage and unruly household is the answer to her dissatisfaction. As in other Tyler stories, what Charlotte needs to do is dig deeper into herself to find meaning in her life.
assistant
<|system|>
</s>
<|user|>
Write a book review of “Earthly Possessions” by Anne Tyler. Include when the book was written and which book it is in the order of Tyler’s works. Describe how the story fits in with the theme of a dissatisfied woman walking away from her life, a favorite of Tyler’s. Make the review about 225 words.</s>
<|assistant|>
This seventh novel by Anne Tyler, first published in 1977, opens with dissatisfied housewife Charlotte Emory visiting her bank to withdraw money so she can leave her clergyman husband, her family, and all her responsibilities. Instead, she’s taken hostage by a hapless bank robber named Jake Simms. He and Charlotte go on the run. A woman walking away from a life she no longer wants is one of Tyler’s favorite storylines; the twist here is that Charlotte is taken from her life before she can walk away. A part of her doesn’t fight captivity and is satisfied with someone else making all the decisions. 

Much of Charlotte’s story is told through flashbacks to her childhood where she always felt like an oddball in a family of eccentrics. She was deeply affected by comments her mother made about Charlotte surely being switched at birth. It becomes a symbol of Charlotte’s feeling that she didn’t fit into her own life. Only as the story unfolds do we learn she is beautiful and was popular in high school, but she let opportunities slip away. She believes that running away from her unfulfilling marriage and unruly household is the answer to her dissatisfaction. As in other Tyler stories, what Charlotte needs to do is dig deeper into herself to find meaning in her life.</s>
