Joined by a cast of Marquette’s most eccentric and endearing characters Lyla recounts her life-story and after years of feeling unloved, neglected, frustrated, and unfulfilled, can Lyla finally find her own best place?
An irritating best friend gained during a childhood spent in a Catholic orphanage, a father who became a Communist and went to Russia in the 1930s, and 3:00 a.m. visits to The Pancake House. Such is the life of Lyla Hopewell. But in the summer of 2005, when her old boyfriend Bill has a heart attack, her best friend Bel really gets on her nerves, and Finn Fest comes to Marquette, things will change for Lyla.
Joined by a cast of Marquette’s most eccentric and endearing characters—the foul-mouthed fourteen-year-old Josie; ninety-three-year-old Eleanor, still trying to fix her little brother’s love life; ex-boyfriend and blunt womanizer, Bill; blind Mary Mitchell and her ornery sister Florence; the sweet but romantically confused cabdriver Sybil; and many, many more—Lyla recounts her life-story as she comes to terms with her past. After years of feeling unloved, neglected, frustrated, and unfulfilled, can Lyla finally find her own best place?
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Reviews for "The Best Place"
Reviewed by Diane Walters
9/23/2013
What do King Arthur, Lyla Hopewell, and Marquette, MI have in common? (Answer to follow)
Lyla Hopewell is full of spunk, spitfire, and is as tough as they come. Sometimes growing up in an orphanage will do that to someone. And, sometimes, when the pain is really deep, from let’s say . . . losing your family, that spunk and spitfire can burn inward until there is nothing left but empty bitterness. Lyla’s journey to finding herself and learning the mysteries of her past is a long one. People think that when you reach a certain age that you can no longer learn anything. Lyla can tell you a different story because she doesn’t stop learning in 2005 when she is 77 years old. That whole year blossoms into something beautiful from one single, quiet closed-up life. And, all the time that Lyla is learning to live her best friend Bel is experiencing her own difficult times, and this sets a bit of a small wedge between the life-long friends.
Now, I can’t tell you what happens between the girls because I’ve still got about 40 more pages to read. I didn’t want to spoil the ending for anyone and I knew I might just do that—so I stopped short.
What I can tell you is the character development in this story is excellent. Each person has strong definitive lines that are kept within in their own personality traits. And, I don’t understand how the author can live inside a little girl’s head, go through the pain that this woman went through for 77 years, and then little by little as that magical year of 2005 passes by, all the bitterness starts to melt away, and she finally realizes what her life has meant and what wonderful possibilities she has in front of her. How can someone who is absolutely crazy about King Arthur, and Marquette, MI possibly know what goes on in the life of an old woman? Wait! I forgot . . . it’s not one old woman--I forgot Lyla’s friend, Bel. Not only that, but he absolutely nails the personality of the snippy, smart aleck 14 year old, and the 25 to 35 year old who is in love with the son of Lyla’s one-and-only pitiful romance from year’s past.
Now, no one gets murdered in this book, there’s no bloodshed to speak of, and really no violence going on—well . . . there would have been if Lyla could have gotten her hands on that little smart aleck, Josie. She sure tried hard enough to catch her—and, for a 77 year old woman she sure gave that little girl a good chase. So, if you don’t mind missing all the gory stuff and would just like to cuddle up with a really good story—then, this is your book. Look at it this way--anyone who can write about King Arthur and Marquette, MI and still write a really great book about a woman’s life has got to be a very well-rounded, talented author.
Thank you Tyler Tichelaar for this lovely copy of your book “The Best Place,” and for the opportunity to give you my honest opinion of what I read. I can’t wait for what you have in store for us next time.
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A delightfully rare Historical Novel. 85% a biography of a spy, musician, mother and her neice trapped behind German lines in World War I. This background led to a diplomatic post in World War II. Aged 92, Vera disclosed her past life one year before
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