Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
Random House (2017), Edition: First Edition, 240 pages
Description
Fiction. Literature. HTML:�I dare you to read this novel and not fall in love with Arthur Truluv. His story will make you laugh and cry, and will show you a love that never ends, and what it means to be truly human.��Fannie Flagg An emotionally powerful novel about three people who each lose the one they love most, only to find second chances where they least expect them �Fans of Meg Wolitzer, Emma Straub, or [Elizabeth] Berg�s previous novels will appreciate the richly complex characters and clear prose. Redemptive without being maudlin, this story of two misfits lucky to have found one another will tug at readers� heartstrings.��Booklist For the past six months, Arthur Moses�s days have looked the same: He tends to his rose garden and to Gordon, his cat, then rides the bus to the cemetery to visit his beloved late wife for lunch. The last thing Arthur would imagine is for one unlikely encounter to utterly transform his life. Eighteen-year-old Maddy Harris is an introspective girl who visits the cemetery to escape the other kids at school. One afternoon she joins Arthur�a gesture that begins a surprising friendship between two lonely souls. Moved by Arthur�s kindness and devotion, Maddy gives him the nickname �Truluv.� As Arthur�s neighbor Lucille moves into their orbit, the unlikely trio band together and, through heartache and hardships, help one another rediscover their own potential to start anew. Wonderfully written and full of profound observations about life, The Story of Arthur Truluv is a beautiful and moving novel of compassion in the face of loss, of the small acts that turn friends into family, and of the possibilities to achieve happiness at any age. Praise for The Story of Arthur Truluv �For several days after [finishing The Story of Arthur Truluv], I felt lifted by it, and I found myself telling friends, also feeling overwhelmed by 2017, about the book. Read this, I said, it will offer some balance to all that has happened, and it is a welcome reminder we�re all neighbors here.��Chicago Tribune �Not since Paul Zindel�s classic The Pigman have we seen such a unique bond between people who might not look twice at each other in real life. This small, mighty novel offers proof that they should.��People, Book of the Week.… (more)
Media reviews
The life-affirming messages are far from subtle, and the fine line between sensitivity and sentimentality is often breached.
Aims for profound but settles for pleasant.
User reviews
LibraryThing member tamidale
I loved this sweet story! There are times when everyone needs to read a heartwarming story and The Story of Arthur Truluv is the perfect choice.
Arthur recently lost his wife and he visits her at the cemetery on a daily basis. One day Arthur meets a lonely teenage girl while at the cemetery. They
When Maddy is faced with a life-changing event, the three band together and create their own little family, finding happiness and fulfillment along the way. It was refreshing to read about such kind characters who are willing to open their hearts to others.
This was a solid 4.5 star read for me. I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Random House for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.
Arthur recently lost his wife and he visits her at the cemetery on a daily basis. One day Arthur meets a lonely teenage girl while at the cemetery. They
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strike up an unlikely friendship. Meanwhile, Arthur’s neighbor Lucille, is struggling with loneliness and the loss of an old flame that she had recently rekindled.When Maddy is faced with a life-changing event, the three band together and create their own little family, finding happiness and fulfillment along the way. It was refreshing to read about such kind characters who are willing to open their hearts to others.
This was a solid 4.5 star read for me. I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Random House for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.
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LibraryThing member BoundTogetherForGood
This is a story about love and friendship, and finding those things in a way that was unexpected.
My favorite quote from the book is: "'Everybody wants to be a writer,' Arthur says. ...'But what we need are readers; right? Where would writers be without readers? Who are they gonna write for? And
My favorite quote from the book is: "'Everybody wants to be a writer,' Arthur says. ...'But what we need are readers; right? Where would writers be without readers? Who are they gonna write for? And
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actors, who are they without an audience? Actors. Painters. Dancers. Comedians. Even just ordinary people doing ordinary things, what are they without an audience of some sort? See? That's what I do. I'm the audience. I am the witness. I am the great appreciater. That's what I do. 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.'" Show Less
LibraryThing member kimkimkim
What constitutes a family? Is it a mother, father, sister(s), brother(s), a cat, dog? Maybe, or perhaps it is people, who have no connection other then they discover that they care and need each other. Arthur (Truluv) Moses is a widower who misses his wife and honors her by visiting her grave every
Sweet, sensitive, humorous, insightful, poignant, just a wonderful book.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for an ARC.
