Reviews tagging 'Pandemic/Epidemic'

Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout

8 reviews

paravelblue's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic, Child abuse, and Miscarriage

Minor: Infidelity

anniebraves's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

After My Name is Lucy Barton my favourite in the series snd significantly more plot driven compared to the other books in the series. The first novel I’ve read that addresses the pandemic.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic and Death

asienerbrown's review

challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic, Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Infertility

Minor: Cancer

geraldinerowe's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I've read all of the Lucy Barton books and while I've loved them while reading them, they've ultimately left me unsatisfied as they don't seem to have any particular direction. Not so Lucy by the Sea. I hope (and assume) another chapter is on the way as this book has left me worried about her. Elizabeth Strout is an absolute master at developing character. Everyone she writes about is complex, with both flaws and redeeming features. And that is the overriding theme of this book. It's not just about Lucy learning to live with her sometimes selfish and thoughtless, but often loving, ex-husband. It's also, in a similar vein, understanding those who have opposing views to her on Covid and President Trump.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Infidelity

Minor: Police brutality, Eating disorder, Death, and Cancer

tracey1981's review against another edition

emotional funny 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? It's complicated

4.75

I’ve loved the Lucy Barton series (still need to read the stories in the second installment) and see it as a master class in character development. This series has made me a big Elizabeth Strout fan. And Kimberly Farr’s narration really brings these books to life. I sometimes get distracted from the story by the enormity of how much I’m enjoying the writing and the telling. 

This instalment of the series is basically Lucy’s Covid memoir, a chronicle of the first year of Covid through the character’s eyes. I found it insightful and thought-provoking. 

Toward the end, I kind of wanted a stronger political statement on the times we are living in and what it all means, but these books are all about Lucy, and Lucy is still trying to figure that out. Lucy is judged by others and tries to understand why, she judges others and then begins to understand them better. And in some ways, in an era where everyone has an opinion before the ink has dried on any news story, it’s actually refreshing that Lucy is still sorting it all out. 

Thanks to Libro.fm for the advanced listening copy

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Miscarriage

hannahcstocks's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Dysphoria, Miscarriage, Eating disorder, Medical content, Pandemic/Epidemic, Confinement, Pregnancy, Grief, and Infidelity

Moderate: Medical trauma

Minor: Racism, Police brutality, Body shaming, Classism, and Fatphobia

sophisbookies's review

i get that’s the big plot driver is covid but it was too boring/real to get past. main girl is really boring and annoying

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic

agnesg's review

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Miscarriage

Minor: Child abuse and Terminal illness