Review -- This Must Be The Place by Kate Racculia

This Must Be The Place

by Kate Racculia

Henry Holt, 2010

368 pages

*I received a review copy from the publisher.

Summary: When his wife unexpectedly dies, Arthur finds a mysterious postcard amongst her things and ends up in Ruby Falls. There he meets his wife's childhood friend, Mona and her daughter Oneida and he begins to learn who his wife was before she met him.

Review: How can I explain how much I loved this novel? The four main characters (Arthur, Mona, Oneida, and Eugene) are so wonderfully quirky that I couldn't help but love them. Author Kate Racculia really nailed the teenage angst and confusion as well as the intensity of a first relationship. The story is predictable but I think the author lets the reader in on the secret early so that we are able to bond with Mona and Arthur and dread the moment when the secret is revealed (this is just a theory). The story is engrossing and the writing is wonderful. I especially loved when the narrative progressed into the future to give the reader an understanding of how important the events of the story are and how they change the course of the character's life. Rating: ***** out of 5. (I had to, I LOVED IT.)

It's Monday! What are you reading? -- 7/26

Happy Monday! I am in such a good mood because even though my weekend was very busy I was still able to get a decent amount of reading done. Currently, I am reading Look Again by Lisa Scottoline (for book club) and A Wife's Tale by Lori Lansens (just started it last night). I finished the fantastic This Must Be The Place by Kate Racculia (review to come) and the outstanding The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (click on the title to read my review).

What are you reading?

3 W Wednesdays -- 7/14

This meme is hosted by Should Be Reading.

What are you currently reading? I am currently reading This Must Be the Place by Kate Racculia (my daytime / gym book) and The Passage by Justin Cronin (my nighttime / bed book).

What did you recently finish? I recently finished reading The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. It was fantastic (click on the title to read my review).

What are you reading next? I want to start next month's book club book early, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. I have heard nothing but fantastic things about this novel and am hoping it's a quick read.

It's Monday! What are you reading? -- 7/12

This meme is hosted by Book Journey.

Happy Monday! Why am I so excited? Because yesterday I finished my book club's selection before tomorrow's meeting! YEA!!! And the book was GOOD. Really, really GOOD. What was it? The book was The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. If you enjoy plot driven books with a lot of mystery and a little supernatural element, then definitely check out this book.

Now that I am ready for book club, I am going back to reading The Passage by Justin Cronin (about 300 pages in). I received a few emails from other bloggers telling me not to give up on this chunkster, so I am going to take their advice and give it another week. No promises after that! I also started This Must Be the Place by Kate Racculia and so far am very intrigued.

What are you reading this week?

Friday Finds -- 6/4

Happy Friday! I am going camping this weekend and bringing along a few trusty books to keep me entertained, but before I leave here is my Friday Find. My find this week is This Must Be the Place by Kate Racculia (available 7/6). Here is the Barnes and Noble description:

A sudden death, a never-mailed postcard, and a long-buried secret set the stage for a luminous and heartbreakingly real novel about lost souls finding one another.

I know, I know -- the blurb is too short! So for more info, go to the author's website!

What did you find this week? This meme is hosted by Should Be Reading.