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The Story of Arthur Truluv
A beautiful, life-affirming novel about a remarkably loving man who creates for himself and others second chances at happiness.
A moving novel about three people who find their way back from loss and loneliness to a different kind of happiness. Arthur, a widow, meets Maddy, a troubled teenage girl who is avoiding school by hiding out at the cemetery, where Arthur goes every day for lunch to have imaginary conversations with his late wife, and think about the lives of others. The two strike up a friendship that draws them out of isolation. Maddy gives Arthur the name Truluv, for his loving and positive responses to every outrageous thing she says or does. With Arthur’s nosy neighbor Lucille, they create a loving and unconventional family, proving that life’s most precious moments are sweeter when shared.
A moving novel about three people who find their way back from loss and loneliness to a different kind of happiness. Arthur, a widow, meets Maddy, a troubled teenage girl who is avoiding school by hiding out at the cemetery, where Arthur goes every day for lunch to have imaginary conversations with his late wife, and think about the lives of others. The two strike up a friendship that draws them out of isolation. Maddy gives Arthur the name Truluv, for his loving and positive responses to every outrageous thing she says or does. With Arthur’s nosy neighbor Lucille, they create a loving and unconventional family, proving that life’s most precious moments are sweeter when shared.
241 pages, ebook
First published November 21, 2017
About the author
Elizabeth Berg
52 books4,804 followersElizabeth Berg is the author of many bestselling novels, including The Story of Arthur Truluv, Open House (an Oprah’s Book Club selection), Talk Before Sleep, and The Year of Pleasures, as well as the short story collection The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted. Durable Goods and Joy School were selected as ALA Best Books of the Year. She adapted The Pull of the Moon into a play that enjoyed sold-out performances in Chicago and Indianapolis. Berg’s work has been published in thirty countries, and three of her novels have been turned into television movies. She is the founder of Writing Matters, a quality reading series dedicated to serving author, audience, and community. She teaches one-day writing workshops and is a popular speaker at venues around the country. Some of her most popular Facebook postings have been collected in Make Someone Happy and Still Happy. She lives outside Chicago.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 7,385 reviews
November 11, 2017
Every now and then I need to take a break from the mysteries and find something that reminds me how sweet life can be. This book fits the bill. Arthur is an 85 year old widow who visits his wife’s cemetery plot every day for lunch. There, he meets Maddy, a 17 year old who is unpopular and doesn’t have much of a family life. Lucille is Arthur’s elderly neighbor who has never been married.
Berg does a wonderful job capturing the pain of bullying. My heart just went out to Maddy. “She wonders what her funeral would be like...what would her father say? If he were honest, he’d say just four words: I never knew her.”
The book has elements in common with Our Souls at Night, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine or A Man Called Ove. I think if you liked any of them, you will also enjoy this book. It’s all about how we can find our families through happenstance, luck or just next door. It’s a lovely book. In the acknowledgements, Berg quotes her editor as saying she needs an Arthur in her life and Berg responds, me, too. Well, we all do!
My thanks to netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book.
Berg does a wonderful job capturing the pain of bullying. My heart just went out to Maddy. “She wonders what her funeral would be like...what would her father say? If he were honest, he’d say just four words: I never knew her.”
The book has elements in common with Our Souls at Night, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine or A Man Called Ove. I think if you liked any of them, you will also enjoy this book. It’s all about how we can find our families through happenstance, luck or just next door. It’s a lovely book. In the acknowledgements, Berg quotes her editor as saying she needs an Arthur in her life and Berg responds, me, too. Well, we all do!
My thanks to netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book.
April 11, 2017
3.5 It is hard not to absolutely adore Arthur, an 82 year old gentlemen. He misses his wife terribly, she passed on the year before ands everyday he goes to the cemetery, taking his lunch and lawn chair, to spend time by her grave. This is where he meets Maddy, 17, doesn't seem to fit in anywhere, not at home where it is just her and her father and certainly not at school. Lillian, is Arthur's elderly next door neighbor, she bakes the most amazing things, but is lonely. These three people will come to play important roles in each others lives.
This is a sentimental read, a sweet and simply told story. Underneath though are some important themes, the loneliness of the elderly, the importance of family, the one you make, and the one you were born into, the desperation of those who feel that they do not fit in anywhere, and friendship, how extending friendship even those with a huge generation gap, can make a huge difference. This is one of those feel good books, their is no great depth of characterization because there isn't meant to be, this is just centered on a certain spate of time and how it changed everything and those involved.
One of those books that we all sometimes need. One where you finish and just think awwwwww, in joy and sadness.
ARC from Publisher.
Published July 25th by Random House.
This is a sentimental read, a sweet and simply told story. Underneath though are some important themes, the loneliness of the elderly, the importance of family, the one you make, and the one you were born into, the desperation of those who feel that they do not fit in anywhere, and friendship, how extending friendship even those with a huge generation gap, can make a huge difference. This is one of those feel good books, their is no great depth of characterization because there isn't meant to be, this is just centered on a certain spate of time and how it changed everything and those involved.
One of those books that we all sometimes need. One where you finish and just think awwwwww, in joy and sadness.
ARC from Publisher.
Published July 25th by Random House.
September 21, 2020
Maybe there's something wrong with me but I didn't think this was that great but everyone else seemed to love it and maybe I'm just not in the place of mind to enjoy it? It kind of reminded me A Man Called Ove but not as good. It wasn't bad per se but it felt like quite a few parts of it fell flat for me. . I liked aspects of the writing style and the way it was more stream of consciousness, and I did at certain points like the book more than others. I also think that outside of falling flat at a lot of points the pacing bothered me. I think if the author had just focused on a smaller time frame or spent more time building out I may have enjoyed the book more. Yeah I just think the book had a hard time toeing the line between being emotional without tipping over into feeling melodramatic or maudlin. I do love the Langston Hughes poems mentioned, not sure why that's at all relevant to my review but that's what I was thinking about while reading.
November 10, 2018
The Story of Arthur Truluv by Elizabeth Berg is a 2017 Random House publication.
Remarkable, poignant, and inspiring!
Eighty-five -year old Arthur misses his beloved wife so much, he packs a lunch and carries it out to her grave to have lunch with her. While on his lunch break, he notices a young girl, named Maddy, who turns up at the cemetery alone, when she should be at school. The unlikely pair slowly forges a friendship, one that will leave an indelible mark on them both. Arthur’s sweet support prompts Maddy to give him the name ‘Arthur Truluv”. Along with Arthur’s neighbor, Lucille, the trio becomes an idiosyncratic, but exceptional family.
Goodness. This is another story that kept yelling ‘Read Me, Read Me!”. Something told me I needed to pick this one up, sooner rather than later, and I’m glad I obeyed that little voice. On the verge of sinking into melancholia with various life challenges, the vile political climate, the mass shootings, the spewing of hate across social media, everyone tearing each other apart- it’s easy to forget there are good people out there, special folks who help each other without judgment, without sermons, with no strings attached, no hidden motives. Arthur is such a character.
Three lonely people, all suffering a loss or facing huge hurdles in life, come together and create a little family. They aren’t related in any way, there is no legal obligations. But, they are as much a family as any other. The payoff for the acts of kindness Arthur shows Maddy and Lucille will have dividends proving what a little kindness, caring, and respect for fellow human beings can do. But, Arthur, too reaped the rewards for his willingness to embrace Maddy and Lucille, as they give him a new purpose, providing him a family in his twilight years.
This is a just an all -around sweet story. Although it teeters precariously close to maudlin at times, it’s a story that will restore your faith in humanity, which is a message I needed right about now.
Although the story is simple, obvious in its direction, and all too bittersweet, it’s still special and inspirational. We should all tear off a page from Arthur’s handbook. The kinder we are, the more willing to avoid judgments and just listen and help people who are hurting, lost, or just lonely, maybe our own inner turmoil will ease. Arthur has inspired me a little. Do a good deed, offer a kind word, or even just a smile. Maybe all is not as hopeless as it seems.
4+ stars
Remarkable, poignant, and inspiring!
Eighty-five -year old Arthur misses his beloved wife so much, he packs a lunch and carries it out to her grave to have lunch with her. While on his lunch break, he notices a young girl, named Maddy, who turns up at the cemetery alone, when she should be at school. The unlikely pair slowly forges a friendship, one that will leave an indelible mark on them both. Arthur’s sweet support prompts Maddy to give him the name ‘Arthur Truluv”. Along with Arthur’s neighbor, Lucille, the trio becomes an idiosyncratic, but exceptional family.
