- Date Published:
2022 - Length:
304 pages—Listening Time: 8 hrs 22 minutes - Genre:
Fiction - Setting:
2000-Present day, Maine with some scenes in New York - Awards:
BookTube Prize Octofinalist in Fiction 2023; Booklist Editors' Choice Adult Audio 2022; Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee Fiction 2022; The Writers' Prize Shortlist Fiction 2023; NPR: Books We Love 2022; The New York Times Notable Books of the Year Fiction/Poetry 2022; San Francisco Chronicle Best Book of the Year Fiction 2022; LibraryReads Monthly Pick Hall of Fame September 2022 - Language:
English, Translated into 8 other languages: Albanian, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Latin and Spanish - Sensitive Aspects:
Divorce, COVID-19, COVID deaths, sickness, quarantine, anxieties of the pandemic - Movie:
Currently only available in its original novel format - Recommend for Book Club:
Yes, for groups that enjoy real life fiction
My husband and I were in Mexico when the COVID-19 pandemic began. For several years before, we had been housesitting throughout Mexico, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Since we were accustomed to caring for homes and pets while their owners were away, we rarely socialized and instead chose to spend our spare time exploring the new areas as tourists.
At the onset of the pandemic, for us, the most significant hurdle was locating face masks. Stores and all forms of public transportation required face masks, but we lacked the proficiency in Spanish to call a pharmacy and arrange for delivery, plus every store seemed to be sold out. We used bandanas until our housekeeper graciously crafted masks for us.
We couldn't get the vaccine in Mexico because we weren't citizens or legal residents. We had to go to a small Sierra Madres town to get vaccinated.
We were horrified by the news from the US, and even when friends and family got sick, it didn't seem real. When a family member and two local friends died, we were sad. But still, for us, quarantining was no big deal. We had become accustomed to being isolated, and we were in beautiful settings. We were blessed.
It wasn't until I read Lucy By The Sea by Elizabeth Strout a few months ago that I fully grasped what people in the US endured during the pandemic, especially those in New York City.
Lucy by the Sea is the fourth novel in Elizabeth Strout’s Lucy Barton series, following the beloved character Lucy Barton as she navigates the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently widowed and still grieving the loss of her second husband, Lucy is persuaded by her ex-husband, William, to leave New York City for the safety of a remote house in coastal Maine.
As the pandemic begins, William, a scientist, foresees the dangers and convinces Lucy to join him in isolation, away from the city’s looming threat. They settle into a friend’s vacant house by the sea in the small town of Crosby, Maine, expecting only a brief stay. However, as the pandemic worsens, their weeks turn into months of enforced quarantine.
Lucy and William’s relationship is central to the novel. Though divorced for nearly twenty years, they share a complicated history and two adult daughters, Becka and Chrissy. The pandemic compels them to confront old wounds and adapt to living together again. Their daughters’ well-being becomes a source of anxiety, especially as Becka experiences marital trouble and both daughters participate in Black Lives Matter protests, adding layers of worry for Lucy.
Isolation in Maine brings both challenges and unexpected comforts. Lucy and William face suspicion from locals who view them as outsiders, but they also form new friendships, notably with Bob Burgess, a recurring character from Strout’s other works. As seasons change, Lucy finds solace in daily routines, the natural beauty around her, and the gradual rekindling of her relationship with William.
The story also touches on broader societal upheavals, including the murder of George Floyd and the resulting protests, which Lucy and William observe from afar, deepening Lucy’s sense of disconnection and concern for her daughters as well as the rest of the world.
Like most of Strout's novels, Lucy By the Sea is structured with interconnected vignettes that reveal deep emotional truths through small, everyday moments. This book has been praised for its compassionate insight into grief, survival, and the search for connection in times of crisis.
