Earth's the Right Place for Love : A Novel (Hardcover)

Earth's the Right Place for Love is the latest book on Arthur Truluv. It takes you back to when Arthur was a teenager and how he became the man he became in The Story of Arthur Truluv. Even though this book is part of a series, it could be read as stand alone as this my first book by Elizabeth Berg. This story is from Arthur's point of view, going back to what life was like for him starting at age 16. Arthur lives in a dysfunctional family, since his Father is always on edge and angry, which stemmed from his alcohol problem. Arthur worked odd jobs that his mother arranged for him on the weekends because the family struggled with money. Arthur was introverted, smart, and was naive at times. He felt at 16 that people were supposed to have romantic relationships and happiness could come from these relationships, so he pursued the most popular girl at the school, Nola. His brother Frank was outgoing, popular, and worked at a grocery store, but he was always pushing the limits. Frank ends up having secret romantic relations with his English teacher. Frank was constantly in trouble or butting heads with his father and would often confide in Arthur. Tragedy strikes the family. How will Arthur cope and carry on in life? This book will have you crying, but will also have you laughing out loud at times. Definitely a page turner to find out Arthur's fate. I loved the character development and characters. It showed the dysfunctional aspects, but also the vulnerability Arthur had and how he navigated his life. The bond Arthur had with his brother and mother is what helped him to understand the world around him and helped him to have successful relationships. This would be a good book for those who are fans of Elizabeth Strout as they have similar writing styles. This would make a good book club pick as this book would lead to many good discussions.