Goodness. This is another story that kept yelling ‘Read Me, Read Me!”. Something told me I needed to pick this one up, sooner rather than later, and I’m glad I obeyed that little voice. On the verge of sinking into melancholia with various life challenges, the vile political climate, the mass shootings, the spewing of hate across social media, everyone tearing each other apart- it’s easy to forget there are good people out there, special folks who help each other without judgment, without sermons, with no strings attached, no hidden motives. Arthur is such a character.
Three lonely people, all suffering a loss or facing huge hurdles in life, come together and create a little family. They aren’t related in any way, there is no legal obligations. But, they are as much a family as any other. The payoff for the acts of kindness Arthur shows Maddy and Lucille will have dividends proving what a little kindness, caring, and respect for fellow human beings can do. But, Arthur, too reaped the rewards for his willingness to embrace Maddy and Lucille, as they give him a new purpose, providing him a family in his twilight years.
This is a just an all -around sweet story. Although it teeters precariously close to maudlin at times, it’s a story that will restore your faith in humanity, which is a message I needed right about now.
Although the story is simple, obvious in its direction, and all too bittersweet, it’s still special and inspirational. We should all tear off a page from Arthur’s handbook. The kinder we are, the more willing to avoid judgments and just listen and help people who are hurting, lost, or just lonely, maybe our own inner turmoil will ease. Arthur has inspired me a little. Do a good deed, offer a kind word, or even just a smile. Maybe all is not as hopeless as it seems.
4+ stars
April 19, 2017
It's sweet, predictably sad yet uplifting , maybe a little sappy , and I loved reading it ! Nothing earth shattering happens except in the small world of eighty five year Arthur who has lost his wife and seventeen year old Maddy who lost her mother at birth and loses her father to his grief. They meet at the cemetery where Arthur visits his wife's grave every day toting his lawn chair and lunch and talking to his beloved Nola. Maddy goes there to escape the kids from school who hate her and to suffer in silence from the years her father pretty much ignored as he just can't seem to communicate with her. She reminds him too much of her mother. There's the kind, bossy neighbor Lucille also lonely, who rounds out this unlikely trio who become an odd family as they help each other dissipate the loneliness that has engulfed them . It a short book so not much more to say except that this is a lovely, touching (cliche I know) story. Good for the soul.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Random House through NetGalley.
December 27, 2018
I'm between 4 and 4.5 stars.
Elizabeth Berg's The Story of Arthur Truluv is like a hug in book form. Sweet, moving, and life-affirming, it makes you long to know, or associate with, people like these characters.
"Arthur thinks that, above all, aging means the abandonment of criticism and the taking on of compassionate acceptance. He sees that as a good trade."
Arthur Moses is 85 years old. Every single day he visits the cemetery where his beloved wife, Nola, is buried. He has lunch with her every day. He wishes he could see her again, or at least get a sign that she knows he's visiting, but it doesn't really matter, because these visits are an important part of his life.
Beyond going to the cemetery, tending to his rose garden, and dealing with the unpredictable affections of his cat, his life tends to be fairly routine, and spent mostly alone, although he and his know-it-all neighbor Lucille will sometimes spend time talking on Lucille's porch. It's not necessarily an eventful existence, but he's not unhappy, and he feels he's doing more than simply biding his time until he is reunited with his wife again.
One day while at the cemetery he meets Maddy, a lonely, introspective, 18-year-old girl who spends time there every day in an effort to escape from school and the bullying and disdain of her fellow classmates. Maddy is touched by Arthur's kindness and generosity, and starts to look forward to seeing him at Nola's grave, and confiding in him things she can't tell anyone else.
"She doesn't exactly know why kids don't like her. She's good-looking enough. She has a sense of humor. She's not dumb. She guesses it's because they can sense how much she needs them. They are like kids in a circle holding sticks, picking on the weak thing. It is in people, to be entertained by cruelty."
When Maddy mentions to Arthur that she is in need of a place to stay, he opens his home to her, paying her a salary for taking care of him and cleaning the house. It isn't long before Lucille, who is coping with her own issues, becomes the third member of an unlikely trio, each trying to find the things they can do on their own, yet they are buoyed by the companionship they never had, or at least haven't had in some time.
Berg did such a wonderful job with this book. These characters have struggles, struggles which at one point threatened to consume them, but they persevered, and discovered how much better life can be when spent with people who care about you, and whom you care about. The Story of Arthur Truluv is a moving example of how the family you choose can often provide more love and security than the family into which you are born.
While the book is predictable, it is just so charming. Arthur seems a little too good to be true sometimes, but Berg gives you glimpses of things his late wife criticized him for, or wished he did differently. The other characters are also memorable and their flaws make them even more human. She so accurately portrays emotions like grief, loneliness, and despair.
"'See, that's what I do. I am the audience. I am the witness. I am the great appreciator, that's what I do and that's all I want to do. I worked for a lot of years. I did a lot of things for a lot of years. Now, well, here I am in the rocking chair, and I don't mind it, Lucille. I don't feel useless. I feel lucky.'"
At least every now and again, it's great to read a book that restores your faith in the goodness of people. With The Story of Arthur Truluv , Elizabeth Berg has given us such a book.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Elizabeth Berg's The Story of Arthur Truluv is like a hug in book form. Sweet, moving, and life-affirming, it makes you long to know, or associate with, people like these characters.
"Arthur thinks that, above all, aging means the abandonment of criticism and the taking on of compassionate acceptance. He sees that as a good trade."
Arthur Moses is 85 years old. Every single day he visits the cemetery where his beloved wife, Nola, is buried. He has lunch with her every day. He wishes he could see her again, or at least get a sign that she knows he's visiting, but it doesn't really matter, because these visits are an important part of his life.
Beyond going to the cemetery, tending to his rose garden, and dealing with the unpredictable affections of his cat, his life tends to be fairly routine, and spent mostly alone, although he and his know-it-all neighbor Lucille will sometimes spend time talking on Lucille's porch. It's not necessarily an eventful existence, but he's not unhappy, and he feels he's doing more than simply biding his time until he is reunited with his wife again.
One day while at the cemetery he meets Maddy, a lonely, introspective, 18-year-old girl who spends time there every day in an effort to escape from school and the bullying and disdain of her fellow classmates. Maddy is touched by Arthur's kindness and generosity, and starts to look forward to seeing him at Nola's grave, and confiding in him things she can't tell anyone else.
"She doesn't exactly know why kids don't like her. She's good-looking enough. She has a sense of humor. She's not dumb. She guesses it's because they can sense how much she needs them. They are like kids in a circle holding sticks, picking on the weak thing. It is in people, to be entertained by cruelty."
When Maddy mentions to Arthur that she is in need of a place to stay, he opens his home to her, paying her a salary for taking care of him and cleaning the house. It isn't long before Lucille, who is coping with her own issues, becomes the third member of an unlikely trio, each trying to find the things they can do on their own, yet they are buoyed by the companionship they never had, or at least haven't had in some time.
Berg did such a wonderful job with this book. These characters have struggles, struggles which at one point threatened to consume them, but they persevered, and discovered how much better life can be when spent with people who care about you, and whom you care about. The Story of Arthur Truluv is a moving example of how the family you choose can often provide more love and security than the family into which you are born.
While the book is predictable, it is just so charming. Arthur seems a little too good to be true sometimes, but Berg gives you glimpses of things his late wife criticized him for, or wished he did differently. The other characters are also memorable and their flaws make them even more human. She so accurately portrays emotions like grief, loneliness, and despair.
"'See, that's what I do. I am the audience. I am the witness. I am the great appreciator, that's what I do and that's all I want to do. I worked for a lot of years. I did a lot of things for a lot of years. Now, well, here I am in the rocking chair, and I don't mind it, Lucille. I don't feel useless. I feel lucky.'"
At least every now and again, it's great to read a book that restores your faith in the goodness of people. With The Story of Arthur Truluv , Elizabeth Berg has given us such a book.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
November 27, 2018
The Story of Arthur Truluv is one of those novels that, in my personal lexicon, I refer to as True Life Novels. I know them by how the characters and the incidents in their lives are authentic, sympathetic, cover a wide range of topics, are almost always inspiring in ways small, medium, or large - and always, always move me beyond words.
