Life: A Love Story - by Elizabeth Berg (Hardcover)

About the Book

"As 92-year old "Flo" Green writes a long letter to Ruthie, the woman who, as a little girl, lived next door to Flo, she thinks, This is an autobiography in things. And this letter will transform her-and those around her-in ways she couldn't even imagine. Flo is nearing the end of her life, and she wants to leave her house and all of her belongings to Ruthie, with whom she still enjoys a close relationship. Through Flo's stories about the possessions in her home, we see the life she has lived, and are reminded of the surprising value of "little" things. (What could possibly be the worth of a rubber band kept in a matchbox tied up in red ribbon?) Flo also encourages Ruthie to reconsider her impending divorce by sharing a startling, long-buried secret about Flo's own perfect-seeming marriage. As Flo reflects on her life, she takes herself up on tiny dares: she's never had a mani-pedi, for example, and as long as she's going to the beauty parlor, she might as well get a blue streak put in her hair. She makes new friends and tries to help them find the fulfillment that only a full life has led her to understand. Full of Elizabeth Berg's characteristic mix of warmth, humor, and poignancy, Life: a Love Story is a reminder that whatever your circumstances, as long as you're alive, you can keep on investing in life. The joy will inevitably follow"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

A warm, intimate novel that reminds us of the richness that can be found all throughout our lives--by the New York Times bestselling author of The Story of Arthur Truluv and Open House

As ninety-two-year-old Florence "Flo" Greene nears the end of her life, she writes a letter to Ruthie, the woman who grew up next door to her, describing the items Flo is leaving Ruthie in her will. But as it goes on, telling surprising stories about those "little" things Flo will leave behind (What could possibly be the worth of a rubber band kept in a matchbox tied up in red ribbon?), an unforgettable portrait of the life she has lived emerges.

The letter starts off as an autobiography in things, but it turns out to do much more than that: ultimately, it will transform Flo and those around her. In the time she has left, Flo decides to take herself up on tiny dares. She encourages Ruthie to reconsider her impending divorce by sharing a startling, long-buried secret about her own perfect-seeming marriage. Flo has never had a pedicure before now, and as long as she's going to a beauty parlor, she arranges to have a blue streak put in her hair, too. And as these adventures lead her to make new friends, Flo helps them, too, find the fulfillment that living a full life has led her to understand.

Full of Elizabeth Berg's characteristic mix of warmth, humor, and poignancy, Life: A Love Story is a reminder that whatever your circumstances, as long as you're alive, you can keep on investing in life. The joy will inevitably follow.

Review Quotes

"Berg brilliantly injects profound thoughts on finding beauty amid life's difficulties through the wise words of unforgettable Flo. Life resonates with relatable characters, consequential little things, and the power of forgiveness. Fans of Anne Tyler and Sue Monk Kidd will appreciate Flo's evocative story. The prolific Berg has a huge following, and this is the author at her heartwarming best . . . inspiring readers to laughter and tears alike."--Booklist, starred review

"Bestseller Berg serves up a deceptively simple story with hidden depths [and] exhibits great range in her portrayal of the folksy Flo. . . . Readers will be charmed by this heartening tale."--Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Elizabeth Berg is the New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including The Story of Arthur Truluv, Open House, Talk Before Sleep, and The Year of Pleasures, as well as the short story collection The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted. Durable Goods and Joy School were selected as ALA Best Books of the Year. She adapted The Pull of the Moon into a play that enjoyed sold-out performances in Chicago and Indianapolis, and three of her novels have been turned into TV movies. She is the founder of the reading series Writing Matters. She teaches writing workshops and speaks at venues around the country. She lives outside Chicago.