a novel

I’m trying to decide if Richard Russo’s comment on the cover of THIS MUST BE THE PLACE by Maggie O’Farrell influenced my opinion of the book overall. perhaps, INVISIBLE INFLUENCE by Jonah Berger holds the answer to this question, but that is for another blog post.

Russo says that THIS MUST BE THE PLACE should be O’Farrell’s “breakout book”, but it is not, it is NOT THE PLACE.

Maggie has written six previous novels, all of which I devoured one after the other, foot tapping in wait for the next one. find them here: http://www.maggieofarrell.com

O’Farrell’s so called “breakout book” was either THE VANISHING ACT OF ESME LENNOX or THE HAND THAT FIRST HELD MINE.

THIS MUST BE THE PLACE is a sprawling book, its title intriguing and spans over many years, from New York, to London to Ireland and back again, and involves a disappearing British actress, a philandering director, an unreliable American man, random children. the writing, of course, is top notch. you will have to look high and low to find a writer to match the intelligence of Maggie O’Farrell, who will surely be remembered as a writer of her generation.

the book goes on too long, the American character is one dimensional. you can kind of predict the ending, and I thought the last chapter in all its simple eloquence and sensitivity should have been the opening chapter.

ok, but we’ll give her a break. seven books and counting, right?

read all the other titles before this one — this must be the place to start!