Welcome to Litsy!

I really love Elizabeth Strout and how she writes stories that feel like they are about real people. This book, bringing back all her Crosby, Maine characters, centres on them telling each other stories of people they know and people they don‘t, not as gossip but more bearing witness to lives lived with struggle, pain, grace and love.

I think Strout‘s writing is simply perfection, and I loved this account of Lucy, Bob, Olive and the Crosby, Maine gang. The interconnected-ness of their lives was fascinating, but it‘s as if nothing and everything happens simultaneously. Strout just can‘t be beat.

This wouldn‘t be a good choice as the first one of Strout‘s books I don‘t think, but because I‘ve grown to love these characters it was so lovely to get to spend more time with them. I love her quiet observations about people - she has a real gift for that. And the audio as always was wonderful.

“Well, phooey. I feel connected to you too. So there.” She stuck out her tongue.

lol, I feel seen! 😅🙋‍♀️🦄🌵

Jimmy Fallon, anyone? “H‘s are ewwww!!” 🤣

Oh I love her writing, her characters, Maine description and the weaving of all those residents back into this tale of life and love, love is love.
I feel a yearning to re read all her others.
And I truly hope she writes more about these characters and Maine.
I devoured it during the stirms over the weekend and now feel bereft:(

I‘ve loved all her books, from Olive Kitteridge to My Name is Lucy Barton to all the others. We follow all the same characters from book to book, and they‘re so real. Their conversations are so real, their feelings are so real, their personalities are so real. I always feel as though I‘ve really read something when I finish one.

The one is about the heaviness of human life & the lightness that we can sometimes bring to it by sharing our burdens. The book continues the stories of Olive, Bob & Lucy, intermingling and overlapping them as the three characters walk through their later years in Maine. There‘s a focus on the importance of sharing our stories, even the ones that don‘t seem to have a point. It helps mitigate the loneliness that can come. It‘s a bit heartbreaking.

Talk about a #mustreadauthor. Had to go grab this latest Lucy Barton, where Strout brings a bunch of characters, including cranky 90yo Olive, together. Let‘s hope it‘s not the last 📚🤞🏼💕.

How good is Elizabeth Strout? 💕#currentlyreading

Nearly matches my bag.
But not quite.
#BookshopDay #UK

On the photo is my room at Gladstone‘s! And that‘s where I just finished this book. I loved being in Lucy‘s company again and I was happy to reconnect with Bob and Olive. Strout writes as beautiful as ever and yet it‘s not my favorite of hers (you were right @squirrelbrain !). It felt as if she had so much to say that she had to put a dozen different stories in just this small book. #gladstones24

A story about stories and love. Strout brings together all of her beloved characters from previous novels. I adored this book. The ending is perfect! My only hope is that this doesn't mean the author won't continue writing her amazing novels.

22-30 Sep 24
I love the Lucy Barton series and this was just wonderful. I have been scouring the internet for the Olive and Burgess Boys in the same hardcover format, but to no avail.
This books sees Lucy back with William and living in Maine where she has befriended Bob Burgess and also Olive Kitteridge. They recollect stories and follow the investigation of one of Bob‘s clients for murder.
None of which explains why I love it so much. I just do

I feel so good about this grid. I wanted to read each book before I pulled into seasonal reads. And of course, Strout wins the tag!

5* = Loved It, want to shout out loud about this book! I do/will own/keep a physical copy. A+
4*= I liked it, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Avg C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F

This book brings together my favorite Strout characters from ALL her books and features a beautiful friendship between Lucy and Olive. A can‘t miss if you enjoy hopeful books about friendship, love, and community.

A man has been accused of murdering his mother, and Bob Burgess takes the case. Meanwhile, other people in his circle‘s lives start falling apart. He tries to balance it all to help his family, client, wife, and community.

A reading realization I‘ve come upon over the last few months is that I really like quiet books and Elizabeth Strout soothes my soul. Olive Kitteridge, Bob Burgess, and Lucy Barton all together in the same book - yes, to that! Lucy and Bob‘s friendship was so interesting, and I was completely entertained by how Olive and Lucy came to meet and share stories. I loved this.

All about Maine with today‘s little #bookhaul. And both continuations of series!

I still really liked this, but it‘s not my favourite ‘Lucy Barton‘ book. As well as Lucy, Bob Burgess is highly featured, as is Olive Kitteridge.

Early on, there were too many disparate threads and inconsequential stories about characters we‘d never met before. The book soon picked up though, as Bob becomes involved in a murder investigation - I wished this had been the whole focus of the book.

#netgalley
Published 19th Sept in the UK.