During the COVID-19 epidemic, each of us became deeply engrossed with our fear and coping mechanisms. Each of us carries unique stories about how we managed the crisis. I watched the news and read many stories of sorrow and loss, but this book gutted me with the emotions that other people suffered during the days of the virus. It made a profound impact on me. It is my favorite book in the series so far.
Here are a few reasons you should read this book:
Deep Empathy and Emotional Clarity
Strout’s writing allows readers to connect deeply with Lucy Barton’s internal world as she navigates isolation, uncertainty, and the complexities of relationships during crisis.
A Unique Perspective on the Pandemic
The novel offers a vivid, personal account of living through the pandemic, capturing the fear, loneliness, and hope that characterized those uncertain times. Strout incorporates significant events from 2020, such as the Black Lives Matter protests, making the book a time capsule of recent history. For anyone seeking to process or reflect on the pandemic era, this novel provides both catharsis and insight.
Intimate, Relatable Characters
Strout’s characters, especially Lucy and her ex-husband William, are morally complex and achingly human. Their flaws and vulnerabilities are rendered with compassion, inviting readers to reflect on forgiveness, acceptance, and the enduring bonds of family. The relationships depicted are nuanced, and the book explores how people cope with loss, change, and the need for connection.
Distinctive Narrative Voice
Readers are drawn into Lucy's thoughts and emotions through her first-person, almost stream-of-consciousness narration, which creates an intimate, diary-like reading experience. This voice is both comforting and thought-provoking, often prompting readers to question their own feelings and assumptions.
Accessible Standalone Story
Although Lucy by the Sea is the fourth book featuring Lucy Barton, it can be read and enjoyed on its own, more so than the other four. Strout provides enough context for new readers, while longtime fans will appreciate the continuity and depth added by previous novels.
Exploration of Universal Themes
The novel grapples with themes of loneliness, resilience, memory, and the search for identity and connection. Strout’s deceptively simple prose touches on profound questions about what it means to be human, especially in times of crisis.
Atmospheric Setting
I've never been to Maine, but this book made me feel like I have. Set in a small coastal town in Maine, the book offers a vivid sense of place, with both its idyllic charms and its insular challenges. The setting enhances the story’s mood of isolation and reflection, making it especially appealing for readers who enjoy atmospheric fiction.
Get Elizabeth Strout Books
Emotionally brilliant! You'll want to read every word this masterful writer has ever penned.
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It's a given that I'm going to recommend that you read the entire Lucy Barton 5-book series as well as Olive Kitteridge and Olive, Again. Here are a few more books I think you'll enjoy if you are a Lucy Barton fan.
Books Similar to Lucy by the Sea
- Tom Lake by Ann Patchett: Explores family, memory, and the passage of time with Patchett’s signature warmth and insight.
- Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng: Although this was not one of my favorites, it is a poignant story about family, resilience, and the power of storytelling in a troubled society.
- James by Percival Everett: A reimagining of a classic American tale, focusing on the inner life and journey of its protagonist.
- Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano: A moving portrait of family, love, and forgiveness, reminiscent of Strout’s emotional depth.
- Sandwich by Catherine Newman: A novel about family, change, and the bittersweet nature of life’s transitions.
- Night Boat to Tangier by Kevin Barry: Noted for its strong narrative voice and exploration of relationships and memory.
- Where the Forest Meets the River by Shannon Bowring: Recommended for fans of Strout, this novel crafts lifelike characters and a strong sense of place.
- How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz: An endearing portrait of a fierce, funny woman navigating life’s challenges.
- This Strange Eventful History by Claire Messud: An expansive, multigenerational family story, beautifully written and character-driven.
Additional Recommendations
- The Wren, The Wren by Anne Enright: A poetically told Irish novel about a mother and daughter.
- Sam by Allegra Goodman: A surprisingly touching coming-of-age story.
- Last House by Jessica Shattuck: A sweeping, multigenerational American family saga.
- Beautiful Dreamers by Minrose Gwin: A family’s unraveling set on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in the 1950s.
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