Comments on: First GREAT novel of 2016: My Name is Lucy Barton, by Elizabeth Strout

By: Sine

Sine — Sun, 24 Jan 2016 19:14:20 +0000

Just finished Burgess Boys and loved it. Can’t wait to now read more of her, starting with this one!

By: jenniferpuryear

jenniferpuryear — Sun, 24 Jan 2016 18:31:30 +0000

Leslie, what an amazing description of what’s going on in this novel. I think you capture it better in a paragraph than I did in a whole post! I had the hardest time writing about this book; it has an unusual power and it does have its frustrations, I’d agree. Thank you so much for your comment! Xo

By: Leslie Zmugg

Leslie Zmugg — Sun, 24 Jan 2016 17:37:08 +0000

I love Hemingway, as retro as it may be to do so. There – I said it! This book clawed at me in a love-hate kind of way. I suppose I expected more of a narrative, and it kept floating too high for me. Until I got a sense of the purpose – to capture a story with as little self and as much candor as possible. Letting the narrative emerge from that raw center. How many times did she remind us of what was not the story? You should read it, Patricia B Eastwood! It is worth the detour.

By: jenniferpuryear

jenniferpuryear — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 16:22:10 +0000

In reply to Sine.

Terrific! And yes! I preferred Olive K to The Burgess Boys…Read Amy and Isabelle so long ago that I don’t much remember anything except thinking it was wonderful. Xo

By: Sine

Sine — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 22:39:00 +0000

In reply to jenniferpuryear.

Yes, let’s! Have you read all her other books?

By: jenniferpuryear

jenniferpuryear — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 13:21:51 +0000

In reply to Sine.

Sine, I actually thought of you when I included the Hemingway – of course! I know how passionately unenthusiastic you are! I know you won’t let that ruin Elizabeth Strout for you. She’s too good. We need to discuss further. xo!

By: jenniferpuryear

jenniferpuryear — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 13:19:44 +0000

In reply to Suann Davus.

Dear Suann, Please forgive my delayed response! I have just now seen this comment! Thank you SO much, and I can’t wait to hear what you think!! I hope to see you soon! xo

By: Could This Be the Best Elizabeth Strout Novel Yet? « musing

Could This Be the Best Elizabeth Strout Novel Yet? « musing — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 13:14:54 +0000

[…] novel by far.” Or trust NPR or The New York Times or any of the many spectacular reviews or fellow book-lovers who have declared it a masterpiece. Or just read it yourself and see. Meanwhile, enjoy the […]

By: Sine

Sine — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 06:48:43 +0000

Funny, I am just now “reading” (audio book) The Burgess Boys. Couldn’t get a hold of Olive Kitteridge nor this one, so I settled on Burgess Boys and must say I like it. Though I wish you hadn’t told me about Strout liking Hemingway. Now I’ve lost a little respect for her. I guess I’m one of “those women” who hate Hemingway. I truly believe all the adulation is misplaced. I haven’t yet come across anything of his I’ve liked, even though I’ve put more effort into him than in many other writers.