This Must Be the Place
- Downloads：5610
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-05-23 11:54:30
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Maggie O'Farrell
- ISBN：0755358813
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
A top-ten bestseller， THIS MUST BE THE PLACE by Maggie O'Farrell crosses time zones and continents to reveal an extraordinary portrait of a marriage。
'A complex， riveting novel of love and hope that grips at the heart' The Sunday Times
A reclusive ex-film star living in the wilds of Ireland， Claudette Wells is a woman whose first instinct， when a stranger approaches her home， is to reach for her shotgun。 Why is she so fiercely protective of her family， and what made her walk out of her cinematic career when she had the whole world at her feet？
Her husband Daniel， reeling from a discovery about a woman he last saw twenty years ago， is about to make an exit of his own。 It is a journey that will send him off-course， far away from the life he and Claudette have made together。 Will their love for one another be enough to bring Daniel back home？
SHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA NOVEL AWARD。
SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKS ARE MY BAG READER AWARDS。
SHORTLISTED FOR THE SALTIRE SOCIETY FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR。
SHORTLISTED FOR THE BGE IRISH BOOK AWARDS NOVEL OF THE YEAR。
'A complex， riveting novel of love and hope that grips at the heart' The Sunday Times
A reclusive ex-film star living in the wilds of Ireland， Claudette Wells is a woman whose first instinct， when a stranger approaches her home， is to reach for her shotgun。 Why is she so fiercely protective of her family， and what made her walk out of her cinematic career when she had the whole world at her feet？
Her husband Daniel， reeling from a discovery about a woman he last saw twenty years ago， is about to make an exit of his own。 It is a journey that will send him off-course， far away from the life he and Claudette have made together。 Will their love for one another be enough to bring Daniel back home？
SHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA NOVEL AWARD。
SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKS ARE MY BAG READER AWARDS。
SHORTLISTED FOR THE SALTIRE SOCIETY FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR。
SHORTLISTED FOR THE BGE IRISH BOOK AWARDS NOVEL OF THE YEAR。
Reviews
Janci
，
There was nothing in this book that I didn't like， except maybe Claudette who had the maturity of a 16 year old。 I was glad I had it on Kindle so I could search for characters and refresh my memory。 But I did not find it disjointed or confusing as many others apparently did。 There was nothing in this book that I didn't like， except maybe Claudette who had the maturity of a 16 year old。 I was glad I had it on Kindle so I could search for characters and refresh my memory。 But I did not find it disjointed or confusing as many others apparently did。 。。。more
Diane
，
Incredible writing。 Much layered story with many characters in many places but it all adds to the story。 The novel centers around Daniel and Claudette and how their lives came to be。 I will read it again with notes and book darts
Karen R。 Dickson
，
This is my first Maggie O'Farrell book， and I will probably read others。 However， I'm left with a nagging feeling of despair。 Not O'Farrell's fault， but she gives us such an accurate and unsettling look at our time: relationships that procreate without marriage。。。maybe even without love。 Children who are either indispensable （subject to abortion） or impossible to have （infertility）。 Children who have half-siblings， step-siblings， across time and continents。 Children whose lives are at the whim o This is my first Maggie O'Farrell book， and I will probably read others。 However， I'm left with a nagging feeling of despair。 Not O'Farrell's fault， but she gives us such an accurate and unsettling look at our time: relationships that procreate without marriage。。。maybe even without love。 Children who are either indispensable （subject to abortion） or impossible to have （infertility）。 Children who have half-siblings， step-siblings， across time and continents。 Children whose lives are at the whim of their parents， or subject to the disasters that may await them in a drug store。 And parents who haven't a clue how to hold their lives together， or their marriages。 All leads me to cry out: We are all doomed unless we return to our Creator God who loves us and wants us to have abundant lives in Him。 Sadly， in these characters in O'Farrell's world， He doesn't exist。 。。。more
Caroline
，
