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reading_rita's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment and Child abuse
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Eating disorder, War, Terminal illness, and Cancer
whypaperbacks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Abandonment and Death of parent
Minor: Cancer, Miscarriage, War, and Chronic illness
nomey's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Miscarriage and Child abuse
Minor: Ableism
juliette_s's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Eating disorder, Death of parent, and Child abuse
danielle_isreading's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, and Infidelity
Minor: Miscarriage
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? Yes
4.5
TL;DR REVIEW:
The third in Elizabeth Strout’s Amgash series, Oh William! is another quiet but beautiful little novel. I loved how reflective this one was, both similar to and different from the first two.
For you if: You like books about relationships, and those that get really interior with their first-person narrators.
FULL REVIEW:
Shortlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize, Oh William! is the third book in Elizabeth Strout’s Amgash series. If you’ve read Elizabeth Strout before, you know what to expect with this one: a quiet novel that beautifully explores humanity by examining the motivations and relationships between lifelike characters.
Oh William! returns us into the mind and perception of the first Amgash book’s narrator, Lucy Barton. In this book, she’s a bit older; her daughters are adults, and she just lost her second (and much loved) husband. Then her first husband, William, is left by his new wife and finds out his recently deceased mother had a secret daughter before he was born. He asks her to accompany him on a trip to learn more about his half-sister, and she agrees.
I loved the opportunity to come back to a character we know and love and watch her reflect on her own life. Lucy has so much more self-awareness now, but she gains even more of it throughout the book. I also loved how Strout used the relationship between Lucy and William to explore how those we love, we love. in some way forever, even when they aren’t necessarily good for us anymore. And honestly, I think Strout’s ability to pinpoint what motivates people and how they interact is unmatched by any other writer.
I’ve heard that Lucy by the Sea is many people’s favorite Amgash book. I’m excited to read it next!
Graphic: Grief, Infidelity, and Death of parent
pphector's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Grief and Infidelity
Moderate: Abandonment, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Classism
feebles640's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Infidelity, Grief, Abandonment, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Death of parent, Eating disorder, Miscarriage, War, and Death
Minor: Child abuse and Fatphobia
emzireads's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Grief, Abandonment, and Death of parent
hkburke2's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Fatphobia, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Death of parent, and Miscarriage
Minor: Ableism