The range of topics is, of course, as infinite as life itself. How the people handle what comes their way also has infinite variety. In this treasure of a book, we have Arthur Moses at age 82 moving through his grief at the loss of his beloved wife Nora six months previously.
Well, okay – he’s not exactly moving too far. Mostly from home to the bus stop to the cemetery to have lunch with his wife, back to the bus stop and then back home. He is fully aware that he is lonely with a kind of emptiness that even seems to drain his bones. Little does he know that his life is about to change radically.
With the suddenness that often precedes big changes in our lives, Arthur somehow finds himself needed by others. There is a teenage girl who nicknames him “Truluv” because of his dedication to lunch with his deceased wife. And there is a neighbour with whom he occasionally chatted, but now needs him, too.
The story within this novel checked all the boxes for me. It was funny, poignant, hope-filled, sad, and inspiring. People are indeed grieving in this story, and while their grieving draws them together, it also helps them understand their own process better. Loss and grief are not always about losing people we love – sometimes people grieve due to the loss of hopes and dreams, too.
This story is about people who find they are loved and needed and wanted in others’ lives at a time when hopes and dreams seem to have abandoned them. I loved this novel: these people, their lives, and their loves. I laughed, cried, and in the end found myself both uplifted and inspired.
Highly recommended for other readers who also enjoy True Life Novels that are well written and with characters you will long to meet.
The range of topics is, of course, as infinite as life itself. How the people handle what comes their way also has infinite variety. In this treasure of a book, we have Arthur Moses at age 82 moving through his grief at the loss of his beloved wife Nora six months previously.
Well, okay – he’s not exactly moving too far. Mostly from home to the bus stop to the cemetery to have lunch with his wife, back to the bus stop and then back home. He is fully aware that he is lonely with a kind of emptiness that even seems to drain his bones. Little does he know that his life is about to change radically.
With the suddenness that often precedes big changes in our lives, Arthur somehow finds himself needed by others. There is a teenage girl who nicknames him “Truluv” because of his dedication to lunch with his deceased wife. And there is a neighbour with whom he occasionally chatted, but now needs him, too.
The story within this novel checked all the boxes for me. It was funny, poignant, hope-filled, sad, and inspiring. People are indeed grieving in this story, and while their grieving draws them together, it also helps them understand their own process better. Loss and grief are not always about losing people we love – sometimes people grieve due to the loss of hopes and dreams, too.
This story is about people who find they are loved and needed and wanted in others’ lives at a time when hopes and dreams seem to have abandoned them. I loved this novel: these people, their lives, and their loves. I laughed, cried, and in the end found myself both uplifted and inspired.
Highly recommended for other readers who also enjoy True Life Novels that are well written and with characters you will long to meet.
November 22, 2017
"What is it that makes a family? Certainly no document does, no legal pronouncement or accident of birth. No, real families come from choices we make about who we want to be bound to, and the ties to such families lie in our hearts."
This is a book about three individuals who have relatively little in common but find themselves bound together in an unconventional but loving family. Arthur Moses a.k.a. Truluv, is an 85 year old man who goes to the cemetery each day to have lunch with his deceased wife. Arthur is a little lost since losing his wife. He is a kind and loving man who stops at various tombstones and wonders about the person's life. Maddy is a 17 year old girl who does not fit in. She often skips school and goes to the cemetery to take pictures and sit under a tree. She is a lost teenager whose Mother died two weeks after she was born. She has always felt like a burden to her father and gets into an unhealthy relationship looking for love. Lucille is Arthur's next door neighbor who makes Arthur cookies and is excited about a chance to be with her first love after so many years apart.
"I'll love you forever in darkness and sun, I'll love you past when my whole sweet life is done."
Arthur meets Maddy at the cemetery where they have both been quietly observing each other. When Arthur waves at Maddy she decides to wave back and the two strike up a friendship. Maddy calls Arthur "Truluv" for his devotion to his wife and daily "lunches" with her at the cemetery. Arthur likes having someone to look after and Maddy feels accepted and safe with Arthur. She has always felt like an outsider at home and school but not with Arthur. After a heated argument with her father, Maddy runs away and eventually finds herself living at Arthur's home until College begins. While Maddy and Arthur are forming a friendship, Lucile has re-kindled her romance with her first love after having been contacted with him. She dreams of a future with him when tragedy strikes.
Arthur, Maddy and Lucile have all known loss. Each one has his/her cross to bear but they are able to forge a bond and become an unlikely family. Arthur is my favorite character and he steals the show in this book. He is generous and kind and maybe a little reckless - who would invite a virtually unknown person into their home to live? It reminds me of the quote " I always depended on the kindness of strangers." from A streetcar named Desire. I found this book to be an extremely fast sweet read. It's a sweet book - but not syrupy sweet. I found the story to be uplifting and light even though it dealt with loss. and I enjoyed the story. I especially enjoyed how the unlikely trio formed a family and provided something each one needed: acceptance, a sense of belonging, a sense of being needed, love, friendship, community, and hope.
I received a copy of this book from Random House and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
This is a book about three individuals who have relatively little in common but find themselves bound together in an unconventional but loving family. Arthur Moses a.k.a. Truluv, is an 85 year old man who goes to the cemetery each day to have lunch with his deceased wife. Arthur is a little lost since losing his wife. He is a kind and loving man who stops at various tombstones and wonders about the person's life. Maddy is a 17 year old girl who does not fit in. She often skips school and goes to the cemetery to take pictures and sit under a tree. She is a lost teenager whose Mother died two weeks after she was born. She has always felt like a burden to her father and gets into an unhealthy relationship looking for love. Lucille is Arthur's next door neighbor who makes Arthur cookies and is excited about a chance to be with her first love after so many years apart.
"I'll love you forever in darkness and sun, I'll love you past when my whole sweet life is done."
Arthur meets Maddy at the cemetery where they have both been quietly observing each other. When Arthur waves at Maddy she decides to wave back and the two strike up a friendship. Maddy calls Arthur "Truluv" for his devotion to his wife and daily "lunches" with her at the cemetery. Arthur likes having someone to look after and Maddy feels accepted and safe with Arthur. She has always felt like an outsider at home and school but not with Arthur. After a heated argument with her father, Maddy runs away and eventually finds herself living at Arthur's home until College begins. While Maddy and Arthur are forming a friendship, Lucile has re-kindled her romance with her first love after having been contacted with him. She dreams of a future with him when tragedy strikes.
Arthur, Maddy and Lucile have all known loss. Each one has his/her cross to bear but they are able to forge a bond and become an unlikely family. Arthur is my favorite character and he steals the show in this book. He is generous and kind and maybe a little reckless - who would invite a virtually unknown person into their home to live? It reminds me of the quote " I always depended on the kindness of strangers." from A streetcar named Desire. I found this book to be an extremely fast sweet read. It's a sweet book - but not syrupy sweet. I found the story to be uplifting and light even though it dealt with loss. and I enjoyed the story. I especially enjoyed how the unlikely trio formed a family and provided something each one needed: acceptance, a sense of belonging, a sense of being needed, love, friendship, community, and hope.
I received a copy of this book from Random House and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
January 27, 2018
4 sweet, feel-good, “true love 💗” stars to The Story of Arthur Truluv ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
I listened to the audio of this special story, which was narrated by the author, Elizabeth Berg. Her voice and inflection suited the storytelling perfectly.
At first Arthur seemed a little quirky (even a little “Ove-y”), but then when he was fleshed out more, he became a true gentleman in my eyes. Arthur is a widower in his 80s who meets Maddy, a teenager going through emotional turmoil due to bullying and lack of friends at school and the loss of her mother. Add in Lucille, Arthur’s vivacious neighbor, and true friendship (and friends as family) between these three characters is explored.
Some may think this story is a little predictable or too syrupy sweet, and I can understand that. But I also think it’s the perfect break between heavier reads and, even more importantly, serves as a reminder of the good in the world, the importance of friendship and kindness, and how the simplest of stories and characters can cause you to smile with your whole heart.
This was a sister read with Brenda (and a few other sisters who had previously read it joined in, which was fun!), and it was a delight to share the experience of this book with her! 💗
I listened to the audio of this special story, which was narrated by the author, Elizabeth Berg. Her voice and inflection suited the storytelling perfectly.
At first Arthur seemed a little quirky (even a little “Ove-y”), but then when he was fleshed out more, he became a true gentleman in my eyes. Arthur is a widower in his 80s who meets Maddy, a teenager going through emotional turmoil due to bullying and lack of friends at school and the loss of her mother. Add in Lucille, Arthur’s vivacious neighbor, and true friendship (and friends as family) between these three characters is explored.
Some may think this story is a little predictable or too syrupy sweet, and I can understand that. But I also think it’s the perfect break between heavier reads and, even more importantly, serves as a reminder of the good in the world, the importance of friendship and kindness, and how the simplest of stories and characters can cause you to smile with your whole heart.
This was a sister read with Brenda (and a few other sisters who had previously read it joined in, which was fun!), and it was a delight to share the experience of this book with her! 💗
June 7, 2017
There are three people who this story is about.
Arthur Moses (Truluv), a sweet widower, 85 yrs old.
Maddy, a 17 yr old senior in high school, lost her mother to a car accident shortly after her birth, very unpopular at school, a loner.
Lucille, an elderly neighbor of Arthur's that has never been married and is quite boisterous and a great baker.
Sad circumstances bring these three lonely people together and it's a beautiful story!
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC!
Arthur Moses (Truluv), a sweet widower, 85 yrs old.
Maddy, a 17 yr old senior in high school, lost her mother to a car accident shortly after her birth, very unpopular at school, a loner.
Lucille, an elderly neighbor of Arthur's that has never been married and is quite boisterous and a great baker.
Sad circumstances bring these three lonely people together and it's a beautiful story!
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC!
July 16, 2017
A high 4 stars! I so enjoyed reading The Story of Arthur Truluv. It's a short snapshot of what one hopes the world can be like for lonely people who find their way to each other. Arthur is an octogenarian who has lunch at his wife's grave every day. Maddie is an almost 18 year old lost soul who seeks refuge in the cemetery on many days instead of having lunch in her school cafeteria. Lucille is Arthur's neighbour, a retired teacher, a fanatical baker and lonely as hell. Through circumstance and personality, these three come together and form somewhat of a family. It's all a bit predictable, but Berg has created great characters -- I especially liked Arthur. And she keeps the story simple, with little melodrama but stirring up real emotions -- especially in the bond between Arthur and Maddie -- making me teary more than once. Quick, verging on sentimental but worthwhile and completely satisfying. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.
July 25, 2017
Arthur Moses misses his wife so badly that he goes to the cemetery every single day to have lunch with her. One day he spots a young girl there and the two of them become unlikely friends. Maddy is the young girl that has had a sorta bad life. Her mom died when Maddy was just a couple of weeks old and her dad is very unemotional towards Maddy. (I felt this was kinda lame..I've seen and read way more serious life problems but what do I know..not much. I do know I thought one part of Maddy's story was funky.
They along with the weird lady that wears a crooked wig and Arthur's cat forge a sweet little book. It's one of those that a friend of mine used to call a "potato chip" book.
You kinda wanted it at the time but you never felt really full.
(It did kinda feel like a trying to hard version of the much better A Man Called Ove)
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
They along with the weird lady that wears a crooked wig and Arthur's cat forge a sweet little book. It's one of those that a friend of mine used to call a "potato chip" book.
You kinda wanted it at the time but you never felt really full.
(It did kinda feel like a trying to hard version of the much better A Man Called Ove)
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
February 19, 2020
A cemetry in Mason, Missouri, became the place where 85-year-old Arthur Moses and 17-year-old Maddy Harris would meet and turn their lives around. Among the gravestones, where Arthur ate lunch every day at his deceased wife Nola's grave, and troubled Maddy found solace against the cruelties of high school and her lonely life at home, two souls collided unexpectedly. Maddy had to withstand the onslaught of the students who loved to be entertained by cruelty and chose her as their target. She also endured the loneliness of a young woman who grew up without a mother, and a father who lost his taste for words. Arthur had to add meaning to a life which became quiet after Nola's passing. Loss and loneliness surrounded them at that crucial moment in time.
Arthur would become 'Truluv' to Maddy, and Maddy would be known as 'Sunshine' to Arthur.
Between The Waltons, and Hallmark cards, a sweet new tale of kinship, a friendship and love began in a modern world where friendship does not define itself in the same terms as before anymore, and loneliness never gets a second chance like this. The meaning of family changed.
Lucille Howard, Arthur's octogenarian neighbor and retired school teacher, got new meaning in her life when Arthur inspired her to open a cooking school where she could feel validated again. After reconnecting with her old school boyfriend, life added another hue of happiness to her lonesome life, but not with the ending she anticipated, so soon. Frank used to say: "Who cares what happens before we're born and after we die? The question is, what do we do in the meantime?" Arthur had to remind her of the meaning of the words when she thoughts everything was hopeless.
Nobody could equal Lucille's orange blossom cookies, lavender shortbread, lemon drop cheesecake, pinwheels, maple cake with maple syrup frosting, cocoa marshmallow cake, lemon snaps, pudding cake, apricot bars and marigold cake. It was soon clear that the aromas escaping her kitchen brought a brand-new dimension to the trio's quest for family and friendship.
This is a perfect read for the Christmas Holiday Season. Touching, fun, sweet, nostalgic, sad and beautiful. We all need to be reminded of goodness from time to time, and where, in comparison, we fit in. Perhaps we have it in us, but don't know how to express it anymore. That's why we need to read books like these.
Arthur would become 'Truluv' to Maddy, and Maddy would be known as 'Sunshine' to Arthur.
Between The Waltons, and Hallmark cards, a sweet new tale of kinship, a friendship and love began in a modern world where friendship does not define itself in the same terms as before anymore, and loneliness never gets a second chance like this. The meaning of family changed.
Lucille Howard, Arthur's octogenarian neighbor and retired school teacher, got new meaning in her life when Arthur inspired her to open a cooking school where she could feel validated again. After reconnecting with her old school boyfriend, life added another hue of happiness to her lonesome life, but not with the ending she anticipated, so soon. Frank used to say: "Who cares what happens before we're born and after we die? The question is, what do we do in the meantime?" Arthur had to remind her of the meaning of the words when she thoughts everything was hopeless.
Nobody could equal Lucille's orange blossom cookies, lavender shortbread, lemon drop cheesecake, pinwheels, maple cake with maple syrup frosting, cocoa marshmallow cake, lemon snaps, pudding cake, apricot bars and marigold cake. It was soon clear that the aromas escaping her kitchen brought a brand-new dimension to the trio's quest for family and friendship.
This is a perfect read for the Christmas Holiday Season. Touching, fun, sweet, nostalgic, sad and beautiful. We all need to be reminded of goodness from time to time, and where, in comparison, we fit in. Perhaps we have it in us, but don't know how to express it anymore. That's why we need to read books like these.
December 16, 2017
4.5 stars. It’s been a while since I was so taken and charmed by a book. Berg has created a memorable cast of characters and Arthur especially will win your heart. When life gets you down this is the book to read that will restore your faith in human goodness. Better yet, don't wait and read it now. It will leave you with a full heart, a lump in your throat, and a tear in your eye.
Octogenarian Arthur Moses is lonely. The highlight of his day is visiting his late wife’s graveside where he chats with her as he eats his lunch. Maddy is a 17-year-old motherless girl who hides out in the cemetery to avoid a miserable home life and the rejection and bullying she is subjected to at school. She gives the name Truluv to Arthur for his devotion to Nola, his deceased wife. Lucille is Arthur’s elderly neighbor who loves to bake and is a bit of a busybody but has a big heart.
Fate brings these three people together and what follows is amusing and heartfelt, with deeper meanings about aging, grief, loneliness, family, and connection.
I listened to the audiobook, read by the author (this is a Netgalley title for me too) from start to finish on a long drive and absolutely loved it.
*many thanks to Elizabeth Berg, Netgalley and Random House for a copy of the e-book in exchange for an honest review
Octogenarian Arthur Moses is lonely. The highlight of his day is visiting his late wife’s graveside where he chats with her as he eats his lunch. Maddy is a 17-year-old motherless girl who hides out in the cemetery to avoid a miserable home life and the rejection and bullying she is subjected to at school. She gives the name Truluv to Arthur for his devotion to Nola, his deceased wife. Lucille is Arthur’s elderly neighbor who loves to bake and is a bit of a busybody but has a big heart.