Struggled a bit with this book as I liked the individual stories but couldn't always connect the characters。 Generally I wasn't clear why the marriage failed or indeed why Claudette becomes a recluse。 However the writing was beautiful and I'm sure those that read slower and with more consideration would fully enjoy it。 Struggled a bit with this book as I liked the individual stories but couldn't always connect the characters。 Generally I wasn't clear why the marriage failed or indeed why Claudette becomes a recluse。 However the writing was beautiful and I'm sure those that read slower and with more consideration would fully enjoy it。 。。。more
Psalm
，
A frustrating read for sure。 I love her writing style and that kept me in but I feel she is too talented of a writer for such gimmicks。 Just tell us a straightforward story already！
Helen Aristar-dry
，
This is a very good book， but it suffered from being read after Pilcher’s ‘the Shell Seekers，’ which was a remarkably good， unobtrusively well-written gem of a family saga。 THis is an interesting family saga with many of the same virtues: excursions into multiple characters’ intertwined lives， much of them lived in a beautiful place （Ireland， not Cornwall）。 It is well-written and gives the reader a God’s eye view of the vicissitudes of life。 But it is a little bleaker， a little less life-affirmi This is a very good book， but it suffered from being read after Pilcher’s ‘the Shell Seekers，’ which was a remarkably good， unobtrusively well-written gem of a family saga。 THis is an interesting family saga with many of the same virtues: excursions into multiple characters’ intertwined lives， much of them lived in a beautiful place （Ireland， not Cornwall）。 It is well-written and gives the reader a God’s eye view of the vicissitudes of life。 But it is a little bleaker， a little less life-affirming， a little more confusing in its shifts—just a little less good， but still good enough to keep me reading compulsively through several days。 I just don’t think I’ll reread it。 Somehow the characters are a little more shallow， a little less likely to take up residence in the reader’s heart or mind。 。。。more
Betsabé
，
Me ha gustado mucho la historia。 La vida misma a través de una relación。 La forma de contarlo me ha parecido muy amena e interesante， ir descubriendo una historia desde varios puntos de vista enriquece muchísimo。 Lo he disfrutado， ha sido una lectura pausada y saboreada。
Evelien
，
Nice read。 Good storytelling。 Advisable to start when you know you won't be distracted by work， chores or other， because I wanted to keep on reading as not to fall out of the flow each time。 😊 Nice read。 Good storytelling。 Advisable to start when you know you won't be distracted by work， chores or other， because I wanted to keep on reading as not to fall out of the flow each time。 😊 。。。more
Rick
，
I did。 I loved this book！ It was powerful， heart-tending， very painful part of the time， held a complex web of people - a family unlike nearly any imaginable - and was very creative and insightful。 I will read more by this author。
Nicky
，
Great story about the complexity of relationships
Ingrid Jodziewicz
，
Very real charactersEach character is written in such a way as to make them come to life for the reader。 The many facets of love are evoked， especially parent-child and spouse to spouse。 It ends on a hopeful note， full circle。
Pamela Huffman
，
Usually I love books told by an ensemble cast of characters。 Books like Olive Kitteridge or A Visit from the Goon Squad or Valentine。 But in this case I did not。 Because of all the characters and time jumps， I didn’t really get a chance to know or love the characters （Daniel and Nicola） back in the beginning of their struggles。 I came upon their story bit by bit over time and honestly， I didn’t really understand or care about them like I should have or would have if I had been introduced to them Usually I love books told by an ensemble cast of characters。 Books like Olive Kitteridge or A Visit from the Goon Squad or Valentine。 But in this case I did not。 Because of all the characters and time jumps， I didn’t really get a chance to know or love the characters （Daniel and Nicola） back in the beginning of their struggles。 I came upon their story bit by bit over time and honestly， I didn’t really understand or care about them like I should have or would have if I had been introduced to them properly。 The entire rest of the book suffered at the hands of this ill-advised structural decision。 I never could catch up with the melodrama being foisted upon me and find a way to care。 Sad， actually， because if properly told， this could be a very interesting and engaging story。 。。。more
Kelly
，
