Lucy by the Sea - Elizabeth Strout

 Lucy by the Sea - Elizabeth Strout

Release Date: Sept. 20, 2022

Lucy by the Sea continues the story of Lucy Barton. William, her former husband, whisks her off to a house in coastal Maine to escape the beginnings of the Covid pandemic.  He is a parasitologist and sees the warnings of impending disaster before many others. She leaves her beloved New York behind and is achingly separated from her married daughters.  

Told from Lucy’s POV, Strout’s unique writing style chronicles people living their lives in the surreal era of pandemic isolation.  She observes life and life passing, poignantly capturing the thoughts, feelings, and experiences so many of us had these past two years. There is sadness and joy, despair and hope.  “I did not know where to put my mind.”  “It is a gift in this life that we do not know what awaits us.” Strout, through Lucy, is profound in her simple observations. 

This is a beautiful novel…well thought out and well written.  

Loved it!

For fans of Strout’s books: Without mentioning names because I don’t want to be a spoiler, one character from Strout’s prior works makes an appearance and another earns an occasional mention.  

*****