Fate brings these three people together and what follows is amusing and heartfelt, with deeper meanings about aging, grief, loneliness, family, and connection.
I listened to the audiobook, read by the author (this is a Netgalley title for me too) from start to finish on a long drive and absolutely loved it.
*many thanks to Elizabeth Berg, Netgalley and Random House for a copy of the e-book in exchange for an honest review
December 13, 2017
Oh what a fabulous book this was!! For some reason, I am attracted to books with older characters as the main characters. There’s just something about books with 70 and 80 year olds in them LOL. I loved this book from the very first page to the last. I loved this along with these others who had older people as the main storyline: The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper, A Man Called Ove, The One in a Million Boy, Lillian Boxfish Takes A Walk and Driving Miss Norma. They are all “feel good” stories which this world needs more of. Check this one out too! Highly recommend!! 12/13/17 Edited to add: The Today Show recommended this book to read on their tv show today. They are right!!!!
August 30, 2017
“We all know that something is eternal. And it ain’t houses and it ain’t names, and it ain’t earth, and it ain’t even the stars—everybody knows in their bones that something is eternal, and that something has to do with human beings.”
Thorton Wilder, Our Town
It was six months ago, in November, the month when Arthur’s beloved wife Nola was buried, and he’s had a lunch date with her every day since. He heads to the cemetery on the bus, strolls his way through the headstones before he sits by her, sometimes he talks to her, sometimes he just listens. Either way, he’s in no hurry, she will be there.
This day, he stops in front of another headstone that seems to be calling out to him. A woman, born in 1897, died in 1929. He adds this in his head, she was thirty-two, but he does it again because he it would be disrespectful of him to stand there thinking about her, and getting such an important and intimate detail wrong. He pictures her in his mind, her hair, the colour, how she wore it, her life story pulling him in further. The colour of her eyes, her jewelry. Holding her little ones. And then the vision of it all fades. He heads over to sit with Nola.
He looks around at the signs of spring everywhere, a new beginning in the buds everywhere, the softening of the earth, and he wishes that his wife could return like that, again and again. A new beginning for her, surrounded by life, by renewal. Where she belongs.
He sees the girl sitting on the ground off in the distance, her back against a tree. He has seen her here before, he waves in her direction, she reacts as though she is frightened, and so he turns and goes to wait for the bus to return home. The girl, Maddy, feels badly, she hadn’t meant to scare him off.
Arthur is eighty-five years old. His doctor says he’ll live to be one hundred.
Maddy is seventeen years old, in high school where she feels like an outcast. She likes to take pictures and she writes poems, and she likes to read. Her mother died shortly after she was born, but sometimes Maddy feels as though she’s watching her, senses her presence in the eyes of a doe.
Lillian is Arthur’s next door neighbor, an older, lonely woman he talks to now and then, helps her out with her yard, puts the star on her Christmas tree. She loves to bake, and she is very good at it.
These three lonely people, whose lives have been tossed about, left with the invisible bruises of heartache, and yet life somehow manages to gather these three together, binding them collectively as one. A family, of sorts, each lending their strength, their talent, some compassion, an ear, love, and, most of all – love. We all have gifts to share, it just takes the one soul to share them and another to appreciate them.
Elizabeth Berg has written a simple story, simply told, about everyday people, who together, allow love in so they can, for the first time, or maybe even once again, become real.
"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."
"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.
"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."
"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"
"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."
--Margery Williams Bianco, “The Velveteen Rabbit”
Pub Date: 21 Nov 2017
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Random House Publishing Group / Random House
September 2, 2017
This is a gentle and heartwarming story about a widower in his 80s who visits his wife's grave every day at lunchtime. Arthur catches a bus each day, fold up chair and lunch in tow. As he walks among other people's graves, he makes a spiritual connection with the deceased, reciting in his mind what they looked like, what lives they lead and how they met their end. While faithfully keeping lunchtimes with Nola at her grave for months, he has seen a young woman out of the corner of his eye also holding court at the cemetery. For lonely and melancholy teenager Maddy finds a certain kind of peace among the graves that she does not find under normal circumstances. Arthur and Maddy have been aware of each other's presence at the cemetery for awhile, but finally approach each other one fateful day. This sets the stage for a loving and unexpected friendship that heals loneliness and warms hearts.
The story is rounded out by a third character, Arthur's neighbor Lucille. She calls herself a "master baker" and often lures Arthur up onto her porch with promises of her delectable orange blossom cookies. A long retired teacher and never married, Lucille is a wonderful cook and baker who hasn't given up on romance. She is another broken facet in this story who finds quiet comfort in Arthur's compassion.
Arthur is an old man with a heart of gold, wisdom and a generous soul who through his loving gifts, also receives. This is a very easy and effortless read that will make your heart glow.
This ebook was graciously provided by NetGalley in return for my honest review.
The story is rounded out by a third character, Arthur's neighbor Lucille. She calls herself a "master baker" and often lures Arthur up onto her porch with promises of her delectable orange blossom cookies. A long retired teacher and never married, Lucille is a wonderful cook and baker who hasn't given up on romance. She is another broken facet in this story who finds quiet comfort in Arthur's compassion.
Arthur is an old man with a heart of gold, wisdom and a generous soul who through his loving gifts, also receives. This is a very easy and effortless read that will make your heart glow.
This ebook was graciously provided by NetGalley in return for my honest review.
September 10, 2017
Not since "A man called Ove" have I been so charmed by a book. "The story of Arthur Truluv" is one of those novels that give you a book hangover (you don't want to start another book because you are still living in that book's world.)
"He's an old man living an old man's life"
Arthur Moses is an eighty-five year old widower. He hasn't been a widower very long and his grief is still raw and fresh. He was one of those fortunate people who marry the love of their life and stay in love until death does them part. And it did. Nola passed away over six months ago, yet he has lunch with her everyday. He takes the bus to the cemetery and eats his sandwich with Nola while discussing the day's events.
When he is not at the cemetery, Arthur spends his time talking to his cat, Gordon, and his next-door neighbor, Lucille, octogenarian and expert baker of cookies.
It is in the cemetery where Arthur meets Maddy Harris - a seventeen year old girl who comes to the cemetery on her lunch break from school. Maddy does not have any real friends. She lives with her father, but theirs is a cold relationship with little, if any, overt displays of affection. She loves to write poetry and take pictures. Maddy is very intelligent, but she has always been an outcast among her peers. She is teased, bullied, and made to feel alone. But then... she has always felt alone.
"But the longer I live, the more I come to see that love is not so easy for everyone. It can get awfully complicated."
When Arthur and Maddy become acquainted, Maddy is in a sexual relationship. She thinks that if she makes Anderson happy sexually, that he will come to love her. Above all else, Maddy craves love and acceptance. As can be predicted this relationship ends badly, as there was not any real love on Maddy's side and Anderson was just using her.
She is astounded at the love that Arthur has for his dead wife and she gives him the nickname 'Truluv'. Arthur is a true friend - and she secretly thinks he is cute with his large ears and big brown eyes. When Maddy's life takes an unexpected turn it is Arthur that she goes to for support. And support her he does. He invites her to live with him in his big rambling, old-fashioned, house. Before long, Lucille sells her house next-door and moves in with Arthur and Maddy. Mason, Missouri is a sleepy little town of five thousand souls. And now it is the home of Arthur, Maddy and Lucille.
"What is it that makes a family? Certainly no document does, no legal pronouncement or accident of birth. No, real families come from choices we make about who we want to be bound to, and the ties to such families live in our hearts."
"The story of Arthur Truluv" is a touching work of literary fiction. Told in a way that is not at all 'sappy', the book explores the themes of loneliness, aging, and family. I'm certain it will resonate with readers who enjoyed "A man called Ove" and "The storied life of A.J. Fikry". I know it will be near the top of my 'Best of 2017' list. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to read it. Highly recommended!
"He's an old man living an old man's life"
Arthur Moses is an eighty-five year old widower. He hasn't been a widower very long and his grief is still raw and fresh. He was one of those fortunate people who marry the love of their life and stay in love until death does them part. And it did. Nola passed away over six months ago, yet he has lunch with her everyday. He takes the bus to the cemetery and eats his sandwich with Nola while discussing the day's events.
