It seems as if just about everyone has been reading this book this year, and I, as so often, came rather late to the party. Longlisted for this year’s Booker Prize – My Name is Lucy Barton was also hugely popular with readers. It is a novel I have been told by others will make it on to their books of the year list – that’s a lot to live up to, and yes, I enjoyed it a lot but it hasn’t made my end of year list (it seems I have read a lot of superb books this year) – which I shall post tomorrow, if I get my act together. Still, this novel is deserving of all the accolades it has received, I loved the restrained, subtlety of the writing, and was impressed with how much is actually going on in less than 200 pages, when, on the surface there is little plot.
In part, My Name is Lucy Barton is a story of mothers and daughters, though it is also much more than that. It is a story of memory, of how the past shapes us, moulding us to who we become, and it is hard to shake that off.
“Lonely was the first flavour I had tasted in my life, and it was always there, hidden inside the crevices of my mouth, reminding me.”
Lucy herself narrates the story, she recalls a time, now many years in the past when she was confined to a hospital bed for several weeks. Her husband was left at home with their two daughters. Lucy has been living in New York for some years, since before her marriage, and it has been years since she has seen her mother, who she left behind her in Amgash, Illinois. One day while lying in her hospital bed with its view of the Chrysler building, Lucy wakes to find her mother sat by her bed. For several days, her mother stays with her constantly, refusing offers of a cot bed next to her daughter she takes occasional naps in the chair. Lucy loves just hearing the sound of her mother’s voice, there is comfort in her presence, in hearing herself called by her old pet name.
The two gossip lightly about the people from Lucy’s childhood, and as they talk the memories of Lucy’s poverty stricken childhood return. For many years, Lucy and her family, her parents, brother and sister lived in an unheated garage at the side of an uncle’s house. The children were singled out for ridicule at school. Lucy grew up not really knowing true affection – instead she remembers the terror of being locked in a car while her parents were away from the house. She also remembers with what appears to be great affection, the landscape of her childhood, even claiming to have been able to hear the corn growing in the fields.
“At times these days I think of the way the sun would set on the farmland around our small house in the autumn. A view of the horizon, the whole entire circle of it, if you turned, the sun setting behind you, the sky in front becoming pink and soft, then slightly blue again, as though it could not stop going on in its beauty, then the land closest to the setting sun would get dark, almost black against the orange line of horizon, but if you turn around, the land is still available to the eye with such softness, the few trees, the quiet fields of cover crops already turned, and the sky lingering, lingering, then finally dark. As though the soul can be quiet for those moments. All life amazes me.”
Lucy remembers a time when she was tempted to run up to a stranger in town and ask for help – there were bad things happening in her home. Lucy’s childhood wasn’t a happy one, we gradually get a sense of what a relief her eventual escape was. We also learn about the very different life she had afterwards, marriage, motherhood and her ambition to write. By the time her mother is sat by her hospital bed Lucy has published a couple of stories in a literary journal. Her life as an aspiring writer in 1980s New York, is set against a backdrop of the AIDS epidemic, Lucy has seen the gaunt young men already touched by the disease walking through her neighbourhood.
With this novel Strout acknowledges the complexities which exist within fragile families, while Lucy is comforted by her mother’s presence, there is also an underlying tension. So much unsaid between the two women tells the real story of their relationship.
I have heard so much – on the old booky grapevine the last couple of years about Elizabeth Strout, I’m glad I finally paid attention. I also have Olive Kitteridge on my bookcase waiting, a few months ago, a young assistant in Waterstone’s was so enthusiastic about it I couldn’t not buy it. Judging by this excellent novel, beautifully and subtly written and so astutely and truthfully observed, I have a lot to look forward to with Elizabeth Strout’s other novels.
I’ve yet to read this author but hope to give her a try in the not too distant future, probably with Olive Kitteridge as I already have a copy at home. The writing sounds excellent, powerful in an understated way. Lovely review as ever, Ali.
Thank you. It is the kind of writing that I really like.
