2.07k reviews for:

Lucy by the Sea

Elizabeth Strout

3.83 AVERAGE

emotional inspiring reflective sad fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

This was good but honestly a little difficult to read since I actually lived through the pandemic that Lucy writes about and it hit a little too close to home to be terribly entertaining… it wasn’t the escape that I usually find in a novel but it was well written and very relatable. Just a little too relatable.

3.5 stars

«Miré las cortinas de encaje de las ventanas y pensé: ¡no sé en quién confiar, mamá! Y mi madre, la madre buena que me he inventado en el transcurso de los años, me dijo inmediatamente: “Confía en ti misma, Lucy”».

Cuando vi que Elizabeth Strout publicaba nuevo libro, conté los días para que llegase a España; cuando vi que estaba ambientado en la pandemia y el confinamiento, pensé que ya habíamos tenido suficiente con (sobre)vivirla. Son muchos los escritores que se han “inspirado” en este periodo de terror para sus libros con trama apocalíptica, pero no es el caso de Strout.

La escritora utiliza este suceso como telón de fondo, para construir y continuar la historia de Lucy Barton, en compañía de su ex marido William. No es ninguna sorpresa, pero Strout lo vuelve a hacer: retrata como nadie las relaciones personales y cómo afectan a nuestro estado de ánimo. Aquí se nos presenta a una Lucy mayor, más sabia, tal vez más vulnerable, pero todavía Lucy.

Conecté con Lucy desde el principio, desde que leí el primer libro de esta saga. En este libro he podido reconocerme en Lucy, en sus pensamientos, que a veces también han sido los míos.

La narración simple de Strout, pero a la vez elegante y directa, me sigue enganchando en cada una de sus historias.

«Es un regalo de la vida no saber lo que nos aguarda».

This is the first book I’ve read in the series and I enjoyed it. I might read the next in it too. I really enjoy books during the pandemic but there aren’t a lot that I’ve found so far. 
reflective fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I just love Elizabeth Strout’s writing. Her characters are so real.

I knew this wouldn't be my favorite book in the series since reading about Covid is never that exhilarating or interesting to me, but Strout's strong characters carried me through this one quickly. Lucy and William escape to Maine for what they think will be a short time before the pandemic hits NYC full force. Strout paints a beautiful picture of this time of grief and loss, both for people and for places/routines/relationships, and knowing things will never be the way they were again. This one was very introspective as usual; Lucy's observations and inability to see herself objectively is heartbreaking but with each book, we see deeper and deeper into the layers of hurt that made her who she is.
dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
emotional reflective sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes