“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 FlaggAn 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] … 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
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Loved this story! A beautiful look at how good people are and how old people cannot be discounted.
I loved this book. What happens when 3 very different people open their minds and hearts.
I love her prose. The storyline takes second place to her writing (although it’s a good story). She’s has a way of describing even the most mundane things in a way that’s so amusing. My favorite author.
A really good book. The characters were so different and all likable. A very sweet story – Arthur was a real sweetheart!
This was a well written, uplifting book. It made you believe in the human race again, something we need in these times!! You were pulled into these lives.
Wonderfully uplifting! Love that the 2 generations have made a real connection.
I loved the characters in this story and their relationships. Thoroughly enjoyed every minute I read it.
It was wonderful to see the relationships develop between the characters. The caring for others made it a feel good read even with the difficult parts of the book. Family doesn’t have to related by blood.
Yes, I fell in love with Arthur Truluv. In our tumultuous world, who isn’t in need of a gentle love, and a man you can count on. It’s okay by me that Arthur visits his wife’s grave, befriends a troubled teenager, and reminds us all what respecting each other is all about. An afternoon with dear Arthur, is well spent, indeed.
This was an enjoyable and easy book to read, a break from the more introspective and sad books on my reading list.
Sweet story. Lonely strangers create a family
Elizabeth Berg just creates the most lovable, believable characters!
Elizabeth Berg reminds us of both the richness of any human life and the heart’s needed resilience.
I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!
loved it.
I’ve seen reviews comparing The Story of Arthur Truluv to Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ov, probably because both books have an elderly man who has a pet and is grieving the loss of his wife. However, Berg’s Truluv is wonderfully original. Arthur’s vignettes of those buried near Truluv’s wife in the cemetery are a beautiful touch. I was laughing through my tears all the way through this book. Bravo, Elizabeth Berg! I’m going to be reading more of your work,
This story tackles loss and loneliness from different perspectives & ages and how the different characters in the book choose to cope. It’s not a page turner but you grow to care about the characters and want to find out where their path leads them. I recommend you meet Arthur, you will love him and his wisdom.
Beautiful! Must read.
This is a sweet story of three ordinary people whose lives and needs intersect and answer their needs for human connection. Their stories are told without high drama so the reader can relate to each of them.
This was my first Elizabeth Berg novel and I look forward to reading others of hers.
4+ stars ~
What a breath of fresh air. After several months Arthur Moses is still grieving the loss of his beloved wife and lifetime partner. The highlight of his day is having lunch with her at the cemetery… not literally of course, but he sits in his little fold-up chair at her graveside and talks with her while he eats. He misses her so much, now it’s just he and his cat Gordon as his companion. Gordon is as much a character in this story as his owner.
He observes a girl at the cemetery quite often sitting alone with her camera, taking pictures. He wonders what her story is. He wonders about everybody’s story at the cemetery as he passes each of their headstones and entertains us with his renditions about their lives. Maddy is the girl at the cemetery. When they get acquainted she gives him the moniker Arthur “Truluv” for his devotion to his deceased wife. Maddy’s had loss too, so as a reader we are pleased to see the relationship between these two develop into a friendship and support that they both need.
There is a third character that’s a big part of this story, the next door neighbor Lucille. She’s lonely too, a senior citizen like Arthur who loves to bake and share. As their three stories intertwine, they become a “family” of sorts, bringing the reader many chuckles, a few tears and a heartfelt warmth of hope in this intimate novel by Berg. I loved it.
I was happy to learn recently that a future new release by Berg will feature Lucille’s character. I’ll be first in line. Highly recommended and a nice change of pace for me. Just what I needed.