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day. Lillian is a next-door neighbor who tends to be overly curious and very lonely. Maddy is a bright, neglected teenager, raised by a father who can’t communicate his love. They become the best definition of family.Sweet, sensitive, humorous, insightful, poignant, just a wonderful book.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for an ARC.
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LibraryThing member BettyTaylor56
What a truly delightful read! It’s like “A Man Called Ove” but without the crabbiness. Arthur Moses, 85, has lunch each day with his wife Nola – at the cemetery. Nola has been dead six months. Arthur is a truly sweet man and has a positive attitude toward pretty much
Eighteen-year-old Maddy often visits the cemetery to get away from the other kids at school. It is here that Arthur and Maddy meet and develop an unusual friendship. Because of his devotion to Nola and his kindness Maddy gives Arthur the nickname “Truluv”. Maddy’s mother died in a car crash when Maddy was only two weeks old. She doesn’t get along with her father and the kids at school pick on her. To ease her loneliness, Maddy escapes into her world of photography.
Also dealing with loneliness is Arthur’s elderly neighbor Lucille. While quite nosy, their lives all change as the three of them form a compassionate bond creating their own version of a little family – oh, and mustn’t forget Gordon, the cat – to deal with life’s struggles and to find hope and a new purpose in life.
This book is a delightful escape from with these delightful people – and Gordon. Smile, laugh, cry – I love a book that taps into my emotions and makes me what the characters in the story feel. That is great writing.
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everything.Eighteen-year-old Maddy often visits the cemetery to get away from the other kids at school. It is here that Arthur and Maddy meet and develop an unusual friendship. Because of his devotion to Nola and his kindness Maddy gives Arthur the nickname “Truluv”. Maddy’s mother died in a car crash when Maddy was only two weeks old. She doesn’t get along with her father and the kids at school pick on her. To ease her loneliness, Maddy escapes into her world of photography.
Also dealing with loneliness is Arthur’s elderly neighbor Lucille. While quite nosy, their lives all change as the three of them form a compassionate bond creating their own version of a little family – oh, and mustn’t forget Gordon, the cat – to deal with life’s struggles and to find hope and a new purpose in life.
This book is a delightful escape from with these delightful people – and Gordon. Smile, laugh, cry – I love a book that taps into my emotions and makes me what the characters in the story feel. That is great writing.
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LibraryThing member detailmuse
Elizabeth Berg has long been my go-to writer for a comfort read. Here, I watched aging widower Arthur Moses morph the daily lunches at his wife’s grave, isolated in grief and loneliness, into connections that help him -- and help others, too (old friends and new), out of their own loneliness. A
(Review based on an advance reading copy provided by the publisher.)
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sweet novel that doesn’t disappoint.(Review based on an advance reading copy provided by the publisher.)
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LibraryThing member Carol420
It's full of profound observations about life as well as being a beautiful and moving story of compassion in the face of loss...of the small acts that turn friends into family and of the possibilities to achieve happiness at any age. While Berg takes some improbable narrative turns, her well-drawn
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characters remain steadfast in the novel. You won't be able to resist the kindhearted Arthur, who believes that aging means the “abandoning of criticism and the taking on of compassionate acceptance." I thoroughly enjoyed my time with these people. Show Less
LibraryThing member susan.h.schofield
This was such a sweet and touching book - fans of A Man Called Ove will definitely enjoy it. It's the story of an elderly man, Arthur, who visits his wife's Nola's grave everyday to have lunch with her. There he befriends Maddy, a troubled teen. Together with his nosy but well meaning neighbor
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Lucille they form an unlikely little family. This book will make you laugh and cry and leave you smiling. I won an ARC of this book from Goodreads. Show Less
LibraryThing member marquis784
The Story of Arthur Truluv: A Novel (Book 1) by Elizabeth Berg
Fiction, library loan
November 2017
Ballantine Books
240 pages
Random House Kindle
8/7/19-8/10/19
Night of Miracles (Book 2) 2018 (Mason,Missouri)
Confession Club (Book 3) 2019
This is the story of Arthur Moses and his relatively simple and
Lucille Howard is his opinionated neighbor who lives alone and desperate for companionship. She retired as a 4th grade school teacher and find solace in cooking and baking. She is often able to lure Arthur over for some cookies and idle gossip.
