I always read more when traveling—evening TV never appeals when I’m away from home—but I also read differently. When possible—that is when it isn’t going to be impossible to get books I can read without a dictionary—I try to buy a book at my destination, so I can match my mood in the moment.
Elizabeth Strout… I loved and still love Amy and Isabelle, My Name is Lucy Barton, The Burgess Boys, Olive Again. Anything is Possible. Oh William. All except Lucy by the Sea and Tell Me Everything. I still don’t understand what happened there.
Thank you, Christine! Question: do you think it would be best to approach them chronologically? I know that there are recurring characters and settings…
Jumping in here! Just to say, you don't have to, but I think the Lucy ones are best read in order as you really get the sense of who she is and where she's come from in My Name is Lucy Barton. The others featuring her then make more sense. Funnily enough, one of my favourites is Lucy by the Sea! But I couldn't get into Oh William!
I didn’t read them chronologically. I read them as they came up in my life.
I received Olive Kitteridge as a gift. I loved the writing so much that Elizabeth Strout’s name was imprinted in my brain. I found My Name is Lucy Barton and Anything is Possible in a used book store. I read them in that order, not knowing that they were related.
I discovered Amy and Isabelle much later. The order in which I read them didn’t matter. Discovering the past afterwards was quite interesting and made a lot of sense to me, especially in these stories.
I am very happy with the order in which the book arrived in my reading life.
Looking forward to reading The Things We Never Say soon. I don’t plan for slow reading periods, but I have stopped fighting them when they occur. In May, I had a slower reading month. I decided to just accept it and see if I got back into it more in June, and sure enough, I did.
I so resonate with the hectic summers of the past with young kids, Petya! I have just reached the point where summers are opening up as my kids are older, and can finally see summers of reading becoming available to me! 📚
As for the reading...thank you so much again for sending me the Strout! I'm glad you tried her. But I have to say...I found this one SO SAD 😞 like, to the point that, one weekend, I couldn't figure out why I felt so low until I realised I was thinking about the book! Maybe it's being married to a schoolteacher (as I know you are) and being a bit younger than the characters, but I found it so tragic. I also found it much more political than her other books, which was a bit much for me. My favourite of hers (other than the two Olives) are My Name is Lucy Barton (fantastic one-woman reading on Libby by Laura Linney!) And Lucy by the Sea.
I just posted about what I read on holiday too. I find being outside my usual routine means I read a lot less. It takes me a few days to settle and find where the pockets of time where I can read.
I’m intrigued by the latest strout novel, I’ve read a lot of her books in the past and the more recent ones I’ve found a bit of a slog to get through. I wonder whether my fomo will get to me enough to read it!
I have only read Olive and it's been a while but I definitely remember just DEVOURING it and with this one I could tell that it was the same master at work but ... a lesser book. I would be curious to hear more from other people who know her entire body of work to say what they thought of it too but it doesn't seem like this one is hitting people in the same way.
Also - I know that if I wait for best times and perfect routines, I would never read ... BUT... just like you, I read best when I am in my most regular daily life.
I agree!!! I loved re-reading the earlier books, they felt freshly relevant to me applied to a new context. Also, obviously… his notebooks make me drool. 🤤
I will! I really liked the ~80 pages I read but it required more focused attention that I could give it on that trip. When we travel in Europe, we visit my family and it's always super emotionally taxing for me. I am just realizing that it's not all travel that makes reading hard for me, it's that particular trip that needs a lot from me and given that I like "hard" books, it just doesn't work in that context. But I will read it, for sure.
I understand completely what you are saying. When I would visit family, I couldn't even read at the rare times I was alone. You just have to sit and be still. Of course you'll read it - but it does require that focus you rightly speak of. I just hoped you would because it is one of the greats. And you will appreciate all the nuance about relationships. Be well, Petya!
During my last vacation I started reading a lot more, I think it is easier to find some time to read when I’m on that relaxed mood instead of trying to fit a few pages between work and stuff.
The Elizabeth Strout’s one hit close to home for me too. I see my parents on it. Something about a thirty-year marriage with an unspoken distance running under it, that’s the kind of quiet devastation that’s hard to shake off after you close the book.
100%. I recently came across a piece on “Silver Divorce” I think they are calling it… there’s a lot of sadness and loneliness in marriage but earlier generations felt especially trapped in it.
