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strad78's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
heathergillis's review against another edition
3.0
I love Elizabeth Berg for the way she always creates loveable characters and writes poignant observations about life and love. Her new book, Earth's The Right Place for Love, once again delivers these qualities. Readers of her books will recognize the main character, Arthur Moses - this time as a teenager in the 50s, trying to navigate complicated family relationships and young love. I enjoyed taking a step back in time with these characters and loved sweet Arthur, but did feel the story could have had a little more meat to it.
sbojo32's review against another edition
4.0
As someone who loved Arthur Truluv, to read a prequel of his relationship with Nola was refreshing. I love Berg's writing style and how this story was just so simply told. Set in the late 1940's, Arthur's family is not without their share of issues. He and his brother are very different, but the love they have for each other just reflects on the character of Arthur. Their father has anger issues, but is a good person at heart.
And Nola. Nola and Arthur are best friends, and we all know (from books) that the best relationships start as friendship. I loved seeing their relationship develop from the very beginning. This book doesn't have a lot of action, but there is certainly levels of family dynamics and relationship dynamics included. Overall, it was a sweet book that fits perfectly with the other Arthur Truluv books.
And Nola. Nola and Arthur are best friends, and we all know (from books) that the best relationships start as friendship. I loved seeing their relationship develop from the very beginning. This book doesn't have a lot of action, but there is certainly levels of family dynamics and relationship dynamics included. Overall, it was a sweet book that fits perfectly with the other Arthur Truluv books.
siobhankennedy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
dblake6145's review against another edition
4.0
Love the back story of Arthur Moses! Fantastic read, well-developed characters, sweet story
bhunsberger's review against another edition
4.0
I received an advanced copy of this book.
This is the story of Arthur Moses, the character that many readers know in The Story of Arthur Truluv by the same author.
Arthur is a shy teenager who has developed a crush on Nola, a girl in his class. Arthur works on a plan to help his friendship with Nola blossom even further, and his older brother Frank is a good source of advice for him. Frank shares some of his own romance story with Arthur and the brothers relationship grows stronger as well. After a tragedy strikes the family, Arthur struggles with his grief and turns to those close to him and to nature to help him process his emotions.
This is a book of warm characters, big feelings, and growth.
This is the story of Arthur Moses, the character that many readers know in The Story of Arthur Truluv by the same author.
Arthur is a shy teenager who has developed a crush on Nola, a girl in his class. Arthur works on a plan to help his friendship with Nola blossom even further, and his older brother Frank is a good source of advice for him. Frank shares some of his own romance story with Arthur and the brothers relationship grows stronger as well. After a tragedy strikes the family, Arthur struggles with his grief and turns to those close to him and to nature to help him process his emotions.
This is a book of warm characters, big feelings, and growth.
christinafrancisgilbert's review against another edition
3.0
A charming title, inspired by Robert Frost's poem "Birches" and front cover to match a delightful, light read.
The brothers Arthur and Frank Moses have a wonderful partnership and their nighttime conversations at bedtime offer a youth's perspective on many interesting topics. Subjects like why you choose a particular partner, family relationships and connections, your reputation and life choices are gently explored from a teenager's perspective as Arthur looks to his older brother for advice.
The novel opens in 2016 with Arthur Moses, 85 years old, who is dying but awaits his time with a calm demeanour and embraces the small details and sounds of his human existence like doors opening and closing, snow falling, the stars and the whistle of a train.
From here the reader is welcomed to join a younger Arthur in 1947 in Mason, Missouri, as he follows Nola McCullum and falls in love with her. Their friendship, mislabelled as companionship but so clearly a shared love for one another is cute to follow, especially since it starts with Nora giving her phone number to Arthur to be given to his brother, Frank.
The boys tell us of their vulnerability at the hands of their unhappy maladjusted father's sporadic angry outbursts. Some of the brothers' observations about their flawed father's actions are sad to read and in places it is heartbreaking to hear of their pity and lack of respect for their father.
Yet, the characters grow throughout the novel in their thoughts about love and how to orientate the layers of emotion with which they will be faced in their lives. Some lovely moments in the novel are when Arthur and Frank vow to never deny love and another when Arthur sees his father in a different light, understanding more from his mother's adult point of view.
About halfway through the novel, the narrative continues dropping new and different incidents and plot shifts into the story, like a tornado and the shift in Frank's life plans, but if you've enjoyed the development of the love theme up to this point, you'll see how it works well to drive you towards the decorative and what I can probably describe best as a 'floral' but sad and heartwarming, ending.
The brothers Arthur and Frank Moses have a wonderful partnership and their nighttime conversations at bedtime offer a youth's perspective on many interesting topics. Subjects like why you choose a particular partner, family relationships and connections, your reputation and life choices are gently explored from a teenager's perspective as Arthur looks to his older brother for advice.
The novel opens in 2016 with Arthur Moses, 85 years old, who is dying but awaits his time with a calm demeanour and embraces the small details and sounds of his human existence like doors opening and closing, snow falling, the stars and the whistle of a train.
From here the reader is welcomed to join a younger Arthur in 1947 in Mason, Missouri, as he follows Nola McCullum and falls in love with her. Their friendship, mislabelled as companionship but so clearly a shared love for one another is cute to follow, especially since it starts with Nora giving her phone number to Arthur to be given to his brother, Frank.
The boys tell us of their vulnerability at the hands of their unhappy maladjusted father's sporadic angry outbursts. Some of the brothers' observations about their flawed father's actions are sad to read and in places it is heartbreaking to hear of their pity and lack of respect for their father.
Yet, the characters grow throughout the novel in their thoughts about love and how to orientate the layers of emotion with which they will be faced in their lives. Some lovely moments in the novel are when Arthur and Frank vow to never deny love and another when Arthur sees his father in a different light, understanding more from his mother's adult point of view.
About halfway through the novel, the narrative continues dropping new and different incidents and plot shifts into the story, like a tornado and the shift in Frank's life plans, but if you've enjoyed the development of the love theme up to this point, you'll see how it works well to drive you towards the decorative and what I can probably describe best as a 'floral' but sad and heartwarming, ending.
jessicawoofter's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75