When he is not at the cemetery, Arthur spends his time talking to his cat, Gordon, and his next-door neighbor, Lucille, octogenarian and expert baker of cookies.
It is in the cemetery where Arthur meets Maddy Harris - a seventeen year old girl who comes to the cemetery on her lunch break from school. Maddy does not have any real friends. She lives with her father, but theirs is a cold relationship with little, if any, overt displays of affection. She loves to write poetry and take pictures. Maddy is very intelligent, but she has always been an outcast among her peers. She is teased, bullied, and made to feel alone. But then... she has always felt alone.
"But the longer I live, the more I come to see that love is not so easy for everyone. It can get awfully complicated."
When Arthur and Maddy become acquainted, Maddy is in a sexual relationship. She thinks that if she makes Anderson happy sexually, that he will come to love her. Above all else, Maddy craves love and acceptance. As can be predicted this relationship ends badly, as there was not any real love on Maddy's side and Anderson was just using her.
She is astounded at the love that Arthur has for his dead wife and she gives him the nickname 'Truluv'. Arthur is a true friend - and she secretly thinks he is cute with his large ears and big brown eyes. When Maddy's life takes an unexpected turn it is Arthur that she goes to for support. And support her he does. He invites her to live with him in his big rambling, old-fashioned, house. Before long, Lucille sells her house next-door and moves in with Arthur and Maddy. Mason, Missouri is a sleepy little town of five thousand souls. And now it is the home of Arthur, Maddy and Lucille.
"What is it that makes a family? Certainly no document does, no legal pronouncement or accident of birth. No, real families come from choices we make about who we want to be bound to, and the ties to such families live in our hearts."
"The story of Arthur Truluv" is a touching work of literary fiction. Told in a way that is not at all 'sappy', the book explores the themes of loneliness, aging, and family. I'm certain it will resonate with readers who enjoyed "A man called Ove" and "The storied life of A.J. Fikry". I know it will be near the top of my 'Best of 2017' list. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to read it. Highly recommended!
January 12, 2019
4.5 stars rounded to 4 stars
This book was on and off my list so many times it made me dizzy. I made a new Goodreads friend last month, and I asked her if I needed to read one book before I died, what would it be. She recommended The Story of Arthur Truluv. I trusted her and immediately put my name in at the library. What a great suggestion this turned out to be!
This book starts out a bit slowly as we are introduced to the main characters: neighbors Arthur and Lucille (both octagenerians), and 17-year-old Maddy. Arthur is still missing his beloved Nola and every day has his lunch at the cemetery by her gravestone. Lucille, despite her age, still has a lot of life in her, but has no one to share it with. Maddy lost her mom to an accident when Maddy was two weeks old. Her widower father has not gotten over it, and Maddy’s presence seems to heighten his grief. Because she is sad all the time, Maddy’s schoolmates call her Saddy and enjoy picking on her.
The meat of the story involves the relationships these three people forge with one other. It’s a beautiful tale that highlights how much the elderly, often shunted aside, have to offer younger people; the aged are a wealth of wisdom, insight, and understanding. Another poignant theme is what truly makes a family. It’s remarkable what a small group of people in need can do if they bond together. It is so uplifting to see three lonely people work together to transform despair and melancholy into such joy and happiness.
Overall, I found this short novel (240 pages) to be highly satisfying. I loved the last chapter that is essentially an epilogue; I was tearing up in anticipation even before reading it. If you are interested in a quick read that demonstrates the goodness in humanity, the value of our elderly, and what one can achieve if willing to break out of the rut, then this is the book for you.
Thank you, Nancy, for recommending this book for me!
This book was on and off my list so many times it made me dizzy. I made a new Goodreads friend last month, and I asked her if I needed to read one book before I died, what would it be. She recommended The Story of Arthur Truluv. I trusted her and immediately put my name in at the library. What a great suggestion this turned out to be!
This book starts out a bit slowly as we are introduced to the main characters: neighbors Arthur and Lucille (both octagenerians), and 17-year-old Maddy. Arthur is still missing his beloved Nola and every day has his lunch at the cemetery by her gravestone. Lucille, despite her age, still has a lot of life in her, but has no one to share it with. Maddy lost her mom to an accident when Maddy was two weeks old. Her widower father has not gotten over it, and Maddy’s presence seems to heighten his grief. Because she is sad all the time, Maddy’s schoolmates call her Saddy and enjoy picking on her.
The meat of the story involves the relationships these three people forge with one other. It’s a beautiful tale that highlights how much the elderly, often shunted aside, have to offer younger people; the aged are a wealth of wisdom, insight, and understanding. Another poignant theme is what truly makes a family. It’s remarkable what a small group of people in need can do if they bond together. It is so uplifting to see three lonely people work together to transform despair and melancholy into such joy and happiness.
Overall, I found this short novel (240 pages) to be highly satisfying. I loved the last chapter that is essentially an epilogue; I was tearing up in anticipation even before reading it. If you are interested in a quick read that demonstrates the goodness in humanity, the value of our elderly, and what one can achieve if willing to break out of the rut, then this is the book for you.
Thank you, Nancy, for recommending this book for me!
July 19, 2017
Some of my greatest reading pleasures have come from Elizabeth Berg, so I was very happy to receive an uncorrected proof on Kindle of her latest offering from NetGalley and Random House. Now that I've finished, I wish I had the actual book so I could give it a big bear hug. I've never hugged my tablet before, but I guess I could start now....
No, it's just not the same but will suffice for now.
There seems to be a trend, as the population ages, for books about old folks, and I found myself comparing Arthur to A Man Called Ove, and Lucille's situation to that in Our Souls at Night. But let me be clear -- this book is not a knock off. Ms. Berg's characters and story are not only original, but unique, loving, and expertly crafted from her heart and soul. I loved Ove, but Arthur is not the cantankerous geezer Ove was. Arthur is his own person, a man grieving and remembering his deceased wife by visiting her grave every day, but also a man who still loves living. He honors Nora and their memories, and has no one now but his neighbor, Lucille. At the cemetery, he meets a troubled teen named Maddy and their friendship transforms both of their lives.
This book has warmth and charm and will bring back all the good memories of parents and grandparents now passed. Home cooking, rose gardens, and family -- the one you were born into or the one you make. It will tug at your heartstrings.
No, it's just not the same but will suffice for now.
There seems to be a trend, as the population ages, for books about old folks, and I found myself comparing Arthur to A Man Called Ove, and Lucille's situation to that in Our Souls at Night. But let me be clear -- this book is not a knock off. Ms. Berg's characters and story are not only original, but unique, loving, and expertly crafted from her heart and soul. I loved Ove, but Arthur is not the cantankerous geezer Ove was. Arthur is his own person, a man grieving and remembering his deceased wife by visiting her grave every day, but also a man who still loves living. He honors Nora and their memories, and has no one now but his neighbor, Lucille. At the cemetery, he meets a troubled teen named Maddy and their friendship transforms both of their lives.
This book has warmth and charm and will bring back all the good memories of parents and grandparents now passed. Home cooking, rose gardens, and family -- the one you were born into or the one you make. It will tug at your heartstrings.
November 5, 2017
4 🔔 🔔 🔔 🔔s
In her acknowledgements the author writes that she hopes “readers will see beyond the simple words on the page to the more complex meanings behind them.”
I believe most of us will. This goes down easy like bittersweet hot chocolate for the soul and at only 240 pages a perfect read for the times and the season upon us. It encourages you to slow down, smile, be kind, be mindful of your place in time, be a helper when you can.
It relaxed and soothed my overtaxed emotions and spirit. A reading gift given and received at just the right time; a reminder that sometimes it can be a wonderful life if we take the time to smooth off our rough edges and liberally apply healing balm.
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House, and the author for this Advance Reader's Copy.
In her acknowledgements the author writes that she hopes “readers will see beyond the simple words on the page to the more complex meanings behind them.”
I believe most of us will. This goes down easy like bittersweet hot chocolate for the soul and at only 240 pages a perfect read for the times and the season upon us. It encourages you to slow down, smile, be kind, be mindful of your place in time, be a helper when you can.