Many thanks for introducing the idea of making peace with/not fighting one's own life as it relates to reading. As a first-time parent to a newborn, I am humbled with both how expansive (more awake time=more reading opportunities) and limited (very limited cognitive ability during all that awake time) this season of life has been. I've never been one to read multiple books at once, but that has felt very liberating this year. I'm reading War and Peace (Simon Haisell's slow read), Lolita, and Fat Swim.
My TBR pile includes On Morrison, Matrescence, Notes on Surviving the Fire, To the Realization of Perfect Helplessness, and Stoneyard Devotional. I couldn't get enough of romance/romantasy last year but have cooled off on that for now. For me, I will forever chase the feeling of a) reading in the car as a kid on long (10hr+ drives) to visit my extended family and b) the feeling of surreptitiously staying up after bedtime and reading Horse Girl books by the light of my lava lamp.
Oh my gosh. You are a rockstar for reading so much with a newborn!!! After I gave birth, I don’t think I read anything for 2 years. (I am sure I read SOME… but not with any consistency). I so wish I could turn back time, ask for better post-partum support… and spend more time outside on long stroller walks with an audiobook on. Alas.
I love your reading list and I am OBSESSED with your reading memories… so vivid. The second one about the Horse Girl books made me laugh out loud.
Loved and Missed is one of my current reads and like always, I thank you for the recommendation! Austin's books are so inspiring as a creative, I picked them up at an airport a few years ago and read them during a flight from Austin to LA and got off the plane feeling majorly energized. I should check out the newest one soon.
I love your newsletters so much. Thank you for reminding me about Austin Kleon!
Oh my gosh, Laura! Thank you so much!
I always read more when traveling—evening TV never appeals when I’m away from home—but I also read differently. When possible—that is when it isn’t going to be impossible to get books I can read without a dictionary—I try to buy a book at my destination, so I can match my mood in the moment.
I am jealous and so excited for you! Do you have any fun travel plans for this summer?
ordering the Frida Kahlo bio immediately! x
It’s incredible!!! I hope you love it!
Me too :)
Elizabeth Strout… I loved and still love Amy and Isabelle, My Name is Lucy Barton, The Burgess Boys, Olive Again. Anything is Possible. Oh William. All except Lucy by the Sea and Tell Me Everything. I still don’t understand what happened there.
Thank you, Christine! Question: do you think it would be best to approach them chronologically? I know that there are recurring characters and settings…
Jumping in here! Just to say, you don't have to, but I think the Lucy ones are best read in order as you really get the sense of who she is and where she's come from in My Name is Lucy Barton. The others featuring her then make more sense. Funnily enough, one of my favourites is Lucy by the Sea! But I couldn't get into Oh William!
Ok!!! And I don’t know if you saw but I fully credit you for this idea. It looks like my tag fell off in the post somehow.
Have you read the new one yet?
Yes! Just responded (a longwinded reply…) in the main comments section!
It doesn’t really matter because, like you said, Strout is very skillful at pushing the story forward while moving between past and present…
I really think most readers who appreciate her style will have a special experience no matter how they approach the books.
I loved Lucy by the Sea but couldn't finish Tell Me Everything...I just found it so overwhelmingly sad.
I didn’t read them chronologically. I read them as they came up in my life.
I received Olive Kitteridge as a gift. I loved the writing so much that Elizabeth Strout’s name was imprinted in my brain. I found My Name is Lucy Barton and Anything is Possible in a used book store. I read them in that order, not knowing that they were related.
I discovered Amy and Isabelle much later. The order in which I read them didn’t matter. Discovering the past afterwards was quite interesting and made a lot of sense to me, especially in these stories.
I am very happy with the order in which the book arrived in my reading life.
I will go through my shelves and see what I already have at home!
Hope your trip was great. I stopped in at Novel the other day and thought of you.
Texting you about lunch!
Looking forward to reading The Things We Never Say soon. I don’t plan for slow reading periods, but I have stopped fighting them when they occur. In May, I had a slower reading month. I decided to just accept it and see if I got back into it more in June, and sure enough, I did.
Yeah… the more you fight it, the worse it feels. Let me know what you think of this book.
I so resonate with the hectic summers of the past with young kids, Petya! I have just reached the point where summers are opening up as my kids are older, and can finally see summers of reading becoming available to me! 📚
As for the reading...thank you so much again for sending me the Strout! I'm glad you tried her. But I have to say...I found this one SO SAD 😞 like, to the point that, one weekend, I couldn't figure out why I felt so low until I realised I was thinking about the book! Maybe it's being married to a schoolteacher (as I know you are) and being a bit younger than the characters, but I found it so tragic. I also found it much more political than her other books, which was a bit much for me. My favourite of hers (other than the two Olives) are My Name is Lucy Barton (fantastic one-woman reading on Libby by Laura Linney!) And Lucy by the Sea.
