Reviews with content warning for Grief - My Name Is Lucy Barton

Reviews tagging 'Grief'

My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout

8 reviews

novelsally's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.25

This had a haunting beauty to it and makes me want to call my mom.

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fkshg8465's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

I wasn’t sure if I’d like this book. Reviews were all over the place, and the negative ones were enough reasons that I almost walked away. Those were the same reasons I might’ve hated this book because I’ve hated other books for these reasons (weak-willed women, lack of action or plot). But I considered the really strong reviews on the opposite end of the spectrum, and I’m glad I read it.

Lucy reminds me so much of my mom - self-effacing, resilient, steady, and insisting on being heard on her terms even in a world that does everything it can to minimize and infantilize women. I liked Lucy also because she continued forward despite her past, her husband’s monetary and family origins, her own dysfunctional family, and having to make it on her own within the walls of the patriarchy. She’s quietly persistent, open to the kindnesses of the world, and someone I might like to be friends with. I look forward to the second book in the series.

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ashleyjean6's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

This is beautifully written; but so sad. A woman writing about her life and looking back at her traumatic childhood (poverty, abuse) and her escape which brought her to a place she feels out of place in. It's a very humbling book, one that makes you feel seen as a human. It's seems simple, but it's really the opposite. It's difficult to explain. But I want to read more.

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happyknitter2020's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad medium-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? It's complicated

4.0

A sad reflective story of the log life impact of childhood emotional neglect. Felt like Lucy was sat alongside me & was telling me her story.

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bookedbymadeline's review against another edition

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fast-paced

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

3.0

Easy, quick read at less than 200 pages. I read this in one sitting, and only finished because I have book 2 and have heard it’s better than Lucy Barton, plus as I said it’s a quick read.

Stream of consciousness writing style with chapters jumping from different points of time which could be confusing at times. I’m not a big fan of this writing style because it usually lacks depth and the characters felt one dimensional.

I felt detached to the characters because there’s a lot of telling instead of showing. Maybe it’s because of how short the novel is and it tries to span so much time in so few pages.

The book is an interesting exploration of a childhood lived in extreme poverty, neglect, tense mother-daughter relationships, and loneliness. I did appreciate some quotes that made me think but overall it’s not bad or great, just average and forgettable. I’m hoping other reviewers are right and book 2 (as well as another of Strout’s novels, Olive Kitteridge) is better.

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