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geraldinerowe's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Infidelity
Minor: Police brutality, Eating disorder, Death, and Cancer
hannahcstocks's review against another edition
- 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
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
deedireads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
TL;DR REVIEW:
Lucy By the Sea is another cozy, resonant novel by Elizabeth Strout. While I didn’t love it as much as I’d hoped, watching Lucy process the pandemic does feel almost therapeutic for we who lived it.
For you if: You love Elizabeth Strout novels (and have read the other Amgash books).
FULL REVIEW:
Lucy By the Sea is the fourth book in Elizabeth Strout’s Amgash series, which features the beloved protagonist Lucy Barton. I’ve heard from many people that this is their favorite Amgash book. While I still think Anything Is Possible was my favorite, Lucy By the Sea delivers yet another of Strout’s signature quiet, resonant reading experiences.
This one follows Lucy and William through the COVID-19 lockdown; William convinces Lucy to leave NYC for a seaside cottage in Maine, and we re-experience all the anxiety and turmoil from those early pandemic days alongside them. I was afraid this would feel triggering, but for me at least, I found that watching Lucy process these feelings was surprisingly therapeutic. And of course, this is Elizabeth Strout, so the book is also about relationships, growth, and the emotions that make us human. I particularly loved getting to know her daughters so much better. (Also, there is a small crossover with Olive Kitteridge, which was fun.)
While I did enjoy this one, I think I may have read it too soon after Oh William! to truly love it. Without getting into spoilers, SEA did feel like it reversed some of the choices Strout made in WILLIAM, to its detriment in my opinion. Lucy’s extreme dependence on anyone but herself also started to get to me. But at the same time, she’s such a kind person experiencing relatable things, and Strout writes relationships and interiority so well, that Lucy has also started to feel like a friend.
If Strout writes more Amgash books, I’ll gladly read them.
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, and Grief
Moderate: Miscarriage and Infertility
Minor: Eating disorder
layton93's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Miscarriage and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Eating disorder, Police brutality, and Death of parent
feebles640's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Grief, Death, Death of parent, and Classism
Moderate: Dementia, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Cancer, Child abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Police brutality, and Racism
Minor: Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Addiction, and Alcoholism
The book covers 2020/2021 and discusses current events in America at that time (covid 19, black lives matter, Trump, attack on capital)