The story is one of family and friendship. The characters in the story find “family” amongst each other in their own way. One day while Arthur is visiting Nola he acknowledges Maddy who is an 18 year pregnant girl estranged from her father. Maddy’s mother died when she was only 2 years old and felt alone as he father never grieved the loss of his wife.
An unlikely friendship develops between the two who learn a lot from each other and their generational gap. Muddy affectionately calls him Arthur Truluv because of his unending love for his wife. The story explores the differences in friendship both the advantages and disadvantages. Arthur’s unassuming manner helps build an unconventional “family” for those who need it.
Fiction, library loan
November 2017
Ballantine Books
240 pages
Random House Kindle
8/7/19-8/10/19
Night of Miracles (Book 2) 2018 (Mason,Missouri)
Confession Club (Book 3) 2019
This is the story of Arthur Moses and his relatively simple and
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predictable life. He is 85 years old and recently widowed 6 months prior of his lovely wife, Nola. His dedication and commitment to his decreased spouse is marveled by all his neighbors. Each day day or shine he makes the journey to her gravesite by bus where he brings a chair and lunch. He lives a content life with his cat Gordon. Lucille Howard is his opinionated neighbor who lives alone and desperate for companionship. She retired as a 4th grade school teacher and find solace in cooking and baking. She is often able to lure Arthur over for some cookies and idle gossip.
The story is one of family and friendship. The characters in the story find “family” amongst each other in their own way. One day while Arthur is visiting Nola he acknowledges Maddy who is an 18 year pregnant girl estranged from her father. Maddy’s mother died when she was only 2 years old and felt alone as he father never grieved the loss of his wife.
An unlikely friendship develops between the two who learn a lot from each other and their generational gap. Muddy affectionately calls him Arthur Truluv because of his unending love for his wife. The story explores the differences in friendship both the advantages and disadvantages. Arthur’s unassuming manner helps build an unconventional “family” for those who need it.
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LibraryThing member lansum
This book was a little like eating Cheez-its: it tastes good, but it doesn't fill you up. The characters were right out of Mayberry, and you can predict the ending by about page 3. If you want to read about true love in aging gentlemen, try The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, The Unlikely Pilgrimage
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of Harold Fry, or A Man Called Ove. So if you only want a snack, go ahead and read about Arthur Truluv. Everyone needs a snack once in a while and this one won't hurt. Just don't expect it to leave you satiated. Show Less
LibraryThing member c.archer
How utterly delightful! This book really played on my heartstrings. It is unusual for an avid reader to get to the end of a book and not wish that something had played out just a little differently, but as I finished "The Story of Arthur Truluv", I thought that each line in this book was exactly as
Lots of reviewers describe this as a feel-good book, and maybe it is. I found it to be transformational- making the ordinary into extraordinary. Within this book is this transformative individual, Arthur, who chooses to look beyond the ordinary and be awakened to delight by the love he continues to share with his newly deceased wife. He is a simple old man who has a sixth sense about the world of both the living and the dead. His ability to know things about the people who are buried in the cemetery where he visits his wife's grave is indicative of his insight and openness to the world in spite of his age. Rather than seeming supernatural, he seems more in touch with the world around him to the point that he experiences things that other people miss. This genuine concern for others is what brings he, Maddy, and Lucille together. The magic is that he is able to transform the lives of these two people who he welcomes into his home. Ms. Berg creates a direct inference from his life skills as a gardener to his ability to grow and bring these women's lives into full flower. I agree with many readers, including the author, who have already said that we all need an Arthur in our life.
Speaking of Ms. Berg, she can rest assured that I "got it", and I suspect so will many other readers. I highly recommend this book to everyone. Not everyone will appreciate it, but the world would be a much better place if they did.
