Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout

We return to the setting of Elizabeth Strout's previous books in Maine, and this time focus on Bob Burgess and Lucy Barton along with a few other well-known characters like Olive Kitteridge.

Wow, what an incredible writer Elizabeth Strout is! Her prose reminds me of Anne Tyler but really she is in a class of her own - absolutely brilliant and I loved every page of it. I want to reread all the previous ones now. Very VERY highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

I absolutely adore Elizabeth Strout and was so excited (and grateful) when my ARC request was accepted. Here, the focus is on the many of the old favourites from Strout's stories: The Burgess brothers, Lucy Barton, Olive Kitteridge, and more. The novel focuses, specifically, on Bob Burgess, living up in Maine, and his close friendship with Lucy Barton, well-known writer. Of course, others play a significant role - such as curmudgeon Olive K, living in a residential facility, and in many ways, her depiction is the strongest of all the characters. Strout doesn't have to write much to create a brilliant character. This, I feel, is one of the most important features of good writing.

Strout's books deal with real life and real people. In 'Tell Me Everything', there is definitely a more melancholy, sometimes tragic feel compared to in some other books. The whole situation with Matt Beech, and his mother Gloria, for one - plus what happens to Jim Burgess' son, Larry, and Bob's wistfulness. Olive comments how she really liked Jim - 'He was real. Not easy to find someone who is real.' Later, she comments how she will miss '... the way the world is these days...' when she's dead. Bob comments to Mrs Hasselbeck (great name!) have what she tells him (about having an affair) is '... just life...' Strout has a superb knack of doing a lot with very little, which is no mean feat.

I love Strout's books and when I start reading them, I feel the familiar comfort of a nice warm blanket - familiar, cosy - but also, there are some bitter-sweet moments, things happen that can be quite unexpected. My only small criticism is there is slight over-reliance on writing things like 'Bob wanted to tell Olive this, that's what he thought, so he said it' (this is made-up - but Strout does tend to do this quite often). However, aside from this minor irritation, I loved 'Tell Me Everything' and I am already looking forward to the next book months before this one's publication date!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I have loved everything that Elizabeth Strout has written…until now. I really tried to enjoy reading this new story but found it to be really bitty and did not hold my attention. I eventually gave up and haven’t finished reading it.
I do hope it’s just me having an attention lapse and everyone else likes it, but sadly not for me.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Elizabeth Strout never fails to utterly captivate me with her writing. Sparse, clean sentences that seem so simple and innocuous but which get under your skin and twist themselves into your mind. The ordinary people who turn out, under the surface, to live extraordinary lives of such vividness, pain and sorrow, great love and kindness. It's all so achingly beautiful and rendered in that way that makes something so incredibly difficult seem so easy. In this book, Lucy Barton and Olive Kitteridge meet and in telling each other stories, come to love and appreciate each other and to change each other's lives. There is a murder that threads its way through this book, which slips in and out of the narrative in a gorgeously elusive and wholly compelling way. This was brilliant.

Another great instalment in the world of Lucy Barton and Olive Kitteridge. If you have enjoyed any of this series, you will love this one. I found it the most enjoyable one yet. Lucy and Olive end up trading stories, and the whole book has a theme of getting to know people, opinions of others and trust, underscores by a local accused of murder. Details of his life are slowly revealed, which added a great deal of pace to the story. Very enjoyable!

What a beautiful book. Having a glimpse into the lives of bob and his friends and family. Watching those moments of connection and disconnection unfold through the pages of the book. The book shows the ebb and flow of love fid the people in bobs life. How the past informs the present. Just a really lovely book. Thoroughly enjoyed it

More pearls of wisdom.
How can Elizabeth Stroud keep improving, each book gets better.
Olive Kitteridge is back, older and in some ways wiser, she is friends with the writer Lucy Barton and the two swop stories about people and in some cases moral judgements.
Bob Burgess is married to a Vicar Margaret, he is not sure of her motivations and suspects that she has narcotic tendencies. Bob still sees his ex wife Pam and is her confidente. Lucy and Bob meet for walks and chats and appreciate each others candid opinions, they are gradually falling in love, but avoid the subject.
A murder occurs in the town of a woman who was disliked by most people, her son, the reclusive Matt is a suspect, Bob agreed to take on his case and helps him with his life's challenges.
The above are just a few of the threads in this marvellous book, insights and moral questions occur, all thought provoking
Thank you NetGalley and Elizabeth for this ARC.

Do you remember “The Burgess Boys”?
Elizabeth Strout is known for writing about the same characters in her books. These imaginary people become somehow real in her novels because she gives them a normal, average life. We see these characters across their lifespan, every time at a different point in their life. It makes them familiar, readers feel like they know these characters exceptionally well. Do you remember “The Burgess Boys”? Well, I have to say I read this some years ago and I don´t remember the details, but I do remember Bob. Bob also appeared in “Oh, William!”. And he is back in this novel. Not only him, there are also Olive and Lucy. All my favorites!

Once again Strout talks about life and its cycle. She explores love, marriage, and loneliness. Aging and grief are part of life, and the author is not afraid to talk about these topics. It`s one of these slow novels, there's almost no action, yet underneath the surface, everything is simmering. Yes, we also have here a murder, but it's not a murder mystery book. We observe dynamics between characters, Bob and Lucy are just fantastic to watch, but I find Lucy and Olive particularly interesting. There is so much to tell about these people, this book, and the writing. But I won´t, because instead of a quick review, you would get a book about a book.
So let me just say this: five stars.

An absolutely lovely book with the most wonderful characters. Elizabeth Strout's insights into people and their thoughts and behaviours in unparalleled. This book was like a warm bath and I cannot wait to read more. Highly recommended.

