This Must Be The Place by Maggie O'Farrell

Book Review by Jonny Sweet | 23 Nov 2016
Book title: This Must Be The Place
Author: Maggie O'Farrell

This Must Be the Place, the seventh novel from veteran chronicler of human emotion and relationships Maggie O’Farrell, follows the meandering life of Daniel Sullivan: erstwhile philanderer, fervent linguist and impulsive decision-maker. By examining a multitude of important moments from Daniel’s life as seen from a variety of viewpoints, O’Farrell expertly sketches a fully-formed human on the page, complete with all of his charms, foibles and, most importantly, flaws.

Indeed, it is Daniel’s shortcomings and missteps which provide the main thrust of the plot. The effect these have on others around him are examined in detail, from old flames to current ones, from offspring to acquaintances. The resulting novel is one full of wit, empathy and resonance; the image of Daniel as an imperfect being can serve as a mirror in which we can all recognise certain darker elements of ourselves and (hopefully) accept them.

Besides Daniel, the other central character in the story is Claudette Wells, a former movie star who gives up her glamorous lifestyle for the sweet bliss of anonymity in rural Ireland. Claudette’s marriage with Daniel is put under a sometimes unflattering, always unflinching microscope which, again, finds the threads common to almost all human relationships. It’s this ability to create such believable characters which strike so many chords with the reader that sets O’Farrell apart as an author and makes her latest effort such an irresistibly enjoyable read.

Out now, published by Tinder Press, £7.99