A Place to Call Home: A Novel

Alas, I also am not gifted at describing the plot of this book or even why I liked it. It made me laugh and cry out loud. I, who never read a book more than once, have read it every year since I found it. I will buy it for friends but never loan it. Its a classic story but the author has a hilarious way with her descriptions of Claire, her family, etc., its just a fun fun read. It is, truly, my all time favorite book, and I read it again and again.

"A Place To Call Home" was my first Deborah Smith book. It was highly recommended to me, so I decided, being a big romance novel reader, to heed my friend's advice. I'm very glad I did. Since then, I've had to buy Ms. Smith's other novels.Roanie and Claire had such a special bond. My heart ultimately broke at the cruelty that Roanie had to live with because of his bitter alcoholic father, and because most of the small Georgia town he and Claire lived in often put the sins of the father on to the son.Part one, with their story told in flashback style, was delightful. Claire was precocious and pampered from both of the town's premiere ancestral families, the Maloneys and the Delaneys, where almost everyone in town seemed to be a relative by some quirk of fate, yet her heart saw the good in Roanie Sullivan from a young age, much to the confusion and exasperation of her friends and family. Roanie is tormented and teased by some of the town, yet he and Claire become friends, a true sense of opposites attracting intellectually and through innocent love. The horrible act that would end up separating them for twenty years is heartbreaking, as neither gets a chance to say goodbye. But two decades after, Roan is a much-changed man (yet, paradoxically, not much changed, at all) who can't keep Claire out of his mind any more than she could do for Roan, and he returns to their hometown in Dunderry, Georgia just when Claire needs him the most...as much as Roan still needs her.While part one (with their childhood) was my favorite part of the book, by far, I did still enjoy the grown up Roan and Claire in part two. Do you want a novel that you can lose yourself in? This one is it. So sit back and enjoy. I, for one, was disappointed when it had to end.

If you're looking for heart, romance and family bonds, you've found it in this novel. A Place to Call Home really demonstrates the ties that bind and break within a family. I fell in love with the characters, the plot and of course, the setting. I enjoyed the Irish heritage background, and found so much to relate to in each character, good and bad. My favorite interaction would have to be between the great-grandmother and the grandmother. The "friendly" rivalry never ceased to make me smile. This was absolutely wonderful, and I am running to read more of Deborah Smith.

I stumbled upon Deborah Smith sort of by accident, but I am so glad I did! This book was wonderful... the kind where you want to read it cover to cover in a day so you can find out what happens, but you make yourself go slow so you can savor it. I loved the characters, the story, but most of all I loved the writing. Deborah Smith's style of writing had me both laughing and crying aloud with Claire and Roan. I've passed the book on to my mom and my one of my best friends, and I'm sure they'll love it as much as I did. Keep them coming, Deborah!!