dewirijks's review against another edition
4.0
wat een aanrader, zeker als je eerst "Ik heet Lucy Barton" leest. Het leest gemakkelijk, elke zin is raak. Scherpe waarnemingen en beschrijvingen van personages die worstelen met hun afkomst.
rvlgonzalez's review against another edition
3.0
This book was fine (for me). I think if I were older or from somewhere more rural, I might have connected with it more.
capered_crusader's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
geraldinerowe's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
There's something that doesn't quite work for me about the Lucy Barton books. I know it's not Elizabeth Strout's work in general because I loved Olive Kitteridge. But while I find myself fully immersed in the Amgash stories for the most part, there's something which just seems to peter out at the end that I find unsatisfying. There's lots that I loved in this collection of short stories, however. Like Claire Keegan, Strout can lull you into a false sense of gentleness so that you barely notice the story is turning into something dark and immense. A punch in the guts is so much more painful when you don't see it coming. Strout's characters are compelling and I will continue to spend time with them.
memita's review against another edition
4.0
4,5*
Elizabet Strout sabe escrever sobre coisas difíceis de uma forma muito natural. É um libro fácil de ler, mas lento de digerir. Gostei bastante do esquema em teia adoptado aqui, não estava à espera e enriqueceu bastante a leitura. E que personagens... não somos obrigados a gostar de todas, mas todas nos tocam de alguma forma.
Elizabet Strout sabe escrever sobre coisas difíceis de uma forma muito natural. É um libro fácil de ler, mas lento de digerir. Gostei bastante do esquema em teia adoptado aqui, não estava à espera e enriqueceu bastante a leitura. E que personagens... não somos obrigados a gostar de todas, mas todas nos tocam de alguma forma.
amymck05's review against another edition
3.0
More like 3.5. This isn't my favorite Elizabeth Strout book but I love the way she writes. This is also set in Illinois (not Chicago) so I liked reading the descriptions of the setting. There was also a reference to a store called Firearms and Memories that we used to drive by everytime we went to Jacksonville. She mentions it, although the location is wrong.
cynicalworm's review against another edition
4.0
Strout creates a beautiful little world in just a few stories. Sad and sweet.
jmatkinson1's review against another edition
5.0
Huge cast of characters live their lives in and around a small town two hours from Chicago. Some know, or are related to, the author Lucy Barton, others appear tangentially in each others' lives. From the former farmer who became a school janitor to the three Nicely sisters, each has a tale to tell.
I have never been a fan of short stories yet this did not feel like a set of short stories as the tales jigsaw together so neatly. I have also not read anything written by Strout before and was wary of her reputation. How wrong can one be! This is a spare book and I devoured it in one evening, the writing is so engaging and the characters so rounded and believable. Now I understand why Strout is so well thought of - this book is magnificent in the way it plays the simple and mundane and contrasts them with huge emotions.
I have never been a fan of short stories yet this did not feel like a set of short stories as the tales jigsaw together so neatly. I have also not read anything written by Strout before and was wary of her reputation. How wrong can one be! This is a spare book and I devoured it in one evening, the writing is so engaging and the characters so rounded and believable. Now I understand why Strout is so well thought of - this book is magnificent in the way it plays the simple and mundane and contrasts them with huge emotions.
aniseekim's review against another edition
3.0
THIS COULD HAVE BEEN 5 STARS. but I had too many moral issues w it so rip me.