One of the most buzzed books of the season is My Name is Lucy Barton, and it's a favorite among CPL staff. Read on for two reviews of this family saga by bestselling author Elizabeth Strout.
What a beautifully written book. It gives us a peek into Lucy Barton's life as she lays in a hospital, chatting with her mother, whom she is not very close with and hasn't seen in years. Based on their conversations we get a glimpse into Lucy's life and learn why she became the person she is today. Reading this book made me feel as if I were eavesdropping on the conversations Lucy had with her mother. Lucy has many feelings and resentments that she never conveyed to her family, yet she fully appreciates her mother's time and conversations, which give us a peek into her past, and perhaps explain some of the choices made. It is a short book, but strongly written. The story unfolds to give a complete narrative of Lucy Barton and who she is. - Rosanna (Downtown)
Lucy's story weaves between her childhood, an extended hospital visit with her mother, and her adult life after the hospital visit. I felt like I was listening to a friend tell me a story constructed from a big pile of blocks randomly grabbed. Constructed like when I try to build a tower with the baby -- I quickly grab pieces to stack them, not paying any attention to the soundness of my structure, just grabbing to get it as high as possible before she knocks it down. Lucy has a need to tell her story, but she still holds back -- there are aspects of her life she doesn't discuss and moments in her childhood are blurry. It was very much like reading the thoughts straight from someone else's head. It's wonderful. Lucy's voice grabbed me immediately and I found it difficult to put down. Like Dept. of Speculation, My Name is Lucy Barton shares a moving story from a woman's perspective and offers intimate glimpses into marriage and family dynamics. - Melissa (Downtown)