On The Stroutverse part 2
(Catch up on part 1)
This week I have been completely immersed in Elizabeth Strout’s novels. Slowly connections are being made and I’m seeing other characters appear in other books. As in my previous ‘Stroutverse’ article, I’ll state the amount of times I’ve read the book, as I’ve been discovering that my perspective has changed over each reading.
Olive, Again (2019) – reading for the first time.
Olive, Again picks up where Olive Kitteridge left off: she is now living with her second husband and is coming to terms with her husband’s death, her own mortality and her fracturing relationship with her son, Christopher.
Although Olive Kitteridge does go into Olive’s character, here it goes even deeper. Olive comes out as a person who does not suffer fools and yet polite enough not to make it visible. She is a snob but tries to accept everything that comes her way. Deep down she is a person who has insecurities, and it is these aspects which make Olive, Again a delightful read. Thematically it’s not too dissimilar to the previous volume, Ageing being the central idea. As for canon there is a chapter dedicated Jim and Bob Burgess, which serves as a snapshot of what the brothers are doing with their lives. Although not as strong as Olive Kitteridge, Olive, Again is a strong follow up.
My Name is Lucy Barton (2016) – 4th Reading
My Name is Lucy Barton is quite an odd one for me. When I first read it for the Booker back in 2016, I could not see what the fuss was about. I was even bored in places. During the pandemic, I decided to give it a reread and I was struck by its brilliance. Subsequent rereads have revealed more details of this subtle novel.
It’s the 80’s and Lucy Barton in admitted to hospital, which turns out that she has something serious. While she’s in bed, her mother comes to visit. At this point in her life, she’s a few years into her marriage and has two young children.
In order to lighten the mood, Lucy’s mother tells her some anecdotes about the people in their neighbourhood. Most of these are sordid but they do make Lucy laugh. There are also pieces about Lucy’s childhood, her future and her relationship with her mother. Whereas Olive Kitteridge was a tapestry, My Name is Lucy Barton is like a scrapbook.
Whereas Olive Kitteridge was a tapestry, My Name is Lucy Barton is like a scrapbook.
What strikes me is Elizabeth Strout’s approach to the concept of a novel. Nothing is in chronological order but it’s easy to trace Lucy timeline. Each piece embodies a theme. Social class plays a central role in the book. Lucy was born poor and the people in her neighbourhood are on the same level. There’s also passages on gender, aging and parent/child relationships. I’ve now become used to these themes cropping up but I never tire of them. My name is Lucy Barton is a highpoint.
Anything is Possible (2017) – 3rd Reading
This is one of the few Elizabeth Strout books which has not grown on me, despite me reading it more than once. The structure is more like a short story collection. They do expand the universe which Strout has created but it’s more within Lucy Barton’s world. Many of these short stories are about the characters mentioned by Lucy’s mother in My Name in Lucy Barton but they are continuations of their lives, In my opinion it’s a bit inconsistent. Some stories are excellent while a couple are simply disappointing. The stand out is Sister. Lucy returns to Amgash to meet her siblings, and the trio reinforce their bond. It’s a touching story.
Mississippi Mary is another highlight, where a daughter visits her mother and second husband in Italy, only to find out that her mother is rejuvenated, to a point where roles are reversed. On the surface it’s a mother daughter bonding story but it also functions as a cautionary tale on how children should be considerate of their parents.
Oh William! (2021) – 2nd Read
The Booker shortlisted Oh William! Is more of a mystery. Here Lucy Barton teams up with her first husband William to discover his long-lost half-sister. As the couple reunite, Lucy realises what went wrong with their marriage. At first, she thought it was William’s fault but now she’s realising that she had a part as well. Another theme is mental illness, more PTSD through Willaim’s POW father. Then there are the usual Strout hallmarks: small town mentality and child/parental relationships. The strange thing is, say unlike Murakami, Strout’s trademark themes never descend into parody. I accept them and look forward to seeing how she’ll use them in her novels.
One of Elizabeth Strout’s skills is to create believable characters. Both Lucy and William are flawed. I think it’s what draws me to her work. That and the universe she is building. Once again, the Burgess boys do feature in Oh William! especially Bob’s ex-wife, Pam. There is also a brief mention of the priest in Strout’s second novel, Abide with Me.
With three more books left: Lucy by the Sea, Everything is Possible and Strout’s debut, Amy & Isabelle, the project is nearing completion. I’ll give my full views in a later feature, but I will say that reading Strout’s work has been quite an eye opening experience.
The final section of this three part summart of The Stroutverse.