Reviews with content warning for Miscarriage - Lucy by the Sea

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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tracey1981's review against another edition

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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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phoevincent's review

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emotional hopeful lighthearted 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? Yes

4.5

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hannahcstocks's review against another edition

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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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agnesg's review

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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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deedireads's review

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emotional reflective sad fast-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? It's complicated

4.25

All my reviews live at https://deedispeaking.com/reads/.

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.

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