Very different in structure and complexity from Olive Kitteridge, which is one of my favorite novels. But I relished the intimacy of this story, and the poetry of many passages and insights. Strout knows people, she knows their loneliness and suffering, and she knows how love and connection (however tenuous) can ease that suffering. Heartbreaking and beautiful novel. ( )

"He said, 'What *is* your job as a writer of fiction?' And she said that her job as a writer of fiction was to report on the human condition, to tell us who we are and what we think and what we do." - Elizabeth Strout, My Name Is Lucy Barton

Elizabeth Strout, as a writer of fiction, you have done your job beautifully in "My Name Is Lucy Barton."

Strout's latest novel is a quiet, introspective book. Told in the first person, the book centers around a woman, Lucy Barton, and the weeks she spent in the hospital away from her husband and young children. Her estranged mother visits the hospital for a few days, and the two reminisce, gossip, and try to connect and make amends.

The writing is so powerful, emotional, and realistic, I wondered whether part of this story might be autobiographical (as far as I know, it's not). It's like when you hear a song that is so poignant and heartfelt that you feel the songwriter must have actually experienced what is conveyed in the lyrics (though that's not always true, either).

Since it's such short book, there's much meaning conveyed in what *isn't* said. Much like Hemingway's famous 6 word story ("For sale: baby shoes, never worn"), Strout masterfully provides just enough detail about Lucy's upbringing, and relationships (with parents and spouse) for the reader to fill in the blanks.

4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for a galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Enjoyable story of a mother-daughter and their often strained conversations, told in spare prose by the daughter who is a writer. I wanted more about Lucy at the end, but am pleased to see there's another volume [b:Oh William!|56294820|Oh William!|Elizabeth Strout|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1617988577l/56294820._SY75_.jpg|87609499]. ( )

Lovely. Like 3.5 stars, just because it was a little brief. ( )

Laphroaig is an impressively made flavorful Irish whiskey, yet only to the taste of some. ( )