A Patchwork Planet

Front Cover
National Geographic Books, Apr 15, 2003 - Fiction - 304 pages
Barnaby Gaitlin spent most of his teen years in trouble, thanks to his habit of breaking into other people's houses. But for 11 years now, he's been working steadily for Rent-a-Back, helping old folks and shut-ins who can't move their own porch furniture or bring the Christmas tree down from the attic. He's worked hard to put his life on an even keel, but his family can't forgive him for past mistakes, and his ex-wife would just as soon he didn't ever show up to visit their little girl. Even the nice, steady woman (his guardian angel?) who appears to have designs on him doesn't fully trust him, it seems. So whom can he turn to when his world begins to fall apart again?

Other editions - View all

About the author (2003)

Anne Tyler was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1941 and grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina. She is the author of more than twenty novels, including The Beginner's Goodbye, A Spool of Blue Thread, and Vinegar Girl. Her eleventh novel, Breathing Lessons, was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1988. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. She lives in Baltimore, Maryland.

Bibliographic information