Recording Lives
"Love comes in so many different forms, but it is always love. If it is love, then it is love."
I hope one day to catch up on all Elizabeth Strout's work. I have enjoyed the last few releases and love her down-to-earth characters and the relationships they wrap themselves in. With "Tell Me Everything" she brings her two most well-known characters together, Lucy Barton and Olive Kitteridge. These two remarkable women are centerpieces in earlier acclaimed novels-- but we have a new star here, Bob Burgess. He has been present in a few of the books, but here, well, the very first line tells us, 'This is the story of Bob Burgess.'
"He thought: God, we are all so alone. BUT--LUCY. SHE DID not make him feel alone."
Right away Olive and Lucy are brought together. Olive has discovered that Lucy is a writer and wants to share an unusual story with her. The two exchange stories over time, with a general theme being the mysteries of 'unrecorded lives." What is the point of an unfulfilled life?
Now Bob and Lucy have been the closest of friends for a while. They each love their respective partners, but find immense satisfaction with their walks, their communications. There never seems to be any sort of jealousy from the partners. Bob's wife is a minister who encourages the friendship. Lucy lives with her ex-husband, William (of the "Oh, William" book), who feels completely comfortable confiding in Bob. Lucy and Bob's relationship serves to fill in gaping holes from home, holes preventing a fulfillment each one craves.
"It makes me glad to be with you, Lucy. You give me a break from... well, you know, life."
More than once, the topic of "sin eater" arises. Bob is clearly the sin eater. He is the ultimate nice guy. He takes the death of his brother's wife as hard as his brother does and accepts the burden of mending their family's conflicts. Despite his recent relative inactivity as a lawyer, he is compelled to defend a hopelessly misunderstood client accused of murdering his own mother. Anytime someone is struck by disaster, Bob rushes to their side. This admirable trait takes a heavy toll.
The obvious question to be answered is, can Bob and Lucy's relationship rest in its platonic state? "I'm just so glad you're in my life," she said. And he said, "Me too." They repeat these sentiments often. One version would have them run away together-- but at what cost? Bob wonders if this might cause his wife to die, if William, even, might die. Another version would line them up as candidates in one of Lucy and Olive's "unrecorded lives."
This is the skeleton of the story, but it does not convey how Elizabeth Strout connects her characters in deeply realistic tapestries. The interpersonal relationships are authentic and thought-provoking. She is a master of these complexities, "Olive Kitteridge" having won the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. It is always a delight to return to this world.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
"Love comes in so many different forms, but it is always love. If it is love, then it is love."
I hope one day to catch up on all Elizabeth Strout's work. I have enjoyed the last few releases and love her down-to-earth characters and the relationships they wrap themselves in. With "Tell Me Everything" she brings her two most well-known characters together, Lucy Barton and Olive Kitteridge. These two remarkable women are centerpieces in earlier acclaimed novels-- but we have a new star here, Bob Burgess. He has been present in a few of the books, but here, well, the very first line tells us, 'This is the story of Bob Burgess.'
"He thought: God, we are all so alone. BUT--LUCY. SHE DID not make him feel alone."
Right away Olive and Lucy are brought together. Olive has discovered that Lucy is a writer and wants to share an unusual story with her. The two exchange stories over time, with a general theme being the mysteries of 'unrecorded lives." What is the point of an unfulfilled life?
Now Bob and Lucy have been the closest of friends for a while. They each love their respective partners, but find immense satisfaction with their walks, their communications. There never seems to be any sort of jealousy from the partners. Bob's wife is a minister who encourages the friendship. Lucy lives with her ex-husband, William (of the "Oh, William" book), who feels completely comfortable confiding in Bob. Lucy and Bob's relationship serves to fill in gaping holes from home, holes preventing a fulfillment each one craves.
"It makes me glad to be with you, Lucy. You give me a break from... well, you know, life."
More than once, the topic of "sin eater" arises. Bob is clearly the sin eater. He is the ultimate nice guy. He takes the death of his brother's wife as hard as his brother does and accepts the burden of mending their family's conflicts. Despite his recent relative inactivity as a lawyer, he is compelled to defend a hopelessly misunderstood client accused of murdering his own mother. Anytime someone is struck by disaster, Bob rushes to their side. This admirable trait takes a heavy toll.
The obvious question to be answered is, can Bob and Lucy's relationship rest in its platonic state? "I'm just so glad you're in my life," she said. And he said, "Me too." They repeat these sentiments often. One version would have them run away together-- but at what cost? Bob wonders if this might cause his wife to die, if William, even, might die. Another version would line them up as candidates in one of Lucy and Olive's "unrecorded lives."
This is the skeleton of the story, but it does not convey how Elizabeth Strout connects her characters in deeply realistic tapestries. The interpersonal relationships are authentic and thought-provoking. She is a master of these complexities, "Olive Kitteridge" having won the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. It is always a delight to return to this world.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
