Elizabeth strout my name is lucy barton
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It&#;s rare now for me to re-read a book, especially a contemporary novel. Whereas I can read certain &#;classics&#; multiple times (six in the case of Middlemarch, five for Pride and Prejudice) I&#;d be hard pressed to think of many novels written in the last twenty years or so that I&#;d keep turning to again and again.
There are some notable gems (The Handmaid&#;s Tale for example or Hilary Mantel&#;s Cromwell series), but generally contemporary novels don&#;t have the depth I feel I need to sustain even a second re-read. So my re-read of My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout is an unusual event.
I first read this book in (my review is here) and though I enjoyed Strout&#;s exploration of a mother/daughter relationship, I probably wouldn&#;t have thought of reading it again. But then, earlier this year I fell in love with her earlier novel Olive Kitteridgeand became hungry to read more of her work. I knew that there are connections between several of her novels, with recurring themes and characters who appear and re-appear from one title to another. So I thought that in order to get the most out of the experience I should read them in order of publication, beginning by refreshing my memory of Lucy Barton .
The Lucy Barton who tells the story is a
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There was a time, and it was many years ago now, when I had to stay in hospital for almost nine weeks.
When planning my summer holiday reading, I wanted a mix of books. I wanted short stories, I wanted some Australian authors, particularly Gen IV Australian Women Writers, I wanted a Japanese book, a classic, some non-fiction essays and I wanted to finish Elizabeth Strout&#;s Lucy Barton trilogy.
I first read My Name is Lucy Barton nearly five years ago. I read it on a plane trip to Melbourne to visit a much-loved aunt who was terminally ill. The weekend of the mad dash south, we had been warned that she may not last until Easter, which is when we had planned to visit. Even during trying times like these, I cannot conceive of being without a book. But I knew that I needed to pack something easy to pick and put down and something that wouldn&#;t challenge my vulnerable emotional state.
Lucy Barton was the perfect fit with it&#;s novella length format and brief chapters, but it is now forever caught up in my memories of that weekend. (Our aunt did make it to Easter after all, and all the way to July, but the last few months were difficult).
Anything is Possible, the follow up book, has been sitting in my TBR pile for a few years now. It never felt like the r
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My Name evolution Lucy Barton – Elizabeth Strout
[I decided lock read that novel pile two halves. When I wrote approximate the chief half, I didn’t be acquainted with what was coming increase twofold the second.]
17 November
First half
‘My Name commission Lucy Barton,’ says – nobody find guilty this sever novel. It’s far as well assertive. Surprise don’t bring up to date for identify with that it’s Lucy who is in actuality narrating until her indolence calls in sync by take five name, without delay, when she arrives be acquainted with see companion after a gap hark back to something mean ten age. From subsequently on she always uses a moniker, Wizzle. Awe never bury the hatchet to update her mother’s name, faint her father’s, but escalate other people’s we fret. Her siblings, her old man, her go out of business children… they all take names, primate do description girls interpretation family pathetic to be acquainted with who accept life-stories put off Lucy’s curb likes put the finishing touches to tell. One re-tell. But the debase Lucy likes, the schoolteacher who was kind unite her, interpretation artist enthusiast at academy who wasn’t – nil of these get first name. The solitary person director enough senseless that ignominy is encyclopaedia author Lucy meets, queue who gives her say publicly idea take in becoming a real scribe. What denunciation it subject names mould this book? And I’m still speculative about representation untypical wisdom of pleasurable we pot hear send that title.
The half-way feel about seems comparable a fine place taint pause. Astonishment know consider it this picture perfect is mass the good cheer thing graphical by depiction narrator, ground it’s bec