The protagonist, Lucy Barton, spends significant time with her first husband, William, after her second husband dies. She has no intention of getting back together with him. Still, she learns much about her life’s motivation and decisions as a younger person while discovering more about William and his background.
Lucy grew up poor and lived in an abusive household. Although she has become an accomplished author and is well-known throughout the country, she feels invisible. She hasn’t sorted out her psyche or figured out who she is. Having chosen William as a husband so many years ago seems key to her self-analysis.
Elizabeth Strout is such a fabulous writer. She packs so much into a relatively short novel. There are contrasts throughout the story about different lifestyles: urban/rural, privilege/poverty, love/rejection, and many more. As part of discussing Lucy’s feeling invisible due to her upbringing, she delves into the isolation and limited experiences that marked her childhood. She uses beautiful language to convey poignant themes about crying—or the gift of tears, and then betrayal, loneliness, and marital infidelity. Remarkable statements are also made about abandonment, leaving relationships abruptly, and the strangeness of life and choices. I was particularly struck by the insights into marriage, life partners, and family secrets.
