Lucy by the Sea

I really loved this book. Others have covered the plot points and the story's expected - but still delightful! - overlap with Strout's other books, so I'll stick to how she made me feel: unexpectedly, utterly soothed.

‘Lucy by the Sea' is hot tea with honey in your favorite mug, in book form. It made me not only want to call my mom, but connect with strangers. Strout's writing always reminds me of the John Donne poem - “any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind” - because it's just bursting with humanity. This is no exception, and probably my favorite thing she's written so far.

Not necessarily my typical book, but that's what I love about book clubs and recommendations from others. Lucy by the Sea is an elliptical novel seated firmly in the mind of a just-past-middle-aged white female writer.

This had some surprising white people perspectives - the privilege of being able to tune out of troubling current affairs and having multiple spouses and extended family through multiple marriages. Despite these, Lucy did come from poverty and spends much of the novel connecting with, labelling and trying to understand others.

The time period of being set during the pandemic in Maine, USA allows for an interesting dissection of relatively recent events. There's COVID itself and all the anxiety, masks, lethargy and vaccinations surrounding it; the US presidential struggles and increasing political divide in the country; and human connection in a world of distancing and zooms.

I did enjoy this read, particularly the range of insights offered through the perspective being so close to Lucy and her memories. Will continue to venture outside my typical reading content.

I could read about Lucy and her family forever, I think. Lucy is an observer and a writer, and she makes note of the small discrepancies and small joys of her daily life in a simple and wise way. All around her is the world, and that world is churning and sparking and grinding, but Lucy goes on, reflecting on the world but managing to stay apart from it, noting her reactions to the world but not allowing herself to get immersed in it...Lucy is a healthy person, that is, and a person to emulate.

In this volume of Lucy's story, she is amid the pandemic, and her former husband, William, takes her out of the city to a safe place in Maine. There Lucy meets new people—Bob, who helped William find a safe place for Lucy; Bob's wife, Margaret, a minister; Charlene, a cleaner who helps out in a soup kitchen and supports the president Lucy despises. Lucy deals with her daughters and their grownup troubles. And Lucy and William talk and visit and come to know each other all over again.

Lucy Barton, a well-loved character of other Elizabeth Strout novels, returns to share her experiences during lockdown as she travels from her apartment in New York and its memories of her deceased husband to the coastal regions of Maine with her first husband and now aged friend William. As the two of them adjust not only to living with each other again, but the reality of a world-wide pandemic, we're treated to Strout's sparse, evocative prose. There are appearances by people we've grown to love – Lucy's daughters, old friends, even Olive Ketteridge has a cameo as Lucy shares thoughts, memories, and conversations and grapples with her new reality. If you're a fan of Strout's authentic, timely writing style, this one will not disappoint. It looks at the once-in-a-lifetime COVID experience with honesty, introspective and humility.

My thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I always love Elizabeth Strout's books. What is it about her writing – so simple & conversational, and yet so evocative and true? She reminds me of myself and so many of the women I've known. And she captures so much with her diction and dialogue. I thought that the ending made it even more interesting, and eager for more. I hope she isn't finished with Lucy and William. I need to review how Lucy is connected to Olive, who is mentioned occasionally in this book.