I don’t know if this will mean anything to you… but Artie really reminded me of Tim Waltz (the politician).
I didn't know he was! I have just looked him up.
I've loved Austin's work for a long time. He's just so clever and seems so cool. I'm glad you were able to do some summer traveling and reading!
I hope you had a lovely holiday!
I just posted about what I read on holiday too. I find being outside my usual routine means I read a lot less. It takes me a few days to settle and find where the pockets of time where I can read.
I’m intrigued by the latest strout novel, I’ve read a lot of her books in the past and the more recent ones I’ve found a bit of a slog to get through. I wonder whether my fomo will get to me enough to read it!
I have only read Olive and it's been a while but I definitely remember just DEVOURING it and with this one I could tell that it was the same master at work but ... a lesser book. I would be curious to hear more from other people who know her entire body of work to say what they thought of it too but it doesn't seem like this one is hitting people in the same way.
Also - I know that if I wait for best times and perfect routines, I would never read ... BUT... just like you, I read best when I am in my most regular daily life.
I agree!!! I loved re-reading the earlier books, they felt freshly relevant to me applied to a new context. Also, obviously… his notebooks make me drool. 🤤
I hope you give Middlemarch another chance. It's a superb book.
I will! I really liked the ~80 pages I read but it required more focused attention that I could give it on that trip. When we travel in Europe, we visit my family and it's always super emotionally taxing for me. I am just realizing that it's not all travel that makes reading hard for me, it's that particular trip that needs a lot from me and given that I like "hard" books, it just doesn't work in that context. But I will read it, for sure.
I understand completely what you are saying. When I would visit family, I couldn't even read at the rare times I was alone. You just have to sit and be still. Of course you'll read it - but it does require that focus you rightly speak of. I just hoped you would because it is one of the greats. And you will appreciate all the nuance about relationships. Be well, Petya!
During my last vacation I started reading a lot more, I think it is easier to find some time to read when I’m on that relaxed mood instead of trying to fit a few pages between work and stuff.
Enjoy every little second of that and hold the memory of it in you so you can access that peaceful state of mind when things get crazy.
The Elizabeth Strout’s one hit close to home for me too. I see my parents on it. Something about a thirty-year marriage with an unspoken distance running under it, that’s the kind of quiet devastation that’s hard to shake off after you close the book.
100%. I recently came across a piece on “Silver Divorce” I think they are calling it… there’s a lot of sadness and loneliness in marriage but earlier generations felt especially trapped in it.
“Divorce is worse than death.” I heard that one a lot growing up. That generational trap is exactly it. Strout portrays it better than almost anyone.”
Many thanks for introducing the idea of making peace with/not fighting one's own life as it relates to reading. As a first-time parent to a newborn, I am humbled with both how expansive (more awake time=more reading opportunities) and limited (very limited cognitive ability during all that awake time) this season of life has been. I've never been one to read multiple books at once, but that has felt very liberating this year. I'm reading War and Peace (Simon Haisell's slow read), Lolita, and Fat Swim.
My TBR pile includes On Morrison, Matrescence, Notes on Surviving the Fire, To the Realization of Perfect Helplessness, and Stoneyard Devotional. I couldn't get enough of romance/romantasy last year but have cooled off on that for now. For me, I will forever chase the feeling of a) reading in the car as a kid on long (10hr+ drives) to visit my extended family and b) the feeling of surreptitiously staying up after bedtime and reading Horse Girl books by the light of my lava lamp.
Oh my gosh. You are a rockstar for reading so much with a newborn!!! After I gave birth, I don’t think I read anything for 2 years. (I am sure I read SOME… but not with any consistency). I so wish I could turn back time, ask for better post-partum support… and spend more time outside on long stroller walks with an audiobook on. Alas.
I love your reading list and I am OBSESSED with your reading memories… so vivid. The second one about the Horse Girl books made me laugh out loud.
Loved and Missed is one of my current reads and like always, I thank you for the recommendation! Austin's books are so inspiring as a creative, I picked them up at an airport a few years ago and read them during a flight from Austin to LA and got off the plane feeling majorly energized. I should check out the newest one soon.
That’s the best feeling. His work is so encouraging and liberating. It’s the highest compliment.
Oh, I have my travel/vacation books picked out before the tickets are purchased!!
lol. my people.