It relaxed and soothed my overtaxed emotions and spirit. A reading gift given and received at just the right time; a reminder that sometimes it can be a wonderful life if we take the time to smooth off our rough edges and liberally apply healing balm.
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House, and the author for this Advance Reader's Copy.
November 22, 2017
Powerful, poignant, and charming!
The Story of Arthur Truluv is a touching novel that reminds us that life should be lived to the fullest and that family can be any unit created by love and not limited to those related by blood.
The story is told from three different points of view; Arthur, a kind-hearted widow whose loneliness is palpable and who spends the better part of his days at the graveside of his late wife; Maddie, a troubled teenager, struggling with bullies at school and an apathetic father at home; and Lucille, a retired school teacher who has spent most of her life pining for a lost love.
The prose is eloquent and reflective. The characters, including all the supporting characters, are strong, multi-layered, and endearing. And the plot is a compelling tale of friendship, happiness, kindness, generosity, forgiveness, honesty, humour, unconditional love, growing old, and the true meaning of family.
The Story of Arthur Truluv is a moving, delightful story that will make you laugh, make you cry and is hands down one of my favourite reads of the year.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at https://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
The Story of Arthur Truluv is a touching novel that reminds us that life should be lived to the fullest and that family can be any unit created by love and not limited to those related by blood.
The story is told from three different points of view; Arthur, a kind-hearted widow whose loneliness is palpable and who spends the better part of his days at the graveside of his late wife; Maddie, a troubled teenager, struggling with bullies at school and an apathetic father at home; and Lucille, a retired school teacher who has spent most of her life pining for a lost love.
The prose is eloquent and reflective. The characters, including all the supporting characters, are strong, multi-layered, and endearing. And the plot is a compelling tale of friendship, happiness, kindness, generosity, forgiveness, honesty, humour, unconditional love, growing old, and the true meaning of family.
The Story of Arthur Truluv is a moving, delightful story that will make you laugh, make you cry and is hands down one of my favourite reads of the year.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at https://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
December 5, 2017
This was a sweet charming book about how one does not to be related by blood to be a family.
Artur Trulov is a older man who visits his beloved wife's grave everyday and brings his lunch and a chair to share some time with her. Arthur tends his roses and shares his time with Gordon his cat and briefly shares time with his neighbor, Lucille. Maddie Harris finds peace wandering the graveyard where she sees and finally meets and speaks to Arthur. She is a troubled teen having lost her mother when she was quite young and seems to have lost the love and affection of her father at the very same time. Lucille, also seems loveless. She lives alone with her cooking and baking being the whole of her life.
How these three people, bereft of love and caring come together is the basis of this lovely novel. They come together to form a bond of happiness and caring that delights the reader and makes you fall in love especially with Arthur. It also points most wonderfully the closeness one can have between the young and the old. “Happiness is only real when shared”
Special thanks to Elizabeth Berg, Random House, and NetGalley for providing this lovely novel to me.
Artur Trulov is a older man who visits his beloved wife's grave everyday and brings his lunch and a chair to share some time with her. Arthur tends his roses and shares his time with Gordon his cat and briefly shares time with his neighbor, Lucille. Maddie Harris finds peace wandering the graveyard where she sees and finally meets and speaks to Arthur. She is a troubled teen having lost her mother when she was quite young and seems to have lost the love and affection of her father at the very same time. Lucille, also seems loveless. She lives alone with her cooking and baking being the whole of her life.
How these three people, bereft of love and caring come together is the basis of this lovely novel. They come together to form a bond of happiness and caring that delights the reader and makes you fall in love especially with Arthur. It also points most wonderfully the closeness one can have between the young and the old. “Happiness is only real when shared”
Special thanks to Elizabeth Berg, Random House, and NetGalley for providing this lovely novel to me.
August 2, 2023
Every now and then I need to take a break from the mysteries, the book group selections and find something that reminds me how sweet life can be.
This book, The Story of Arthur Truluv by Elizabeth Berg fills that need for me.
This is a sentimental read, a sweet and simply told story.
Underneath though are some important themes: the loneliness of the elderly, the importance of family, the one you make, and the one you were born into… the desperation of those who feel that they do not fit in anywhere, and…friendship, how extending friendship even those with a generation gap, can make a huge difference.
This is one of those feel good books, centered on a certain spate of time and how it changed everything and those involved.
A book we all sometimes need.
One where you finish and just think awwwwww, in joy and sadness.
I am so glad that in many ways, the author has chosen to find a way to "sort of" continue the story... Night of Miracles...https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This book, The Story of Arthur Truluv by Elizabeth Berg fills that need for me.
This is a sentimental read, a sweet and simply told story.
Underneath though are some important themes: the loneliness of the elderly, the importance of family, the one you make, and the one you were born into… the desperation of those who feel that they do not fit in anywhere, and…friendship, how extending friendship even those with a generation gap, can make a huge difference.
This is one of those feel good books, centered on a certain spate of time and how it changed everything and those involved.
A book we all sometimes need.
One where you finish and just think awwwwww, in joy and sadness.
I am so glad that in many ways, the author has chosen to find a way to "sort of" continue the story... Night of Miracles...https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
November 22, 2017
Ok, I'm a sucker for these kinds of feel-good books! So full of heart and love. And no, it is NOT to be compared to A Man Called Ove. Arthur Moses is an eighty-five-year-old widower and retired groundskeeper living in Mason, Missouri, who visits his beloved deceased wife every day in the cemetery and has lunch with her. Arthur often looks at what is written on a tombstone nearby and imagines the life story of whomever is buried there. He wants to know who is keeping his wife company, after all. Very reminiscent of Thornton Wilder's play, Our Town, in that way--for the appreciation of how wonderful life can be.
There he meets Maddy, a young misfit girl, a loner, who also frequently has her own lunch amongst the graves. The two strike up an unlikely friendship. Arthur tells her about Nola, his wife, and recognizing his great love for his wife, she begins calling him Truluv.
Maddy's story is that her mother died when she was a baby and her father has never recovered from his grief. His heart seems closed to his daughter. She has always felt lonely and unloved, the object of scorn and teasing from her school classmates.
When Maddy becomes pregnant, her father's wishes are not her own and so she runs away from home. A concerned high school teacher, who respects her artistic talents, arranges for her to start college classes in the spring at a school that has facilities for single mothers. In the meantime, Arthur offers to hire her as his live-in housekeeper. Then Lucille, his spinster neighbor, feeling her life is lonely, also asks to move in. She is a marvelous cook and baker and plans to teach cooking classes in his kitchen and Arthur impulsively says yes.
Can three strangers with very different personalities learn to live together? The resulting mix is often hilarious, with a few irritations, but mostly they are compassionate and understanding towards each other's foibles.
I predict their appreciation of life will open your heart just a little wider. "Arthur thinks that, above all, aging means the abandonment of criticism and the taking on of compassionate acceptance." Amen to that!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to read an arc of Ms Berg's lovely new book. This would make a perfect holiday gift for friends and relatives.
There he meets Maddy, a young misfit girl, a loner, who also frequently has her own lunch amongst the graves. The two strike up an unlikely friendship. Arthur tells her about Nola, his wife, and recognizing his great love for his wife, she begins calling him Truluv.
Maddy's story is that her mother died when she was a baby and her father has never recovered from his grief. His heart seems closed to his daughter. She has always felt lonely and unloved, the object of scorn and teasing from her school classmates.
When Maddy becomes pregnant, her father's wishes are not her own and so she runs away from home. A concerned high school teacher, who respects her artistic talents, arranges for her to start college classes in the spring at a school that has facilities for single mothers. In the meantime, Arthur offers to hire her as his live-in housekeeper. Then Lucille, his spinster neighbor, feeling her life is lonely, also asks to move in. She is a marvelous cook and baker and plans to teach cooking classes in his kitchen and Arthur impulsively says yes.
Can three strangers with very different personalities learn to live together? The resulting mix is often hilarious, with a few irritations, but mostly they are compassionate and understanding towards each other's foibles.
I predict their appreciation of life will open your heart just a little wider. "Arthur thinks that, above all, aging means the abandonment of criticism and the taking on of compassionate acceptance." Amen to that!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to read an arc of Ms Berg's lovely new book. This would make a perfect holiday gift for friends and relatives.
