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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
slow-paced
I see the appeal of this book and enjoy the writing style. I think the lack of a central plot made it difficult for me to really find enjoyment while reading.
I love Elizabeth Strout, and this is the first time I have ever given her less than a 5-star rating. This is wonderful, better than the vast majority of things you will ever read. So this is a 4-star compared to other Elizabeth Strout but probably a 5-star compared to the world of books.
This is a collection of linked short stories based around the characters in Lucy Barton's hometown. (It is not essential you read [b:My Name Is Lucy Barton|25893709|My Name Is Lucy Barton|Elizabeth Strout|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1450653428s/25893709.jpg|45584499] before this collection, but I think it will enhance your enjoyment.) As usual with Strout, there are no happy stories here, though there is generally a note of some dim hope, and a couple might qualify as bitttersweet including the excellent "Gift", the final story in the collection and "Dottie's Bed & Breakfast." Most of the stories link to childhood traumas, many sexual in nature, but there is as much focus on economic divides, particularly the costs of moving up the economic ladder and how it separates you from all that came before. There is also the uniting theme of loneliness, and the magic of human connection no matter how brief or complicated.
In short, there are some best in class stories here, and some excellent stories, and a couple that are simply very good. Highly recommended for all. Strout is a treasure.
This is a collection of linked short stories based around the characters in Lucy Barton's hometown. (It is not essential you read [b:My Name Is Lucy Barton|25893709|My Name Is Lucy Barton|Elizabeth Strout|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1450653428s/25893709.jpg|45584499] before this collection, but I think it will enhance your enjoyment.) As usual with Strout, there are no happy stories here, though there is generally a note of some dim hope, and a couple might qualify as bitttersweet including the excellent "Gift", the final story in the collection and "Dottie's Bed & Breakfast." Most of the stories link to childhood traumas, many sexual in nature, but there is as much focus on economic divides, particularly the costs of moving up the economic ladder and how it separates you from all that came before. There is also the uniting theme of loneliness, and the magic of human connection no matter how brief or complicated.
In short, there are some best in class stories here, and some excellent stories, and a couple that are simply very good. Highly recommended for all. Strout is a treasure.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
A marvellous author: insightful and wise, compassionate and humane.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I won this book through a goodreads giveaway.
I enjoyed reading this. There wasn't a plot really. It was moreso a bunch of vignettes about people from the same town, and where they've ended up, as of late. Some characters were more interesting than others. Not sure if I'd read the other books in the canon, if I would have enjoyed this more. I do wish there was a bit more plot or connectedness between each story, but I did enjoy it overall.
I enjoyed reading this. There wasn't a plot really. It was moreso a bunch of vignettes about people from the same town, and where they've ended up, as of late. Some characters were more interesting than others. Not sure if I'd read the other books in the canon, if I would have enjoyed this more. I do wish there was a bit more plot or connectedness between each story, but I did enjoy it overall.
I actually enjoyed this more than LUCY BARTON which seems to have gone "in one eye and out the other." This takes the same form as OLIVE KITTEREDGE, stories of people connected by living in the same town, most of whom knew Lucy BARTON and many of whom are reacting to reading her memoir. I was drawn in by the characters and their stories while reading, but now, a few weeks later, can't remember specifics. That may have as much to do with my distracted brain as it does with the author's writing style, but I lean toward long, engulfing novels, rather than short stories.
I have always liked Elizabeth Strout, since I read Olive Kitteridge years ago. I find her similar to Alice Munro, but perhaps more approachable. This is a series of short stories about the same characters in a tiny little town in Illinois. They are about human relationships and connections, wanting to belong, and all told so sparingly and yet completely. There are no wasted words in her stories.
Not my cup of tea. I can see that she is a ”good writer”, and that the characters have been given some thought, but this is just not my style.
The book is built on life stories from a small town, and some of the stories captured me, I could probably have read a book only about them. But this way I didn’t get deeper into any of them.
One thing I liked though, was her way of describing the inner feelings of the characters when they for instance felt sudden panic or the need to blurt out something but suppressing it the last minute.
The book is built on life stories from a small town, and some of the stories captured me, I could probably have read a book only about them. But this way I didn’t get deeper into any of them.
One thing I liked though, was her way of describing the inner feelings of the characters when they for instance felt sudden panic or the need to blurt out something but suppressing it the last minute.
Would give the first 2/3 of book 5 stars and the last 1/3 3 stars. Got a little strange at end but love her writing.