Lucy by the Sea: Book summary and reviews of Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout

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Patricia Nelson

Great read
This is my first Elizabeth Strout book, and I loved it. I don't know if I could have read it sooner than now - I needed some time and space from the events in the book in order to really enjoy this one. I loved this story about two people who are thrown together for an extended time. It's a story about nothing and everything. It's about long-term relationships, mothers and daughters, politics (only lightly alluded to), disagreeing without being disagreeable, forgiveness, maturity, how we deal with stress. I loved Lucy's voice. She's a flawed person, to be sure, just as we all are. William's personality reminded me of people I know and love, so while he didn't always come across very well on the page, I could see others in his character. (I'm not referring to his past actions, just his general personality.) This would be a great book club book because there is so much to discuss.

susan

Lucy By the Sea
Inspired by the true events surrounding the destruction of the town, Iola, in the 1960’s, this story tells of hardship, loss, courage and resilience. Story begins on a small peach ranch in Iola, Colorado. The Gunnison River is damned, the town is flooded, and a reservoir built. Prior to this, Victoria, 17, encounters young Wilson Moon, by chance and falls for him. She gets pregnant and tragedy strikes. She isolates herself in a small hut in the mountains, where she struggles in the wilderness. Alone, she has the baby and gives him up to a young woman who, by chance is stopped in the woods with a newborn baby of her own. Character development superb and the writer is truly gifted. Example- “my insides were tumbling like pebbles in a stream.” She is able to describe the beautiful, harsh landscape so that you feel that you are there. A must read!

anita r

unexpected surprises
I really liked and enjoyed reading Lucy By The Sea. Not at all complicated and was easy reading. Lucy was a bit manipulative but managed to get what she wanted. I personally think the author took Covid too far....I guess there would not be a story if she did otherwise. William was a little off-putting but still I liked his character, I do like the way the author phrases....to the point and short paragraphs. Now I will read O William and get a better handle on who William is.

Cathryn Conroy

A Lovely, Heartfelt, and Deeply Endearing Story That Is the Literary Equivalent of a Comfy Blanket
Oh, I just want to hug this book!

This is a lovely, heartfelt, deeply endearing story about the Covid lockdown as experienced by one of Elizabeth Strout's most beloved characters, Lucy Barton. And while each of us has our own unique story to tell about this unsettling time, somehow Lucy manages to speak for many of us about the isolation, fear, uncertainties, anxieties, disruption, and political unrest, as well as the newfound friendships, love, and personal growth that defined 2020 and 2021.

It's March 2020 and this strange, fearsome virus is making its presence known. Lucy is still reeling from the death a year ago of her beloved second husband, David, when her first husband, William, calls her and tells her in no uncertain terms that he is whisking her away from New York City to the wilds of coastal Maine to save her life. Lucy is confused. Figuring that William's odd trip to Maine with her in tow will last a few weeks at most, she packs only one small suitcase. The two rent a house and set up platonic housekeeping, while also trying to rescue their two married daughters, who live in New York City.

The heart and soul of the story is how Lucy and William adjust to the isolation, make new friends, and discover new things about themselves as individuals and each other as a couple. In addition to dealing with grief for those close to them who die of Covid, Lucy wrestles with being the mother to grown-up daughters who don't particularly need her, as well as horrifying memories of her terrible, abusive childhood.

But the most brilliant parts of the book are how Strout addresses the disparities of the lockdown—the ultimate haves vs. the have nots, as well as the vast and stark political differences of the country. Her prose should be read by everyone for a greater understanding of how "the other" thinks—no matter who "the other" is for you.

Written in Lucy's first-person voice, this ingenious novel reminds me of two friends conversing about the details of their day. It is filled with both joy and sorrow, and at times it is brutally raw with human emotion.

A really fun bonus: Characters from other Strout novels make appearances big and small, including Bob Burgess from "The Burgess Boys" and Olive Kitteridge from the "Olive Kitteridge" and "Olive, Again." While you can totally appreciate "Lucy by the Sea" as a standalone book without having read any of the others before it (it is fourth in the "Lucy Barton" series), it's a much richer experience if you know what comes previously.

This novel resonates with wisdom, insights, and a deep, almost visceral, understanding of what it means to be fully human. Reading this book is the literary equivalent of a soft, comfortable blanket. It will make you feel warm and good all over, knowing that even though we all felt so alone and lonely at the beginning of the Covid pandemic, we are not alone and lonely. We still have each other. And we still have Lucy Barton.

CarolT

The pandemic
Elizabeth Strout does it again, walking us through what the pandemic meant to those who could protect themselves early on. As always, the characters feel like someone I might actually know.

Divya Ann Mathew

Lucy by the Sea
Lucy by the Sea" by Elizabeth Strout delves into the delicate intricacies of the human experience, painting a poignant portrait of Lucy Barton as she navigates the early days of the pandemic. Strout, known for her exquisite prose, captures the essence of the human heart with a narrative that is both spare and crystalline.

In the throes of a world gripped by panic and lockdowns, Lucy finds herself abruptly uprooted from her life in Manhattan, transported to a small town in Maine by her enigmatic ex-husband and on-again, off-again friend, William. The setting, a modest house nestled against the moody, swirling sea, becomes the backdrop for a deeply introspective journey through their complex past.

The narrative, rich with empathy and emotion, skillfully encapsulates the fear and struggles inherent in isolation. Through Strout's lens, the reader witnesses the transformation of those long, quiet days—where uncertainty looms large—into a canvas of hope, peace, and possibilities. The storytelling is a masterful exploration of the human spirit, resilient in the face of adversity.

At its core, "Lucy by the Sea" weaves a tapestry of human connections—those profound ties that bind us, even when physical distance prevails. The narrative unearths the pain of witnessing a beloved daughter's suffering, the profound emptiness following the death of a loved one, the tentative promise of a new friendship, and the enduring comfort of an old, steadfast love.

Strout's ability to illuminate the depth of these relationships transforms the novel into a poignant meditation on the shared human experience. "Lucy by the Sea" is a testament to the enduring strength of the human spirit and the interconnectedness that sustains us, even in the most challenging of times.

...4 more reader reviews

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