July 30, 2017
Reading good books gives me the perfect break from the harsh realities of the world. But there are times when I feel like I’ve been reading fiction with too much darkness and tragedy. So it was an engaging escape to read Elizabeth Berg’s charming new book, “The Story of Arthur Truluv.” A teenage girl and two much older adults meet and connect in an unexpected manner, and through their friendship they find healing from their grief and loneliness and the possibility of experiencing fulfilling new chapters in their lives. Yes, the book is sweet and somewhat sentimental, but the touching and uplifting story was an entirely satisfying way to spend a lazy summer day.
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.
July 6, 2024
The 30 Best Books of 2017
Loved this book!
Talented storyteller Elizabeth Berg returns following The Dream Lover and Make Someone Happy: Favorite Postings with one of her most charming books yet, THE STORY OF ARTHUR TRULUV. Emotional and compelling, mixed with humor – three unlikely souls with their loss, find solace in one another in this heartwarming tale.
Arthur Moses’ wife, Nola passed six months earlier. He has a routine. He tends to his cat Gordon, his rose garden, and takes the bus to the cemetery with his fold-up chair, to visit his beloved late wife for lunch. He is 85 years old.
Lucille Howard is Arthur’s neighbor. A bit nosy; however, she loves to cook and makes sure Arthur has plenty to eat. She is in love with her high school sweetheart, Frank. She is 83 years old. (very funny) She is excited about her second chance until she receives devastating news.
Maddy Harris is a troubled teen who sees Arthur at the cemetery. She has a strained relationship with her dad, bullied at school, a boyfriend who does not care about her, and a mother who died when she was but a baby. She is intrigued by Arthur and his relationship with his dead wife. She is 18 years old.
A little naive, she takes the bus to the cemetery. To be with people. She loves photography; however, feels isolated and soon finds herself pregnant. With no support from her dad, she turns to Arthur for help.
Her mother was cremated. She wished her mom had been buried at the cemetery. She finds graveyards comforting. She feels her dad blames her for his wife’s death. She lived, and her mother did not.
Maddy and Arthur strike up an unlikely friendship. Arthur is a selfless man and thinks of others. He listens and offers his time. He loves talking to his wife and keeping her updated with engaging stories.
The teen soon names Arthur “Truluv” due to his devotion to his wife. Maddy soon finds herself pregnant, and when everyone turns against her, Arthur is there to assist. They soon become best friends and then Lucille becomes a part of the group and the three move in together.
What they did not expect was to learn something about themselves in the process. A second chance at life. An unexpected friendship. Arthur soon finds he has a housekeeper and a cook. A lively and exciting home full of love and laughter.
Elizabeth Berg has a remarkable and unique talent of peaking inside the lives and hearts of people and life. Her characters are real and authentic. You feel their emotions, and they jump off the page.
If you have read Elizabeth Strout’s Olive Kitteridge and Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ove, you will see a difference in the character, Arthur. Everyone loves Arthur. He is not grumpy and is selfless. We all would like to have an Arthur in our lives!
Reminded of the movie “Our Souls at Night,” starring Jane Fonda and Robert Redford. A widow and widower who've lived next to each other for years, who barely spoke; ultimately make a connection. (minus the sex) with Arthur and Lucille.
A light-hearted, a profoundly moving novel (with a powerful takeaway), Berg once again delivers a thought-provoking tale of the resilience of the human spirit in the midst of grief and loneliness. Proof people can bond, outside of family across generations.
In our world of doom and gloom, it is pleasant to read such a charming book to lift your spirits.
A special thank you to Random House and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy.
JDCMustReadBooks
Loved this book!
Talented storyteller Elizabeth Berg returns following The Dream Lover and Make Someone Happy: Favorite Postings with one of her most charming books yet, THE STORY OF ARTHUR TRULUV. Emotional and compelling, mixed with humor – three unlikely souls with their loss, find solace in one another in this heartwarming tale.
Arthur Moses’ wife, Nola passed six months earlier. He has a routine. He tends to his cat Gordon, his rose garden, and takes the bus to the cemetery with his fold-up chair, to visit his beloved late wife for lunch. He is 85 years old.
Lucille Howard is Arthur’s neighbor. A bit nosy; however, she loves to cook and makes sure Arthur has plenty to eat. She is in love with her high school sweetheart, Frank. She is 83 years old. (very funny) She is excited about her second chance until she receives devastating news.
Maddy Harris is a troubled teen who sees Arthur at the cemetery. She has a strained relationship with her dad, bullied at school, a boyfriend who does not care about her, and a mother who died when she was but a baby. She is intrigued by Arthur and his relationship with his dead wife. She is 18 years old.
A little naive, she takes the bus to the cemetery. To be with people. She loves photography; however, feels isolated and soon finds herself pregnant. With no support from her dad, she turns to Arthur for help.
Her mother was cremated. She wished her mom had been buried at the cemetery. She finds graveyards comforting. She feels her dad blames her for his wife’s death. She lived, and her mother did not.
Maddy and Arthur strike up an unlikely friendship. Arthur is a selfless man and thinks of others. He listens and offers his time. He loves talking to his wife and keeping her updated with engaging stories.
The teen soon names Arthur “Truluv” due to his devotion to his wife. Maddy soon finds herself pregnant, and when everyone turns against her, Arthur is there to assist. They soon become best friends and then Lucille becomes a part of the group and the three move in together.
What they did not expect was to learn something about themselves in the process. A second chance at life. An unexpected friendship. Arthur soon finds he has a housekeeper and a cook. A lively and exciting home full of love and laughter.
Elizabeth Berg has a remarkable and unique talent of peaking inside the lives and hearts of people and life. Her characters are real and authentic. You feel their emotions, and they jump off the page.
If you have read Elizabeth Strout’s Olive Kitteridge and Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ove, you will see a difference in the character, Arthur. Everyone loves Arthur. He is not grumpy and is selfless. We all would like to have an Arthur in our lives!
Reminded of the movie “Our Souls at Night,” starring Jane Fonda and Robert Redford. A widow and widower who've lived next to each other for years, who barely spoke; ultimately make a connection. (minus the sex) with Arthur and Lucille.
A light-hearted, a profoundly moving novel (with a powerful takeaway), Berg once again delivers a thought-provoking tale of the resilience of the human spirit in the midst of grief and loneliness. Proof people can bond, outside of family across generations.
In our world of doom and gloom, it is pleasant to read such a charming book to lift your spirits.
A special thank you to Random House and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy.
JDCMustReadBooks
August 1, 2020
While well written and paced, I found the story a bit dull. Arthur is a mediocre character as is Maddy. There was nothing particularly unique and it failed to evoke on many levels. Regardless, it's just not the type of story that does it for me.
November 26, 2017
3.5 stars
The Story of Arthur Truluv is uplifting, sweet, and a good addition to what I like to call The Man Called Ove genre. The characters are likeable, and the story is entertaining and moves along at a good pace. While I liked the book, I didn’t love it. The message is fabulous- the power of people to impact those around them. It is certainly worth reading if you are looking for a touching story; however A Man Called Ove and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine resonated more with me. I received an advanced copy of this book from Random House through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The Story of Arthur Truluv is uplifting, sweet, and a good addition to what I like to call The Man Called Ove genre. The characters are likeable, and the story is entertaining and moves along at a good pace. While I liked the book, I didn’t love it. The message is fabulous- the power of people to impact those around them. It is certainly worth reading if you are looking for a touching story; however A Man Called Ove and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine resonated more with me. I received an advanced copy of this book from Random House through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
December 16, 2019
“People who don’t feel cared for are not always comfortable being cared for.”
― Elizabeth Berg, The Story of Arthur Truluv
Cried my eyes out.
So good..so much better then I had thought it would be.
I loved everyone in this story. It was so sad but so uplifting at the same time. I always love it when you pick a book and it exceeds your expectations so wildly.
This is a 5 star book and I will enjoy looking at some of the other reviews. Recommended to anyone who want s a book that makes you feel.
― Elizabeth Berg, The Story of Arthur Truluv
Cried my eyes out.
So good..so much better then I had thought it would be.
I loved everyone in this story. It was so sad but so uplifting at the same time. I always love it when you pick a book and it exceeds your expectations so wildly.
This is a 5 star book and I will enjoy looking at some of the other reviews. Recommended to anyone who want s a book that makes you feel.
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