Reviews

Ay, William by Elizabeth Strout

mrsklrv's review against another edition

inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

vifab's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

queercorn's review against another edition

2.0

Could barely finish. I like flawed characters, I like other books in the series, but in this book I found them all insufferable and the plot non existent 

mary_elizabeth's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

anroli's review against another edition

emotional inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.5

Just wonderfully written. Such a reflective book. It felt like a much needed break.   

horsley123's review against another edition

5.0

A warm comforting bath of a book. I have met Lucy Barton in the previous books in this series, she can be quite acerbic and not always likeable. In this book she has just lost her second husband and her first husband, William, is at a similar loose end. The grief softens Lucy and she becomes a much more likeable character.

I very much enjoy Elizabeth Strout's prose - I can imagine short, dismissive phrases such as 'and that is all I want to say about that' coming from an elderly woman who is reviewing her life, and perhaps finding that she was not always right. The change in the relationship between Lucy and William develops beautifully, they grow to appreciate each other again and recognise each others faults.

Lovely read.

mckmillican's review against another edition

5.0

Oh, Lucy! This is my first foray into Elizabeth Strout (not sure where I’ve been all these years) and I read this as a standalone book, and didn’t realize I was reading the third book in a series until deep into it. It works just fine on its own, and I’m excited to work through the rest of the series. If Strout were a lesser writer, I would have found the meandering tone of the narrator cutesy and grating, but instead, I was completely hooked on everywhere we meandered to. I felt as though I could feel everything the narrator was feeling in the center of my chest. The book made my heart hurt and made me want to fall back in love with all of my ex boyfriends.

sara_beara's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

hbradley7292's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

kemmer's review against another edition

5.0

Took my breath away.