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bonnieg 's review for:
Anything Is Possible
by Elizabeth Strout
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.