Welcome to Litsy!

God, I love how she tells a story!
Without intending to, I ended up reading back-to-back pandemic books. The other was for library book group and had all the close-quartered sameness of that time. In contrast, ES delivers another of her quiet books and lets its rich and capacious interiority sing out.

It is a gift in this life that we do not know what awaits us 🍂

…that there had been a last time—when they were little—that I had picked up the girls. This had often broken my heart, to realize that you never know the last time you pick up a child. Maybe you say “Oh, honey, you‘re getting too big to be picked up” or something like that. But then you never pick them up again 🥺

A book about an older woman facing changes in herself and her family while sequestered in lockdown during Covid with her ex-husband. I do enjoy Strout‘s writing and the rich interior life of her characters.

Another lovely installation by Elizabeth Strout. I love the pandemic-timeliness, the love story of Lucy and William, all the recurring Maine characters.

I finished this three months ago and loved it so much that I haven‘t shelved it. It just sits here on my desk - hogging up room I don‘t have.

Enjoyed this a lot - even though its probably my least favourite of the four Lucy books. I was ready to look back on the pandemic through the eyes of this character i have come to know so well. I really appreciate that writers like Strout have captured the variety of reactions and impacts of this period for future reference. (Albeit just in one family in one city in this book) Quiet and subtle, but with plenty to think about.

My first by this author and now I‘m a fan. It was a gentle and thoughtful one to listen to and it suit my mood 💙

I love the ordinary. But reading it out of a book – not so much.

I struggled because I couldn't stand the protagonist. Petulant, navel-gazing wealthy white woman from NY is whisked away to idyllic rural Maine to avoid the pandemic. I think that was one point of the story; I'm not sure I got the others. There's too much for me to unpack here and I'm not invested enough to do so.

ETA: removed the Pulitzer remark I'd made in error.

The fourth book in the Lucy Barton series starts just before Covid kicks off and continues through towards the end. Lucy goes to live in Maine with her first husband, William. It's a fast read and lots of musings about life during Covid. We learn more about Lucy's past and their lives and family relationships. I very much enjoyed it.

Had read “My name is Lucy Barton” back in 2016. Revisited this character to see: How does Lucy fare in the pandemic 😷? It‘s surreal to read about the pandemic in the same way it‘s surreal to listen to music about it, and it‘s front of mind while reading. Lucy‘s story continues to be refreshing. I‘m sure this won‘t be the last one I read on Covid and its impacts. It‘s a page turner; and it‘s all over before one can blink!

What a pleasure it‘s been for me to read the four Lucy Barton books, one after another 🙏.
This one will be discussed at my book club in a couple of weeks.
Right books at the right time ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Such an astute observer of the human condition. And a bit of bibliotherapy for me as it made me think of a family bereavement situation where a relative made a grab for possessions and I coached my kids at the time to just let it go, because we don‘t need the stuff. We have the memories of our time with them. 🥰🙏

Felt a tad “too soon” to be reading a book about COVID lockdowns after so recently having been through it…

....he had been a cellist with the Philharmonic, and they were closed down now....

This baffled me, I could not grasp it; I mean it made David seem even more gone to me somehow. When I went for my walks, I would think: David! Where are you?

And also, I could not listen to the classical music he had played. I had the station on my phone...., the music seemed to absolutely assault me with a screeching kind of vengeance.

Beautiful narrative, she conveys so much emotion and dialogue in short sentences. I read it as autobiographical, simply because it was so in depth. However I'm aware it isn't Strout 's experience.
Now I need her to write another! Maybe a follow up to Bob Burgess?

Does anyone else save books to read? If I've eagerly waited for one, I keep it and savour the fact I have it still to read... then devour it!
This is one such book. Contentment:)

#BookReport 04/22

Work is killing me. And when I‘m not working I‘m too tired to read. Every time I do read, I can‘t keep my eyes open. Today is a Sunday though without any plans so I hope to spend it reading.
The two books I did finish were both gorgeous by the way!

At the start of the pandemic Lucy Barton is persuaded to move from her apartment in NYC to a rental house in Maine. Strout captures that first uncertain year of Covid while providing perspective through the reflective, thoughtful lens of Lucy. It‘s not necessary to read her other books first but for fans it‘s fun to catch up with many beloved characters.

I love Strout‘s sparse, insightful prose and endearing, believable characters. 🌊

It‘s another 5⭐️ read for me, this Lucy. She is just someone I like so much. How she approaches life, her past, her daughters and, very carefully, her maybe new future in Maine during the pandemic. I hope Elizabeth Strout will continue writing so beautiful about her and her wonderful family. Thank you for this gorgeous signed edition Helen 🤍

#Booked2023 #AboutAPandemic #52bookclub23 #FinalBookInASeries #pop23 #RecommendedByAFriend
#Roll100

This was one of #TimeMagazineTop100ReadsOf2022. This was my first time reading this author let alone this character. As far as pandemic stories go this wasn't bad. On the other hand I'm still not ready to dive into a book about the last few years, or the political ramifications of said last few years. 3 🌟 read for me.

At this stage, I don't think anyone really needs to review Elizabeth Strout so I'll just briefly say this is the best pandemic novel I have read. Every time I read another book by Strout I think, this is the best one yet, and that remained true for Lucy by the Sea. She just GETS PEOPLE, and all their complexities, contradictions, and flaws. I LOVED it.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ If you‘ve read Strout‘s previous books about Lucy Barton, I recommend you read this one. It is a poignant account of a middle-aged woman grappling with conflicting feelings as she is forced to re-envision her life. Told in a conversational style, I felt as if I was reading Lucy‘s diary. I anticipate this book will appeal to older readers more so than younger readers. Full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4763135291

Even though the plot is about the anxiety we all felt during the uncertainty during the Pandemic before vaccines were available, this was a delightful read that as usual in Strout's novels left me hopeful. Thoroughly enjoyed this!

