This Must Be the Place

There are three mother-son relationships in the novel: Daniel and Teresa, Claudette and Ari, and Niall and his mother. Compare and contrast these relationships: How are their dynamics different from each other, and how are they similar? How do mother-son relationships differ from mother-daughter relationships in the novel, and why is this significant?

Rosalind has her own chapter but is entirely unconnected with the major players of the novel. How does this chapter affect the plot, characters, and themes in the rest of the novel? Why does O’Farrell give Rosalind a full life and characterization when she only appears for the trip to South America?

The title This Must Be the Place suggests that place is an important element of the novel. What is the role that place plays in the novel?

There are three major brother-sister relationships highlighted in the novel: Claudette and Lucas, Niall and Phoebe, and Ari and Merithe. There are also some secondary sibling relationships (Calvin and Marithe, Daniel and his sisters). How does the sibling bond impact the events of the novel?

Teresa’s unrequited love story with Johnny Demarco travels far back in time and deals only secondarily with the primary characters. Why does O’Farrell include Teresa’s point of view and this “love at first sight” story in a novel about navigating trauma and marriage?

Daniel’s first wife is conspicuously absent from the novel, while his earlier relationships figure prominently, as does Claudette’s first husband. Find instances when Daniel’s first wife is referenced; how does her absence affect the themes and characterizations in the novel?

How do Niall’s eczema and Ari’s stammer affect their development and their relationships with Daniel? What opportunities do they present for Daniel’s character development? Use examples from the text in your response.

Claudette, Pascaline, Maeve, Teresa, and Nicola all have different experiences of motherhood. How does motherhood affect the novel’s major and minor themes?