The best place to be

by Helen Van Slyke

Sheila Callahan was still beautiful, still desirable, still loving and needing love—when suddenly, shockingly, she found herself alone.
Her handsome husband had died. Her grown children were living their separate and troubled lives. Her married friends made her feel apart from them. The men she met demanded the kind of woman she never wanted to be. Somehow Sheila had to start anew—and find a way to fill the emptiness around her and the aching void within.

Genres: Fiction, Romance

453 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1976

Reviews

[Francesco · Rating 3 out of 5]

Per quanto non sono mai stato attratto dal genere romantico, mi sono dovuto ricredere: l'ho trovata una lettura piacevole e senza impegno. Anche se il libro è datato e ci si accorge di questo in alcune parti, è interessante vedere come l'autrice descrive bene i personaggi e ci parla dei loro problemi (tra cui la droga e la delinquenza giovanile) in maniera attuale; sopratutto mi ha sorpreso la maniera in cui non colpevolizza la ragazza che fa uso di marijuana, anche se risente del suo periodo storico e alla fine uccide comunque il personaggio più scomodo del racconto. Il finale è scontato (anche se io personalmente volevo questo finale) ma la sua scrittura è così interessante che spero di trovare altri libri dell'autrice.

[Wilma Krom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ik vond het toch een verrassend goed boek. Natuurlijk moet je wel in het achterhoofd houden dat het in de jaren 70 is geschreven. Dus de aanspreekvormen zijn wat verouderd. Maar de karakters zijn heel goed uitgewerkt. Psychologisch zit het ook goed. Het is volstrekt geloofwaardig hoe de meeste om de omstandigheden reageren. Ik heb zeker op het einde om Maryanne verschillende malen een traantje gelaten

[Alejandro Velez Vieira]

Sheila Callahan was still beautiful, still desirable, still loving and needing love -- when suddenly, shockingly, she found herself done. Her handsome husband had died. Her grown children were living their separate and troubled lives. Her married friends made her feel apart from them. The men she met demanded the kind of woman she never wanted to be. Somehow Sheila had to start anew -- and find a way to fill the emptiness around her and the aching void within.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Incredibly dated, and that's not even the worst problem. Lots of "telling" and not "showing". Van Slyke has a story she wants to tell, but she's just not very good at it.

[Abril Ramirez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entretenido. Se entiende por el año en que transcurre que hoy en día hayan pensamientos y conductas que no están "buenas" pero la verdad me sorprendió.

[Marty☕️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un romanzo saturo di amore e dolore. Amore per i figli, amore per le madri, amore per se stessi…un’amore instabile, incerto, precario e altalenante che però vince sempre. Il dolore, quello per i lutti che ti tolgono l’aria dai polmoni, per quello che saresti potuta essere ma non sei stata.

Avevo basse aspettative e invece il romanzo mi é piaciuto, forse un pò lento, sicuramente poco scorrevole ma mi ha commossa ed emozionata. 3,5/5☕️📚

[Suze · Rating 3 out of 5]

THE BEST PLACE TO BE

I read this book in the 70's, along with The Heart Listens and The Mixed Blessing. This book I skimmed, while all three books are dated - the characters in The Heart Listens and Mixed Blessing were endearing and enjoyable. I did not like the main character in this book, she was not relatable in this day and age.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A widow and her childhood sweetheart reunite.

[Jowayria Rahal]

I don't wanna be unfair to it , so I'm not going to rate it .

I'll give it another try oneday .. I promise !

[Glenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in my late 20’s. I loved it at the time.