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This Must Be the Place


An irresistible love story for fans of Beautiful Ruins and Where'd You Go, ...
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Do you think Daniel's life would have ultimately been better or worse if he'd listened to Myrna's advice that he should go home? Have you ever received good advice that you didn't take?

Created: 07/20/16

Replies: 10

Posted Jul. 20, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

Do you think Daniel's life would have ultimately been better or worse if he'd listened to Myrna's advice that he should go home? Have you ever received good advice that you didn't take?

When Myrna advises Daniel to go home—­"?Leave whatever this is alone. What can be gained from turning over old coals?'?" (page 118) – Do you think his life would have ultimately been better or worse if he'd listened to her? Have you ever received good advice that you didn't take?


Posted Aug. 01, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
crofly

Join Date: 06/14/13

Posts: 29

RE: Do you think Daniel's life would have ultimately been better or worse if he'd listened to Myrna's advice that he should go home? Have you ever received good advice that you didn't take?

Yes and no. It would have been better for the relationship with his wife. But had he not pursued finding out about Nicola, it would have consumed him for the rest of his life. At least he was able to reach some level of closure.


Posted Aug. 01, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Suzanne

Join Date: 04/21/11

Posts: 281

RE: Do you think Daniel's life would have ultimately been better or worse if he'd listened to Myrna's advice that he should go home? Have you ever received good advice that you didn't take?

I felt his fixation on finding Todd and whatever happened with Nicola was not realistic. From many years there wasn't much thought about that time and suddenly his need overwhelmed him and he had to find out answers. Myrna's advice was stable; Daniel's sudden obligation was not. His actions left him, and consequently his entire family, in turmoil for years. Hard to think that someone in the real world with intelligence such as Daniel's wouldn't put more thought to his behavior. But then, where would our story be?


Posted Aug. 02, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
marymargaretf

Join Date: 09/05/11

Posts: 42

RE: Do you think Daniel's life would have ultimately been better or worse if he'd listened to Myrna's advice that he should go home? Have you ever received good advice that you didn't take?

If he had taken Myna's advice, Daniel would have saved himself much heartache. However, he might never have reconciled with Claudette because he would not have been ready due to his unresolved issues.

I think that it is very common to think back on roads not taken paved with advice.


Posted Aug. 03, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Navy Mom

Join Date: 04/12/12

Posts: 294

RE: Do you think Daniel's life would have ultimately been better or worse if he'd listened to Myrna's advice that he should go home? Have you ever received good advice that you didn't take?

I think Daniel's life would have been better if he had talked to Claudette about Nicola's death first. I think she would have understood why he had to find out about her. So he should have gone home. But I also think Claudette didn't give him a chance when he told about sleeping with the other woman. Daniel didn't show any of that behavior to Claudette so she shouldn't have shut him out then.


Posted Aug. 04, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
pennyp

Join Date: 03/22/12

Posts: 353

RE: Do you think Daniel's life would have ultimately been better or worse if he'd listened to Myrna's advice that he should go home? Have you ever received good advice that you didn't take?

Yes and no, I believe he reached the close he needed by going forward. Yes, I have ignored the advice of others and sometimes wished I would have listened to them


Posted Aug. 05, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
jeanettel

Join Date: 01/05/12

Posts: 61

RE: Do you think Daniel's life would have ultimately been better or worse if he'd listened to Myrna's advice that he should go home? Have you ever received good advice that you didn't take?

Myrna’s advice is a good one his life would have been better, maybe, there is a saying in Spanish which I’ll try to translate it is “you don’t know what you have until you lose it “who know what his live would have been like


Posted Aug. 08, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
JLPen77

Join Date: 02/05/16

Posts: 362

RE: Do you think Daniel's life would have ultimately been better or worse if he'd listened to Myrna's advice that he should go home? Have you ever received good advice that you didn't take?

I agree with Navy Mom: he should have gone home FIRST to talk with Claudette before he went to track down Todd. It seems that Claudette wasn't upset by the fact of his past with Nicola, when he finally did tell her -- it was only when, under pressure, he admitted the infidelity to Nicole. Maybe she wouldn't have pressed him so hard, , or maybe her reaction might not have been as extreme, if she hadn't just spent days wondering where he was and what he was up to, triggering her own fears of infidelity.

But Myrna's advice was wrong (though she could never have realized this wasn't what she imagined, reviving an old flame). It was essential for Daniel to deal with the unresolved question of his guilt in order to move on. That sense of guilt is exactly what made him afraid to talk to Claudette in the first place, long before he ever heard Nicola's voice on the radio... so his behavior here was consistent, not just a plot device. Despite the unhappiness that follows for the family, ultimately we are left with the sense that he is better for it, because he's overcome his demons (and the drugs he used to keep them at bay) and we see him beginning again with Claudette on an honest footing.


Posted Aug. 09, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
ylhoff

Join Date: 10/23/12

Posts: 85

RE: Do you think Daniel's life would have ultimately been better or worse if he'd listened to Myrna's advice that he should go home? Have you ever received good advice that you didn't take?

I am wondering if it really matters in the end. I think Daniel was perfectly capable of messing up his life (and others' lives) no matter what choices he made, or what direction he took. All the women in his life gave him direction, and he was simply incapable of taking the common sense road or the moral road. He was too busy creating his own noise and looking back and wondering how the heck things got so messy.

Yes, I have received good advice that I didn't take. In some ways I am still paying for it.


Posted Aug. 10, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
CheriFaith

Join Date: 10/06/14

Posts: 37

RE: Do you think Daniel's life would have ultimately been better or worse if he'd listened to Myrna's advice that he should go home? Have you ever received good advice that you didn't take?

I really don't know what the outcome would have been had he followed Myrna's advice - he could have made things better in other ways and chose not to, so if I were to place a bet, I think things would still have been bad.

I did ignore someone's advice once and it resulted in the great, and actually, only regret of my life. I was scared and I let fear lead me straight to great pain and anguish. Thankfully, I have extricated the circumstances from my life and have chosen a path that has held peace and kindness. Best choice ever.

Daniel never made that choice, in my opinion.


Posted Aug. 10, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
janen

Join Date: 06/01/11

Posts: 54

RE: Do you think Daniel's life would have ultimately been better or worse if he'd listened to Myrna's advice that he should go home? Have you ever received good advice that you didn't take?

I think his life would have been easier if he had taken her advice and, as other readers , have said been more forthcoming with Claudette. Bu being forthcoming and taking advice do not seem to have been his strong suits.


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