Bittersweet and poignant.  Such a quirky little book!  

 

On one hand, it feels as though Lucy is sitting right beside me telling me her story. On the other hand, it feels as though I’m an interloper on her very personal thoughts. 

 

Lucy is a bit elusive, not quite friend or confidant.  She’s telling her story, much of which is incredibly personal, but all the while distant.  That juxtaposition between intimate and reserved compelled me to keep reading.  

 

Strout purposely keeps the story vague so as to draw you into your own conclusions.  Sometimes ambiguity doesn’t work well.  But in this case, it allows the ideal platform for reflection, both over Lucy’s circumstances and ones own.   

 

One of the things I loved most about Lucy was her ability to look past the past.  Rather than seeing people through her lens of old hurts, she sees them through a lens of kindness.  A lesson for us all.