My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title. Please give us more like this, Random House and Ms. Berg!
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it should be.Lots of reviewers describe this as a feel-good book, and maybe it is. I found it to be transformational- making the ordinary into extraordinary. Within this book is this transformative individual, Arthur, who chooses to look beyond the ordinary and be awakened to delight by the love he continues to share with his newly deceased wife. He is a simple old man who has a sixth sense about the world of both the living and the dead. His ability to know things about the people who are buried in the cemetery where he visits his wife's grave is indicative of his insight and openness to the world in spite of his age. Rather than seeming supernatural, he seems more in touch with the world around him to the point that he experiences things that other people miss. This genuine concern for others is what brings he, Maddy, and Lucille together. The magic is that he is able to transform the lives of these two people who he welcomes into his home. Ms. Berg creates a direct inference from his life skills as a gardener to his ability to grow and bring these women's lives into full flower. I agree with many readers, including the author, who have already said that we all need an Arthur in our life.
Speaking of Ms. Berg, she can rest assured that I "got it", and I suspect so will many other readers. I highly recommend this book to everyone. Not everyone will appreciate it, but the world would be a much better place if they did.
My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title. Please give us more like this, Random House and Ms. Berg!
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LibraryThing member debkrenzer
I absolutely loved this story of three lonely people who come together as a family with heartwarming details and lots of laughs.
The style of writing reminded me very much of Frederik Backman and I truly love his books.
My first book by this author, however, it won't be my last.
A very emotional,
Thanks to Random House and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
The style of writing reminded me very much of Frederik Backman and I truly love his books.
My first book by this author, however, it won't be my last.
A very emotional,
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poignant and funny, at times, story that will either leave you needing tissues, or at least with tears in your eyes.Thanks to Random House and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
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LibraryThing member mootzymom
This was a sweet story that surprised me with it's depth.
LibraryThing member pegmcdaniel
Thanks to the publisher, Random House, via NetGalley for an e-Uncorrected Proof in exchange for my honest review.
I always enjoy reading novels by Elizabeth Berg and this was no exception. It's a wonderful, charming story about three lonely people who find each other. Each of them, Arthur age 85;
Maddy, who does not fit in at school, skips lunch and goes to the nearby cemetery. Eventually she and Arthur meet and become friends. Arthur is compassionate and helps people he knows. These three people need each other and find the comfort of family when they are together. The side stories are interesting and tie the story into a terrific novel. The characters are so delightful in this emotional, uplifting book that should be another best-seller for this talented author.
I always enjoy reading novels by Elizabeth Berg and this was no exception. It's a wonderful, charming story about three lonely people who find each other. Each of them, Arthur age 85;
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Maddy age 17; and Lucille who is elderly and a neighbor of Arthur's, lose the person they love most in the world. For Arthur, it's his wife of many years. He takes the bus to the cemetery every day and eats lunch by his wife's grave. He talks to her and imagines the lives of those buried nearby. Maddy, a loner, lost her mother at a very young age and her father, in his grief, shows her very little emotion as she grows. Lucille is a retired teacher, likes to bake, and is very lonely until she reunites with a former classmate who was her first love.Maddy, who does not fit in at school, skips lunch and goes to the nearby cemetery. Eventually she and Arthur meet and become friends. Arthur is compassionate and helps people he knows. These three people need each other and find the comfort of family when they are together. The side stories are interesting and tie the story into a terrific novel. The characters are so delightful in this emotional, uplifting book that should be another best-seller for this talented author.
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LibraryThing member nyiper
Total escapism! I loved this story ----very fast to read because it's hard to put down! Typical Elizabeth Berg---wonderful reading time.....
