Reviews

This Must Be the Place by Maggie O'Farrell

mary_kurtz's review against another edition

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5.0

I read this for book club and within pages i recognized this wonderful voice from a book i loved of hers years ago. She has the art of moving from character to character with such grace, capturing each persona freshly and separately from the others. Her imagery is never overdone and weaved in enough to transport the reader to where he or she needs to be. I can't wait to read more of her.

sheldar's review against another edition

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2.0

While there were memorable lines in the book and interesting storylines, I felt like the skipping around in time and the jumps from one character's story to another made the whole book feel disjointed and underdeveloped.

radio_ghost_'s review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

common1's review against another edition

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5.0

Daniel Sullivan is a man with a past, a rather ugly past. Weaving first, second, and third points of view, O'Farrell builds a magical tale of an unlikely couple who meet by chance, each struggling to comes to terms with their past and present lives, and take a new road together. Their new road though is not without complications. O'Farrell is such a fine writer whose characterizations are flawless, her storytelling fascinating, and in the end this novel is immensely satisfying.

goodgirl's review against another edition

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3.0

Pretty mid.

jnl_dayton's review against another edition

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5.0

Lovely. I thought about this a lot and couldn't wait to get back to the book. I must say that Daniel annoyed me (but drunks always do). Claudette was fascinating as was the house/family in Ireland. Interesting the way the story was told, each chapter from a different character's viewpoint -- and some were very minor and never reappeared -- and each jumped around in time, but fascinating and kept my interest. I will have to read some of her other books.

donnapontehampton's review against another edition

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3.0

3.5, too much angst. I don't like when two people are obviously in love but too stupid to fix things.

danap_reads's review against another edition

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5.0

4.5 stars Daniel and Claudette meet in the most unusual circumstances. Both come with baggage and secrets and ex-spouses and children with those ex-spouses. What follows is the most lovely and unconventional story of love, family and the events that shape our lives. Told as a series of vignettes over a period of twenty-five years, this is story of identity and isolation, of the people in our lives who make and break us, and ultimately, the process of redemption. At times quirky and heartbreaking, This Must be the Place is an exploration of the relationships that make us who we are. It is exquisite.

medb_11's review against another edition

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slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

dcole207's review against another edition

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4.0

3.5, but rounded up. And it’s not that this book isn’t good, it’s just that her newer work is richer in depth and story.