“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
more
I loved this story!! Arthur Moses was a wonderful person who visited his wife Nola’s grave every day to have lunch with her. That is how he met Maddy Harris, a high school girl who haunts the cemetery to get away from the high school bullies and they become friends. His neighbor Lucille, suffering heartache from loss, joins their group. Together they become a loving support group for each other through some difficult times.
This is the story of Arthur Moses and his relatively simple and 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.
I loved this book. Arthur is a wonderful, sensitive and giving character.
please add “life affirming” to descriptive choices in this instance.
I really enjoyed this book. Arthur, a widower, visits his wife daily at the cemetery where he meets and befriends a troubled teen, Maddy. As their friendship develops and Maddy experiences Arthur’s kindness to her and devotion to his deceased wife, she gives him the nickname, Truluv. It can’t imagine a more perfect nickname for this wonderful character. A quote from the book sums up Arthur’s nature for me: “Arthur thinks that, above all, aging means the abandonment of criticism and the taking on of compassionate acceptance.” Wise, heartwarming book with wonderful characters.
This is a wonderful story and will always be a favorite book of mine!
warm and tender..perfect read for cool evenin
Another great hit by Elizabeth Berg. One of her best.
I like this set of characters that Berg has in Mason. This book and The Night of Miracles are fun quick feel good reads.
This is just sweet story, heartwarming.
I loved this book! The story of the friendship between the older lonely man and the teenaged girl who needed love was touching. Well-written, nice .
Clever new ideas in character building! Loved them all!
Great easy read book. It shows the power of not judging others until you get to know them. Lovely, unlikely relationships are built with wonderous outcomes!
Loved it. One of my all time favorite books. It just makes you feel good
Loved this sweet book and the wonderful characters. Somewhat sad, but heartwarming. Easy reading – page turner. I read it in two days, (would have in 1 but life gets in the way of a good book.)
Uplifting and heartwarming
Elizabeth Berg made the characters come alive in this book. I have bought copies for my friends, all senior citizens, to read. So nice to have characters that I can identify with. Just because we are old, doesn’t mean we don’t still have the ability to feel and think and love—even romantically. We have a past as well as a present and a future although the future is obviously not as long as we thought it would be in our youth. We don’t need to give up; to let ourselves be put out to pasture. We can still contribute. This book shows all of this in very real and interesting ways.
Beautifully crafted story
A sweet book about what it means to be a “family.”
This is a tender hearted story of friendship and understanding among two seniors and a needy high school student. All characters are likable and interesting. I loved it!