LibraryThing member annwelton
First - thank you to NetGalley for this e-book copy for my enjoyment and review. Elizabeth Berg has done it again, with this delightful story of Arthur, Maddy (his friend from his visits to the cemetary) and neighbor Lucille. This is a truly heart-warming story that the reader will enjoy from the
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very first few pages. The book flows along so beautifully, you can't put it down. Comparable to A Man Called Ove - just as good! Thank you Ms. Berg, again. Show Less
LibraryThing member seeword
A sweet story of three lonely people putting together a shared household. The three --a elderly widower, a retired spinster teacher, and a teenage girl--manage to become an unconventional (at times unconvincing) family. This almost crosses the line from "heart warming" to "sentimental slop" and,
Advance review copy through Goodreads giveaway.
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appropriately, I read it on Christmas day. 'nuff said.Advance review copy through Goodreads giveaway.
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LibraryThing member janismack
This is what I call a little book. Not too detailed, quick to read and sweet.
Story of two lonely seniors who are able to connect to a young pregnant girl who needs a family.
Story of two lonely seniors who are able to connect to a young pregnant girl who needs a family.
LibraryThing member GirlWellRead
A special thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
In the same vein as A Man Called Ove, Berg's latest novel doesn't disappoint. This delightful, easy read is about three people whose lives intersect because of loss. Arthur is a widow that visits his dead
My only criticism is that I wanted more from the relationships. I wanted more Nola and Arthur, and more of Maddy and her father. If Berg had fleshed out these relationships, the story wouldn't be so saccharin-sweet.
In the same vein as A Man Called Ove, Berg's latest novel doesn't disappoint. This delightful, easy read is about three people whose lives intersect because of loss. Arthur is a widow that visits his dead
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wife's grave every day to have lunch with her; it is here that he meets Maddy, a teenager who hides out in the cemetery to avoid high school. Although they are an odd pairing, Berg's character development brings their relationships with loss and loneliness to an end and in its place, creates a beautiful friendship. Lucille is Arthur's neighbour. She is incredibly forward and the epitome of a nosy neighbour, but totally endearing. Fresh from a loss of her own, she becomes part of their makeshift family. My only criticism is that I wanted more from the relationships. I wanted more Nola and Arthur, and more of Maddy and her father. If Berg had fleshed out these relationships, the story wouldn't be so saccharin-sweet.
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LibraryThing member poetreegirl
A heartwarming book about three lonely people who choose to become family. Leaves you with a smile on your face. A nice book to read at the beginning of a new year.
LibraryThing member sraelling
A sweet story showing how important it is for people to share their life with others as each one has a gift to bring.
LibraryThing member phyllis.shepherd
I read this one in a day; its likeable characters and uncomplicated plot combined with Elizabeth Berg's always readable style were a nice change from some darker books that I've recently read.
LibraryThing member grigoro
Sweet. Remnded me of A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman as well as Plainsong by Kent Haruf. Enjoyed the story, loved how he could envision the lives of people buried in the cemetery.
LibraryThing member KateBaxter
This is such a sweet, tender and simply stated story about family - the one we're born into and the one which we choose. The primary characters are broken, each in their own way. Each has suffered loss of the one whom they love most yet each is still open to sharing their love with others. The
This book is a shorter book and a relatively quick read. Take your time; savor the thoughts and dialogue and thoroughly enjoy the break from the everyday frenzy.
I am grateful to author Elizabeth Berg and publisher Penguin Random House for having provided through Goodreads First Reads an advanced uncorrected proof of this book. Their generosity however, did not influence this review - the words of which are mine alone.
Synopsis (from publisher's website):
An emotionally powerful novel about three people who each lose the one they love most, only to find second chances where they least expect them—from New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Berg
For the past six months, Arthur Moses’s days have looked the same: He tends to his rose garden and to Gordon, his cat, then rides the bus to the cemetery to visit his beloved late wife for lunch. Sometimes in the evening he’ll take a walk and stop to chat with his nosy neighbor, Lucille. It’s a quiet routine not entirely without its joys. The last thing Arthur would imagine is for one unlikely encounter to utterly transform his life.
Eighteen-year-old Maddy Harris is an introspective girl who often comes to the cemetery to escape the other kids at school and a life of loss. She’s seen Arthur sitting there alone, and one afternoon she joins him—a gesture that begins a surprising friendship between two lonely souls. Moved by Arthur’s kindness and devotion, Maddy gives him the nickname “Truluv.” As Arthur’s neighbor Lucille moves into their orbit, the unlikely trio bands together, helping one another, through heartache and hardships, to rediscover their own potential to start anew.