Daniel and Claudette… You were not the story I thought you were going to be。 You wandered around for a long time。 I don't think you knew what you wanted to be at first。 I surely didn't know what you were。 So many voices and stories hopping in and around。 Eventually you reached someplace that I got interested in riding along。 And by the end I liked you more than I had expected to。 Daniel and Claudette… You were not the story I thought you were going to be。 You wandered around for a long time。 I don't think you knew what you wanted to be at first。 I surely didn't know what you were。 So many voices and stories hopping in and around。 Eventually you reached someplace that I got interested in riding along。 And by the end I liked you more than I had expected to。 。。。more
Mo Chester
，
Pure pleasure to read， I galloped through it。 Very good descriptions of quite complex relationships。
Joann
，
There were times I lost track of the characters but overall this is another example of O’Farrell’s fine writing。
Cayetana Zorita
，
Es el primer libro que leo de Maggie O'Farrell y me ha encantado。 Su forma de escribir me recuerda a ir al cine， te sumerges en cada escena， en cada movimiento y cada descripción。 Parece que pudieras casi acariciar a los personajes， tocarles un hombro y decirles que todo va a estar bien。La novela me ha parecido profundamente humana， aún siendo una historia completamente fuera de lo común。 Hacía mucho tiempo que un libro no me despertaba tantas emociones。 El último capítulo lo he leído entre lágr Es el primer libro que leo de Maggie O'Farrell y me ha encantado。 Su forma de escribir me recuerda a ir al cine， te sumerges en cada escena， en cada movimiento y cada descripción。 Parece que pudieras casi acariciar a los personajes， tocarles un hombro y decirles que todo va a estar bien。La novela me ha parecido profundamente humana， aún siendo una historia completamente fuera de lo común。 Hacía mucho tiempo que un libro no me despertaba tantas emociones。 El último capítulo lo he leído entre lágrimas。462 páginas en 4 días laborables。。。 no está nada mal。 Qué suerte que existan escritores así。 。。。more
Gwen Davis-Barrios
，
One reason why this book is really good is because it left me *in a mood。* Maggie O’Farrell’s superpower is intricately weaving characters and stories together。 There’s a character named Rosalind who flits in and out of the story quickly， but still feels whole in her place in the book， and that seems like a powerful indication of good writing。 I felt actually devastated at times and very nostalgic for out-of-the-way places in Britain the whole time， and at the end I felt a little glimmer of hop One reason why this book is really good is because it left me *in a mood。* Maggie O’Farrell’s superpower is intricately weaving characters and stories together。 There’s a character named Rosalind who flits in and out of the story quickly， but still feels whole in her place in the book， and that seems like a powerful indication of good writing。 I felt actually devastated at times and very nostalgic for out-of-the-way places in Britain the whole time， and at the end I felt a little glimmer of hope。 。。。more
Lori Scheffler
，
Great storytelling。 I'm normally not a fan of broken up timelines in literature but it was necessary in this story and perfectly executed。 I felt like I'd known this family for years after reading about them over a weekend。 Great storytelling。 I'm normally not a fan of broken up timelines in literature but it was necessary in this story and perfectly executed。 I felt like I'd known this family for years after reading about them over a weekend。 。。。more
Lynn
，
This book was very well written and would have had a higher rating if we didn't have to jump through a dizzying amount of timelines。2010-1989-1999-2010-2005-2010-1993-2010-1994-2010-1986-1995-2010-1996-1944-2010-2003-2010-1986-2010-1986-2013-2013-2014-2014-2015-2016-2016The timelines were so kindly labeled at the beginning of each chapter。 I rest my case。 This book was very well written and would have had a higher rating if we didn't have to jump through a dizzying amount of timelines。2010-1989-1999-2010-2005-2010-1993-2010-1994-2010-1986-1995-2010-1996-1944-2010-2003-2010-1986-2010-1986-2013-2013-2014-2014-2015-2016-2016The timelines were so kindly labeled at the beginning of each chapter。 I rest my case。 。。。more
Sara
，
This is my 4th Maggie O'Farrell book， & possibly my favorite。 She creates a character that believably enchants everyone -- well， except for the possible journalist seen lurking around at whom she shoots -- then gives her a worthy mate。 The love-force proves as strong as the life-force， reflected in the everyday nuances of building a life together。 A lovely look at life & love。 This is my 4th Maggie O'Farrell book， & possibly my favorite。 She creates a character that believably enchants everyone -- well， except for the possible journalist seen lurking around at whom she shoots -- then gives her a worthy mate。 The love-force proves as strong as the life-force， reflected in the everyday nuances of building a life together。 A lovely look at life & love。 。。。more
