sifuCJC reviewed My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
A beautiful portrait
4 stars
You get such a sense of the reality of the people in this book. They're alive and annoying and curious and beautiful.
English language
Published May 31, 2016
My Name Is Lucy Barton
4 stars
(8 reviews)
My Name is Lucy Barton is a 2016 New York Times bestselling novel and the fifth novel by the American writer Elizabeth Strout. The book was first published in the United States on January 12, 2016 through Random House. The book details the complicated relationship between the titular Lucy Barton and her mother. In July 2016, the novel was longlisted for the 2016 Man Booker Prize. The book was also shortlisted for the 2018 International Dublin Literary Award. The novel was also adapted for the theatre by Rona Munro as a one-woman show, with an acclaimed 2018 London production starting Laura Linney which transferred to New York in January 2020.
pithypants reviewed My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
Review of 'My Name Is Lucy Barton' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
I love Elizabeth Strout's writing. She's a master of character, including details that are so familiar that a novice wouldn't think to include them, but that have me nodding my head thinking, "Yes, I know this person."
In addition, most of her books tie together in subtle ways that makes reading feel like I'm solving a puzzle. Some books are collections of seemingly unrelated stories that have discreet threads (a minor character in one story becomes the focus of another story) tying them together; some of the books repeat this trick on a larger scale.
In the case of this book: it's a zoomed-in look at author Lucy Barton, her difficult childhood, her emergence as a writer in NYC, her flawed marriage, and her tenuous identity as a mother. And if you'd like to zoom out and hold Lucy in a broader context, read Strout's book, "Anything Is Possible," which …
I love Elizabeth Strout's writing. She's a master of character, including details that are so familiar that a novice wouldn't think to include them, but that have me nodding my head thinking, "Yes, I know this person."
In addition, most of her books tie together in subtle ways that makes reading feel like I'm solving a puzzle. Some books are collections of seemingly unrelated stories that have discreet threads (a minor character in one story becomes the focus of another story) tying them together; some of the books repeat this trick on a larger scale.
In the case of this book: it's a zoomed-in look at author Lucy Barton, her difficult childhood, her emergence as a writer in NYC, her flawed marriage, and her tenuous identity as a mother. And if you'd like to zoom out and hold Lucy in a broader context, read Strout's book, "Anything Is Possible," which focuses on the town she grew up in and references Lucy only through the eyes of others.
GG reviewed My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
Review of 'My Name Is Lucy Barton' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
After reading the wonderful "Anything is Possible," I feel compelled to read all of Strout's previous books. This one did not disappoint.
Sandra reviewed My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
Review of 'My Name Is Lucy Barton' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
I'm not quite sure how I felt about this one. The book was kind of bittersweet, bordering on sad in a strange kind of vague way. I don't get people saying it was Hallmarky and sappy. It didn't feel that way to me. It wasn't exactly a feel good, soft and fuzzy kind of story. It's hard to get a real feel for it because most of the reading was to be done between the lines. It's about damaged people forgiving and forging ahead... I THINK... LOL It's a quiet, contemplative read about not getting exactly what is needed from loved ones, but loving them regardless. It's about love then, I guess. Mostly self love. Letting go of self pity and self righteousness. Seeing the beauty in simple things. The wonder of being open, accepting and human.
Okay so maybe more like 3 1/2 stars.