We continue with Lucy‘s story at the beginning of the pandemic. Strout does an incredible job capturing the feelings of anxiety & fear of the unknown. It‘s a quiet novel as Lucy & her ex-husband quarantine in a small Maine town, but there is powerful reflection in the mundane moments.

“This had often broken my heart, to realize that you never know the last time you pick up a child.”

“It is a gift in this life that we do not know what awaits us.”

Review is up! I absolutely loved this book and I love this author! Check it out!

https://reecaspieces.com/2022/11/21/lucy-by-the-sea-by-elizabeth-strout-fiction-...

Something so resonant and relatable about Elizabeth Strout‘s writing! I have loved all her books and this is no exception! This is a book where she explores the isolation and fears we felt during the recent pandemic and she writes so beautifully about her relationships and her emotions.. #elizabethstrout
#bookishlifestyle#reading#books

Every thought that went through my head during the pandemic 😷 was included in this book. I really love how an author decided to write a book that is fiction by based on real life events. If anybody ever wants to know what was it like during the pandemic I would say read Lucy By the Sea. From empty shelves to people hiding out. People socializing and people being extra cautious.

Thank you Netgalley and Random house

Just love this series. Deceptively simple writing. Her characters are so layered. In this novel Lucy goes through the pandemic and January 6th along with William.

Strout is masterful at expressing the deepest feelings about relationships through sparse prose and simple ordinary day to day dialogue. Her observations ring so true and through Lucy we identify with all of our anxieties and feelings through this pandemic. Really a wonderful book!

Elizabeth Strout has become one of my favorite authors. Lucy By the Sea is the fourth in the Lucy Barton series, and it is the best. Strout takes Lucy through the early days of the pandemic, detailing Lucy‘s anxieties, fears, and comforts. She is excellent at capturing all of the small moments and thoughts that make up a life. After finishing, I immediately re-read My Name is Lucy Barton. Just fabulous!

12-8 Oct 22 (audiobook)
After finding the first book a bit lacklustre, I am now a thorough convert to Lucy Barton. This instalment was particularly good, as Lucy and William flee NYC just before the height of the pandemic for a new life in Maine. It focuses on family - Lucy‘s relationship with William, her daughters and David.
It did make me a little nervous about heading to NYC in a couple of months as the death toll for COVID in the US hit home.

I‘ve read every one of her books and I love them all, especially the ongoing ones about Lucy. And the books about Olive too, for that matter. This book is about Lucy during the pandemic. And it‘s about ex-husbands and daughters, of which I have lots of experience. Elizabeth Strout is just a wonderful author and she has written one thoughtful book after another..

really good. my first read that was set during the pandemic. taken together these two books shine - but the first book in the series is not as enjoyable as this one is. lots of thoughtful concepts are explored. highly recommend!

When this audiobook hold came in at the library I took a break from all things spooky to spend time with Lucy again.

Strout uses the pandemic and recent political climate as the backdrop and experiencing it all through Lucy's eyes made for a great read. But then I might be biased because I adore Lucy. 💚

#LittenListen @aperfectmjk #SeriesRead2022 @TheSpineView

I just really love Lucy. ♥️ This story of navigating the next phase of life and the pandemic was quietly poignant as always and with so many of the bits of wisdom that I love her for. The way she takes in the events of life with such vulnerability and honesty is so comforting to me. I hope there are still more stories of hers to come!

This wasn‘t my favorite. Despite my immense love for Strout, I kept finding myself thinking ‘first world problems‘ or ‘why is Lucy so whiny?‘ Then I‘d come across something really poignant (like the waiting in line to get into the grocery store part, or how we‘re like Ping Pong balls). Maybe it was too early for a pandemic book, who knows? I‘m glad I read it, and had I read it at a different time, I might‘ve really loved it is what I‘m saying… 😏

I found this as wonderful as expected! I continue to be very into COVID-themed fiction, so reading about beloved Lucy‘s experiences during the pandemic was totally riveting. As always, Strout sprinkled in some really profound ideas among her chronicles of Lucy‘s thoughts and everyday and exceptional moments. (A line about the last time picking up one‘s child really floored me. 🥺) Longing and hoping for more and more Lucy stories to come! ❤️

And once again, Lucy gets all my stars - and the tag!

5* = Loved It, want to shout out loud about this book! I do/will own/keep a physical copy. A+
4*= I liked it, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Average C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F

📖 10-1-22 || This book brought me out of my reading slump! I love Lucy Barton just as much as Olive Kitteridge. Although Strout‘s books always have an undertone of sadness for me, this was beautifully written and I will remember it for a long time. I love all of the cameos of characters from her other novels, as well.

Me, too! Ann Patchett; me, too. Depth, complexity, and love. All told so simply. (Ann is also on my list of favorites.)

And HOW COOL and how poignant! To have Hilary Mantel provide her praise to this Lucy book.

Me and Ann and Hilary could have had a book club talk together on how amazing and wonderful it is to have Elizabeth Strout books to read.

HELP! I need one of my Litsy-pals + Strout-devotees who either has a photo-memory or an e-Book who can tell me what page the first reference is to the ping pong balls, cuz I can‘t find it... 😏😤

I am on page 195; “And it seemed that my ping-pong ball could not touch his right now.” . . . And I want to go reread the explanation and I can‘t find it.

#CaresPieShow

Sitting outside, sipping a good beer, 🏈 on 📺, starting the latest in the Lucy series by my favorite author.