Rachel Reviews: My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout

I can see why this book was longlisted for the Booker Prize in 2016. It is a quiet story but it has depth in terms of the subjects it examines through Lucy's story. It is also a curious book, which is my way of saying that I've not quite got a handle on it and it's left me thoughtful after reading it. I say this because I'm not sure whether I like it or not, whether I fully accessed it or not.

You probably won't be surprised to learn that the story is about Lucy Barton and it starts with Lucy being in hospital with a mystery illness which is keeping her temperature high and reducing her to skin and bone. She is married with a husband, William and has two little girls, who she adores. When she wakes up one day and discovers her mother at the end of the bed, she is thrilled as she has not seen her mother for years. However, we discover that Lucy's relationship with her mother may not be the wholesome one that it appears at first glance.

Lucy's stay in hospital is related retrospectively but acts as a prompt for her to explore her past and we learn about her upbringing in pieces as the narrative progresses. It was hard in many ways and the flashbacks she relates to us show some of the worst moments.

She also gives us a window into her life now and her marriage to William which changes during her time in hospital: he doesn't like hospitals, his father having died in one when he was 14 and so he rarely visits her in her time there.

We move beyond her hospital stay as well to where she is now and her life is very different. The reasons for this are dripped throughout the narrative. I like this style of narrative where pieces are dropped, non-sequentially. It requires you as a reader to pay attention, to keep track.

And what about Lucy herself? She's an interesting character. I think I could probably write an analysis on her alone that would be longer than this review. She's intelligent and observant and strong but there's a sadness to her that reaches into you as a reader, creating sympathy, pity, irritation? I'm not sure which. Maybe all three and more besides.

An interesting read, easy and accessible but not light by any means.

Rachel Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