Introduction
Title: A Place Called Here
Author: Cecilia Ahern
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genre: Novel
First Publication: 2006
Language: English
Main Character: Sandy Shortt
About Author
A Place Called Here is one of the most unique books I have ever come across. It is authored by Cecilia Ahern, and it is her 4th piece of work. The best thing about Cecilia Ahern and her books is that they are so intricate and explore the depth of little things so well.
This is what makes her and her stories stand out. Apart from this book, she is also famous for writing, PS. I Love You and Where the Rainbow Ends.
People loved her work so much that these books got converted into major films. She has won numerous awards including the prestigious Irish Book Award. Her concepts are out of the box with an underlying message attached to them.
She writes through her heart, and that’s visible through some of the most heart-touching quotes I have ever read. Her books have a meaning and a purpose behind them and you can impart it into your lives.
Plot
This novel is set in Ireland. A Place Called Here, revolves around the theme, “where do all lost things end up”? We always wondered where the lost things go? At some point in our lives, we all have experienced the agony of trying to find that missing piece of sock or our favorite pen that writes the best.
What about the rubber band you just removed from your hair a couple of minutes ago? What about all the people who mysteriously go missing without leaving a single trace behind?
There’s a difference between things getting misplaced and things being missing. We can find out the things that are misplaced by simply searching for them, but missing things cannot be found.
Sandy, our main character, is haunted by the question, “where do all missing things go?” When she was around ten years old, one of her classmates Jenny-May Butler, disappeared. Her case became a mystery as even the local police could not solve it.
Since then, the idea of something or someone going missing terrifies her. She wants to solve such mysteries. Therefore, growing up she becomes part of the Garda and starts working for the police force of Ireland. But still, she was not satisfied with that. So, she decides to leave her job and start an agency that looks for missing people.
My Personal Verdict
This story is something that I haven’t quite read a lot about. It is very different and I loved the ‘lost things’ angle the author presented before us. I could relate to Sandy and her yearning to uncover the truth surrounding this mysterious fact.
The author has wonderfully portrayed the desperation one goes through in the quest to find out the people and things that have gone missing.
I loved the sound and feel of the place called ‘Here’. The descriptions and the way emotions were portrayed was hands down fantastic. The author was successful in getting readers hooked on the story.
The narrative is so good that you feel like escaping into another dreamlike place in a parallel universe. It makes you want to go to the place called Here.
However, I feel that the author got lost in translation somewhere and the plot goes a little haywire in between. There is a lack of continuity as the chapters go back and forth, continuously shifting from one perspective to another.
It becomes a bit confusing. And constantly having to remember the time frame of the plotline becomes a bit frustrating.
The story is not balanced so sometimes it comes across as too far-fetched. Sadly, I was left a little disappointed with the ending. The entire plotline was so interesting and the build-up was intense but sadly the ending just didn’t meet my expectations.
The ending was abrupt and it fell flat. It also left a bland taste in my mouth. The story began with Sandy’s obsession with lost things and ended up without giving us an answer. It’s a good book when it comes to experimenting with your reading style.
My ratings for the book - 3 on 5
Written by: Varima Tandon
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