Amy and Isabelle (4.5/5 and 3/5)
Abide With Me (3.5/5)
Olive Kitteridge (4/5 and 4.5/5)
The Burgess Boys (4/5)
My Name Is Lucy Barton (4/5 and 3/5)
Anything Is Possible (3/5)
Olive, Again (4.5/5 and 5/5)
Oh, William! (3.5/5)
Lucy By the Sea (4/5)
Tell Me Everything (4.5/5)
Toward the end of 2024, I decided to read all of Elizabeth Strout's books, as well as all of Maggie O'Farrell's. I was inspired to start these personal challenges in 2025 since I had so many unread books by both authors. Rather than pick up where I'd left off with Strout's collection of novels, I chose to start with her debut, re-reading it and any others I'd read in the past. I wound up enjoying Amy and Isabelle and My Name Is Lucy Barton better than my first encounters, but dropped my ratings for Olive Kitteridge and Olive, Again by half a point with those second readings. I read the last four in December, which made for a seamless experience in Olive & Lucy's worlds. I'm looking forward to Strout's upcoming release (The Things We Never Say), which is set in Massachusetts with a new cast of characters. (Publication date: May 5, 2026)
I'd not heard of Amy and Isabel. Good on you getting all the Strout books read as well as O'Farrell.
ReplyDeleteTina, it was her debut novel and the first time I read it, I didn't really care for it. However, the second time around, I thought it was excellent.
DeleteGood job. I think I've read all but 2 of her books: Abide With Me and Anything is Possible. I'm looking forward to her new novel. She seems to write quickly ... as her books are coming out pretty regularly, almost one a year or every other. I'm okay that her new novel has new characters. We will see.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Susan. Those two that you haven't read were just ok for me. I'm glad she writes quickly. It'll be fun to meet new characters in her new book.
DeleteI read Amy and Isabelle, too! Tho it didn't make it to my top reads, I did enjoy it. What a cool project.
ReplyDeleteCare, it was a fun little personal challenge! Amy and Isabelle didn't make my top picks for 2025, but it did land on my honorable mentions.
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