Lucy by the Sea
By Elizabeth Strout
- Release Date: 2022-09-20
- Genre: Literary Fiction
Description
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of My Name is Lucy Barton and Olive Kitteridge comes a “poised and moving” (Vogue) novel about a divorced couple stuck together during lockdown—and the love, loss, despair, and hope that animate us even as the world seems to be falling apart.
“Strout’s understanding of the human condition is capacious.”—NPR
A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The New York Times Book Review, The New Yorker, Oprah Daily, Entertainment Weekly, San Francisco Chronicle, NPR, Time, The Washington Post, The Christian Science Monitor, PopSugar, She Reads
With her trademark spare, crystalline prose—a voice infused with “intimate, fragile, desperate humanness” (The Washington Post)—Elizabeth Strout turns her exquisitely tuned eye to the inner workings of the human heart, following the indomitable heroine of My Name Is Lucy Barton through the early days of the pandemic.
As a panicked world goes into lockdown, Lucy Barton is uprooted from her life in Manhattan and bundled away to a small town in Maine by her ex-husband and on-again, off-again friend, William. For the next several months, it’s just Lucy, William, and their complex past together in a little house nestled against the moody, swirling sea.
Rich with empathy and emotion, Lucy by the Sea vividly captures the fear and struggles that come with isolation, as well as the hope, peace, and possibilities that those long, quiet days can inspire. At the heart of this story are the deep human connections that unite us even when we’re apart—the pain of a beloved daughter’s suffering, the emptiness that comes from the death of a loved one, the promise of a new friendship, and the comfort of an old, enduring love.
Shortlisted for the Rathbones Folio Prize
Reviews
Political op ed
1By CraigbunThis should be reviewed as a political opinion piece. If I wanted to spend my free time hearing your political views I would’ve watched the news. I want my money back.I grew attached to Lucy
4By SAL0967Loving Olive Kitteridge, I decided to go back and read the previous books written by the author on Lucy Barton. The character is so different than Olive, but I connected and warmed up quickly. This entire story took place over the pandemic and lockdown which was more of a turn off going in, but I found her portrayal of the emotions captivating.Good book
3By Don't hate, congratulateIn the beginning, it was very easy to get hooked on this book. After a while, I started to get a bit annoyed of the main character,Lucy. She seemed to complain a lot about almost everything. The ending wasn’t amazing. Left you wondering if William was truthful to her or if he was still hiding secrets and his own agenda. The most exciting chapters were at the very end relating to her daughters, which I wish were outlined more in the middle for a longer period of time. Overall, it was an easy read.Lucy’s voice
5By Kat WerlinichI love that I can still hear it in my head after reading the book.Lucy by the Sea
4By Ronnasue1953It didn’t hold my attention like Strouts other books have. I still enjoyed reading it but the flow was different.Forgottrn
4By ImoknowI feel the effects of the pandemic every day. I did not remember the lock down and my feelings at the time. This book reminded me of the foreboding. I hope it never happens again, but I’m afraid it will.My friend, Lucy.
4By Ila31Strout’s conversational tone draws the reader into her mind so completely that you feel like her character’s most trusted confidante. There is no doubt that the novel reflects many Americans’ fears, frustrations, and loneliness during the dark days of the pandemic, yet Lucy makes it through tough times, and so did we all. “Better, not bitter.”Letting Go
5By Fofefesof security during the pandemic, of a dead second husband, as a mother of two adult daughters, and as a woman entering old age is a theme of Lucy by the Sea. This story felt so real I found it heart wrenching at times, particularly when Lucy, who wants so much to understand her loved ones, acknowledges the gaps in her understanding. A beautiful, sad, wise book.Lucy by the Sea
3By LisagyllWhile I liked the story itself, I was not particularly fond of the style of writing. It felt like I was reading a YA novel.Lucy by theSea
5By Suzi 456This is me and all the things I have thought about put into words. It will be you, too. From the first day that we learned about lockdown, through the isolation, through the horrible murder of George Floyd, getting a vaccine, and witnessing the attack on the capitol, this story is each of us. The pandemic overturned everything. I went from a middle aged woman to an old woman. My grandchildren became adults. That’s not all. This book is about love and letting go. It’s about reflection and acceptance. And motherhood. A must read!Beautiful
4By carocrossStrict’s writing is excellent. Recommend highly.Disappointing
1By devoted wordsmithNot worth the money to read about the author’s take on COVID and other current events of 2020.Beautifully done
5By Sual WriteWe’ve all had it up to our eyeballs and beyond with pandemic life - this perspective by one of my favorite characters is delightfully whimsical, funny, touching… This is a tale of love, accountability, reconciliation, new beginnings and respecting boundaries (6 feet and beyond).Lucy by the Sea
1By NC774Boring …… !Great read!!!
4By margyellenA truly enjoyable raw read. I could certainly relate to Lucy's thinking. The writing of this book so different and really captured my attentionLucy by the Sea
5By ArtymusicianWow - just loved reading this outstanding book that perfectly captures and expresses the loneliness of lockdowns, fears of a global Covid pandemic, sadness of losing loved ones, joys of being with others, terrors of riots and protests, importance of love and kindness and family. Just wow.Enjoyable book about lockdown
5By princezz24789Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout is the fourth book in her popular Amgash series. This can be read as a standalone but is so much better if you read the previous books in the series. Lucy by the Sea is a fascinating look into a divorced couple and their experience with the COVID pandemic and lockdown. Lucy Barton is still grieving her husband, David’s death almost a year ago. Her ex-husband William calls her and tells her he wants to take her out of the city, to Maine, in order to avoid the new virus that is just starting to spread in New York City. Lucy is skeptical but eventually agrees to go with William to a small town on the coast of Maine for the duration of the virus. This is my second book by Elizabeth Strout and I enjoyed this much more than Oh William, and I think it’s because I was already familiar with the characters and her very unique writing style. Elizabeth Strout’s writing style is very different than anything else I’ve read before, and it’s a style you will either love for its simplicity or dislike entirely. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the book, considering the subject matter. The pandemic is a world event that affected all of us very much, and I will never forget the way the world changed. Although it’s not something I want to re-live, I did like the way this book explored the way the virus affected these characters. With Elizabeth Strout’s very frank way of writing, I saw the pandemic through the eyes of these characters and I enjoyed the way Lucy looks at the world. I highly recommend Lucy by the Sea to anyone who enjoys fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.Great Book Club Pick!
5By akbairdWilliam and Lucy have remained friends, despite being divorced for 20 years. They have an understanding and respect for each other, which allows for their friendship. Since Lucy’s 2nd husband died and Williams third wife left him, they have frequently seen eachother, even traveled together. When Covid-19 hit NYC, William informs Lucy that they will pack up and go to Maine to avoid the virus, since one of Williams friends had died of Covid. This book is from Lucy point of view and how they navigated life through the pandemic. Lucy has so much insight on her own life, her children’s lives and Williams which makes this book entertaining! In this book, Lucy grapples with the loss of her husband David, Covid-19 Pandemic, her adult children’s problems, friendships, political/social issues, and of course her relationship with William. How will they cope with the pandemic? What will discover about themselves and others? This book leaves it open for future books, so I hope this author will continue the story! Elizabeth Strout has a way with words that allows the reader into Lucy’s head, so they can truly understand her and how she navigates life. Perfect for book clubs as it will lead to many interesting discussions.