Jan
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Really messed up relationships， but so sweet。
Megan
，
DNF About 150 pages in and nothing has happened。 I have no attachment whatsoever to any character and none of the characters are intriguing。 As an aside I do like the author's style of writing， but the story just wasn't doing it。 DNF About 150 pages in and nothing has happened。 I have no attachment whatsoever to any character and none of the characters are intriguing。 As an aside I do like the author's style of writing， but the story just wasn't doing it。 。。。more
Mila
，
This was a uniquely written， deep dive into the lives of a cast of characters。 It took a bit for me to get into it， but I couldn't deny that it was well-written and over time I definitely felt that I'd gotten to know them well。 Not my favorite book of the year， but worth a read。 This was a uniquely written， deep dive into the lives of a cast of characters。 It took a bit for me to get into it， but I couldn't deny that it was well-written and over time I definitely felt that I'd gotten to know them well。 Not my favorite book of the year， but worth a read。 。。。more
Tomás ☁️
，
otro libro muy chulo de Maggie O'Farrell otro libro muy chulo de Maggie O'Farrell 。。。more
Mary Anderson
，
Love this author！ Hard to put down her books once you start one！
Marta
，
2。5/5 la autora escribe muy bien pero la historia no me ha parecido nada del otro mundo。 Leeré otra novela de ella seguro。
Mary Beth
，
Beautifully written。 Story of relationships。 Had to read another book of hers after Hamnet。
Debra
，
A bit of a slow start。 Then gets really good。 Her take on family dynamics despite the mother being an acclaimed star is spot on。 Didn’t want the story to end。
Margaret McLaughlin
，
While I love the way that Maggie O’Farrell writes， sometimes there is just too much of it。 When a description or two would work quite well， she instead stretches it out to four or five。 There’s always a big possibility that key facts are quietly nestled away in the pages and may be lost due to too much explanation and atmospherics。 I mentally note whether she will provide one example or if it will be a series of descriptors that while interesting， don’t add to the story。 It’s like traveling a sc While I love the way that Maggie O’Farrell writes， sometimes there is just too much of it。 When a description or two would work quite well， she instead stretches it out to four or five。 There’s always a big possibility that key facts are quietly nestled away in the pages and may be lost due to too much explanation and atmospherics。 I mentally note whether she will provide one example or if it will be a series of descriptors that while interesting， don’t add to the story。 It’s like traveling a scenic road that’s absolutely beautiful， but then being taken the long way around even though the direct route was as pretty and shorter。 It feels as if she is so engrossed in the details of her storytelling and her characters that she doesn’t know how to reign in her thoughts。For instance， in This Must Be The Place， she devotes a whole chapter to one of her characters who has just learned what a footnote is。 Everything that this character talks about has a verbal footnote or two attached to his thoughts。 It became so distracting and annoying that I had to skip past to the next chapter。 I find this to be her Achilles’ heel and would much better enjoy her as an author if she had the ability to abbreviate her overly-descriptive narrative。 Her writing is like a new friend that I’ve gotten to know well and whose company I really enjoy， but at the same time I find them long-winded and wish they would get straight to the point when they’re making conversation。 I found this especially true with her character， Daniel Sullivan。 He is an interesting and unusual character but the chapters that she has devoted to him are painfully wordy， to the point where he just seems to run at the mouth with his thoughts。 I found a smugness about him in which the intent to portray him as witty falls short。 Unfortunately， with This Must Be The Place， O’Farrell， like many writers， can be too in love with their characters and require more objectivity in the telling their story。 The novel has great potential， but was not as good as other stories I have read by her。 。。。more
Gia Salvaggio
，
What a beautiful book。
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=This Must Be the Place
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=This Must Be the Place&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft