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.)

3 W Wednesday -- 7/22

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. So far it's a wonderfully funny read with really interesting characters.

What have you recently finished reading? The fantastic Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (review coming soon!).

What are you reading next? I am thinking either A Wife's Tale by Lori Lansens or The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson.

It's Monday! What are you reading? -- 7/19

Happy Monday! Well, I just got back from a weekend of camping in Maine and had a fantastic time. I hope everybody had a wonderful weekend. So what's booking? Well, I am making some progress on The Passage by Justin Cronin (Amy just showed up again and I am intrigued). I am also loving the very funny, This Must Be the Place by Kate Racculia (and hoping to have a review up this week). I have also started the lovely The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (for book club). Wow is that title a mouthful!

Last week I reviewed the wonderful The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon and gave it 4 1/2 stars (click on the title to read my review). Since I have three books going at once, my goal is to finish one and post a review this week. Wish me luck!

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.