It’s on my best of the year list – I’m amazed it didn’t get shortlisted or even win the Booker. I haven’t read Olive Kitteridge but must do so soon. Thanks for the reminder of how great it is.
Really looking forward to Olive Kitteridge, something about that one appeals to me even more.
Glad to hear that you enjoyed this, Ali. I’m a huge Strout fan – it’s that ‘restrained subtlety’ that you picked out coupled with empathy which works so well. Like Harriet, I was disappointed not to see it win at least one prize.
Yes it would certainly have deserved some prize or other, the writing is very good indeed.
I really enjoyed Lucy Barton though if I had to choose I think I enjoyed Olive Kitteridge even more – she’s one of those rare book characters who you ought to dislike intensely but who still gets you on her side!
Ooh well you have me intrigued now. Looking forward to reading Olive Kitteridge even more now.
I am so glad that you enjoyed this. It appears that I am the last to the party, however, for I still have not read this or any book by the author. My Name Is Lucy Barton is on my short list, as it showed up on a couple of award lists that I tend to read through. Thanks for the review.
Oh good I really hope you enjoy My Name is Lucy Barton too, I’m sure you will I can’t really imagine someone not liking it.
Lovely review Ali – sounds like a modern book that’s worth reading! 🙂
Yes it is. 😁 Have just started another novel from this year that I can already recommend I think too – Mothering Sunday by Graham Swift .
I’ve enjoyed Elizabeth Strout’s books in the past but I have yet to read this one. Thank you for reminding me about it.
Oh good, hope you enjoy this one too.
I am a big fan of Elizabeth Strout, but haven’t read this one yet. I think I will use my Barnes and Noble gift certificate to buy it! Thanks for the review.
Oh lovely, guilt free book shopping. Enjoy.
How odd, I was sure I’ve read Olive Kitteridge, but there’s no review on my blog!
Oh, maybe it reminds you of something else?
I enjoyed it this novel but liked Olive Kitteridge much more. I see in the comments that you are reading Mothering Sunday, I loved that book definitely on my list of best reads this year. Enjoy 😊
Oh great, another recommendation for Olive Kitteridge. Looking forward to it.
I’ve read one of Elizabeth Strout’s other books, The Burgess Boys, and although I didn’t really enjoy that particular book I did like the writing and have been wondering whether to read another one. Most people seem to have liked this one, so maybe I should give it a try!
I think a friend of mine recommended The Burgess Boys to me. I will read Olive Kitteridge first.
Reblogged this on Tayoulevy’s Weblog.
[…] My Name is Lucy Barton is a novel I kept hearing about since early in the year, it was my first by the author Elizabeth Strout but it certainly won’t be my last. […]
Superb review… Im keen to reread this again this year (READ TWICE LAST YEAR) AS YES SUCH NUANCED SUBTLE WRITING… SORRY NO IDEA WHY MY TEXT IS SHOUTING… TABLET OBVIOUSLY AGREES IT’S A FAB BOOK
😂 glad you loved it Poppy. I’m very keen to read more by Elizabeth Strout now.
Loved it! I didn’t put it on my Best of list either, but on another day I might have.
Yes exactly. Looking forward to reading more by Elizabeth Strout now.
I yet to read this author, although I do own one of her books and have tow of them, including this one on my list to read. I appreciate your lovely articulate review. I am feeling quite driven at the moment to finally pick this up.
Oh good, I hope you enjoy it.
Beautiful in-depth review! I’m reading Anything is Possible right now and I love how it fills in so many of the holes I was desperately yearning to learn more about after reading this book.
Thank you, I have been meaning to read more Elizabeth Strout, but I hadn’t heard of Anything is Possible.
It just came out. It’s fabulous. I’m liking it even more than Lucy Barton. It’s told in short stories like Olive Kitteridge. Having read your review of Lucy Barton, I think you would really love it.
Thanks for the recommendation. I still have Olive Kitteridge to read too. I may actually read it soon.
[…] Kitteridge is the second Elizabeth Strout novel I have read, My Name is Lucy Barton was the first, and while I enjoyed that novel, this one makes me want to read everything she has […]