Wonderfully written and full of profound observations about life, The Story of Arthur Truluv is a beautiful and moving novel of compassion in the face of loss, of the small acts that turn friends into family, and of the possibilities to achieve happiness at any age.
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spectrum runs from angst of youth clear to anticipation and wonderment of new life and of eternity. The reader is let in on the private thoughts of each character, providing little gems of wisdom along the way.This book is a shorter book and a relatively quick read. Take your time; savor the thoughts and dialogue and thoroughly enjoy the break from the everyday frenzy.
I am grateful to author Elizabeth Berg and publisher Penguin Random House for having provided through Goodreads First Reads an advanced uncorrected proof of this book. Their generosity however, did not influence this review - the words of which are mine alone.
Synopsis (from publisher's website):
An emotionally powerful novel about three people who each lose the one they love most, only to find second chances where they least expect them—from New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Berg
For the past six months, Arthur Moses’s days have looked the same: He tends to his rose garden and to Gordon, his cat, then rides the bus to the cemetery to visit his beloved late wife for lunch. Sometimes in the evening he’ll take a walk and stop to chat with his nosy neighbor, Lucille. It’s a quiet routine not entirely without its joys. The last thing Arthur would imagine is for one unlikely encounter to utterly transform his life.
Eighteen-year-old Maddy Harris is an introspective girl who often comes to the cemetery to escape the other kids at school and a life of loss. She’s seen Arthur sitting there alone, and one afternoon she joins him—a gesture that begins a surprising friendship between two lonely souls. Moved by Arthur’s kindness and devotion, Maddy gives him the nickname “Truluv.” As Arthur’s neighbor Lucille moves into their orbit, the unlikely trio bands together, helping one another, through heartache and hardships, to rediscover their own potential to start anew.
Wonderfully written and full of profound observations about life, The Story of Arthur Truluv is a beautiful and moving novel of compassion in the face of loss, of the small acts that turn friends into family, and of the possibilities to achieve happiness at any age.
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LibraryThing member Whisper1
This is a book that I praise to anyone who will listen. I say to friends "Read this one!" "Read it; You will love it!"
I've read other books by Elizabeth Berg, and this is my favorite thus far.
Arthur spends his days eating lunch in the cemetery visiting his beloved wife who passed away. With no
One day, a high-school age girl approaches him in the cemetery and they begin a friendship. She lives with her cold, unemotional father. Her mother died when she was a young child.
This is a tale of three lonely people who find each other and become friends. This sentence cannot embrace all that this book entails.
So, I say, "READ IT!" It is a gem of a book. It is a book that I hated to end. It is a book that when finished it was difficult to move on to anothe
I've read other books by Elizabeth Berg, and this is my favorite thus far.
Arthur spends his days eating lunch in the cemetery visiting his beloved wife who passed away. With no
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children, his life is a lonely one. Periodically he sits on the porch with his neighbor who also lives by herself and is lonely.One day, a high-school age girl approaches him in the cemetery and they begin a friendship. She lives with her cold, unemotional father. Her mother died when she was a young child.
This is a tale of three lonely people who find each other and become friends. This sentence cannot embrace all that this book entails.
So, I say, "READ IT!" It is a gem of a book. It is a book that I hated to end. It is a book that when finished it was difficult to move on to anothe
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LibraryThing member crosenar
Just finished reading (and couldn't put down) the Story of Arthur Truluv by Elizabeth Berg. Borrowed it from my local library just because I liked the cover. Love the unexpected pleasure of a good book chosen on a whim. And YES, I do judge a book by its cover. ❤ This was a great story about three
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people who loose someone they love: widowed Arthur (Truluv), his neighbor Lucille who loves to bake, and young Maddie a lonely soul. Elizabeth Berg masterfully writes their story and cleverly redefines the definition of family. She is definitely added to my to be read list. Show Less
Original language
English
Original publication date
2017
Physical description
9 inches
ISBN
9781400069903