NOAH'S COMPASS, Anne Tyler's latest novel, her 18th published work, tells the story of Liam Pennywell.

At age 61, he's been fired from his fifth grade teaching position from a private school that he considers to be mediocre.

He had aspired to be a philosopher.

Downsizing after the loss of his job, he moves from a comfortable condominium in Baltimore to a one bedroom plus den condominium on the outskirts of the city near the Beltway, an area that his family feels is unsafe. They were right.

On the first night in his new home, Liam is assaulted and wakes up in the hospital with bandages on his head and hands and no memory of what had happened.

Obsessed with his memory loss, Liam visits a neurologist where he sees a young woman whispering in an old gentleman's ear. Upon seeing her, he decides she must be the old man's rememberer and he is determined to meet her so that she can help him regain his lost memory as well.

Eunice, the rememberer, is a typical Tyler astounding woman. She's friendly, eccentric, clumsy, has a dowdy appearance and she attaches herself to Liam - and she helps change his life.

Before meeting Eunice, Liam had been married twice. His first wife had committed suicide, and his second wife divorced him.

He also had a sister, three daughters, a son-in-law and a grandson, Noah. Liam, however, had never been close to his family.

"He had dodged the tough issues, avoided the conflicts, and skirted adventure. He wasn't particularly unhappy, but saw no reason for living."

But with Eunice in his life, days had purpose. Liam evolved from the passive person he had been to taking chances. He became close to Eunice and became involved with his family.

As with her other novels, Tyler's development of the characters is exceptional.

This is not a suspenseful murder mystery, a sensuous romantic novel or an historical epic. It is simply a nice comforting story about ordinary people.