I was looking forward to reading a new Elizabeth Strout so much that I 'saved' it to read on a transatlantic flight. It did not disappoint - the book that is, not the flight. Which was long and tedious and would have been almost unbearable without Lucy and Olive and Bob (Bob! Bob Burgess!) and all the other glorious characters we know so well and love so much from previous books. Olive, now 90, is as sharp and quick tongued as ever. Lucy is still in Crosby following the pandemic, and still living (sharing a house) with William, her ex. Oh, it was so good to be back with them all in small town Maine, as they explore the meaning of life, mostly through the stories of other peoples' lives as narrated by mostly Olive and sometimes Lucy - who actually spend some time together doing this. And Bob! Lovely Bob who probably loves Lucy but is happily married to a Unitarian minister (she was the one person I did't warm to, I'm not sure why). Some of my favourite quotes from the book:


"Lucy Barton, the stories you told me, for all that I could tell--had very little point to them. Okay, okay, maybe they had subtle points to them. I don't know what the point is to this story!"
"People," Lucy said quietly, leaning back, "People and the lives they lead, That's the point.'
"Exactly," Olive nodded.


"What was that about?" Bob asked Olive, looking over at her.
"That was about the same thing that every story Lucy and I have shared is about. People suffer. They live, they have hope, they even have love, and they still suffer. Everyone does. Those who think they've not suffered are lying to themselves."

"Love is love ...... Love comes in so many different forms, but it is always love. If it is love, then it is love."

Throughout the book, we learn about people, their lives, their loves, their understanding (or not) of life. There is a murder case, marriage ups and downs, the connections people make. And through it all, Elizabeth Strout deftly keeps our attention and leads us on. A book to savour and re-read. And hopefully there story will be continued .....

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

I’ve collected most of the Lucy Barton books but, unfortunately, I only had time to re-read one, Oh William!, to reacquaint myself with some of Lucy’s story before reviewing Tell Me Everything.

In Tell Me Everything, Lucy is sharing a house with William, her ex-husband, and has a loving friendship with Bob Burgess. She has begun meeting regularly with Olive Ketteridge for the purpose of hearing Olive’s stories, and in turn telling Olive some of hers. In this way it’s good to find out what is happening with Olive now.

Lucy and Bob meet frequently for walks and Lucy is privy to Bob’s guilty secret of smoking the occasional half a cigarette. In their conversations they discover things about each other and, on reflection, about themselves. I’ve read a few books lately which focus on the lifelong effects of parent/child relationships and I’m nearly at the point of having heart-to-hearts with my own children and asking them how good, or bad, a mother I was/am. Then again, is anybody ever ready for that talk?

As you can see, Elizabeth Strout brings out my inner philosopher, which I’m sure happens with all of her readers. I would love to read all of her books again but, you know, so many books, so little time.

It was an absolute treat to catch up with Lucy Barton again!

Published by Random House

Wonderful as ever. Manages to avoid sentimentality and tweeness and retains a steeliness which makes her writing so additctive.

A classic Elizabeth Trout, catching up with Olive again is as always bitter sweet.
I will continue to dip into the lives of Olive and her friends when I can.

Oh the wonder of Elizabeth Strout. Two of the big themes in this novel are loyalty and the fear of loneliness as drivers of actions and behaviour.

It is a wonderful novel and one describing and challenging the way people see themselves and how others see and feel them. Someohow Elizabeth Strouts has a way with words that bring behaviour to life in ways that are incredibly fresh and cut to the heart of a matter.

It is ncredfible skillful, beautiful and humane writing. Descriptions of the humanity and friendship that bind people together that really resonate. The misunderstandings and doubts that trouble individuals and relationships.

What joy to read her latest novel and so thought provoking. To get to the end and start again and realise the fiendish complexity with which it is plotted. The way clues and trails are laid before you - all in a novel which reads seamlessly and seems effortless. A perfect example of where less is more. Then, all is brought together. Superb.

If you have not read any of the previous novels that is fine. You will still enjoy and appreciate this. What you will miss is the delight of coming upon characters you have met before and catching up with them.

I believe I am a wiser and more tolerant person haveing read this novel - so thank you Elizabeth Strout.

I'm a fan of Elizabeth Strout's writing and am very honored to have received an ARC of "Tell Me Everything." Thank you, Random House.

The beauty of Strout's books is that you don't need to read any previous books to appreciate any of her books. And for those returning readers, welcome back to the Burgess/Kitteridge/Barton universe—you're in for a treat! Get ready to read about the town's anecdotes.

This book is a warm welcome after reading about the characters in all her previous books. It is about Bob Burgess, a man you will love after reading "Tell Me Everything."

This book is good, period. It might be her best book together with ''Olive Kitteridge'' and ''Olive, Again''. Elizabeth Strout seems to be getting better as she has more writing years under her belt. She is a true master at portraying true human emotions and stories. Her writing is straightforward and devoid of gimmicks; she doesn't use words simply to impress the reader.

While Strout's novels are not known for being plot-driven, I found "Tell Me Everything" brimming with grand and subtle events.

We mostly follow Bob but also listen in on conversations between Olive Kitteridge (still fiery and unapologetically herself at 91) and Lucy. The story seemingly moves from one perspective to the other. Life lessons are shared, and nothing is cheesy, too romantic, or too on the nose.

Through all this, we follow a love story; well, actually, many love stories are told and shared. There is also a murder case that needs to be solved. And many simple life lessons are weaved into the story and infused with the complexity of lived experience.

What stands out in Strout's writing (in all her books) is the profound realness of all the characters. They are all beautifully flawed yet profoundly human. I could never dislike a Strout character. In fact, I can see them in the supermarket or on the street—that's how human they are to me.

The ending killed me. Oh, Olive. What is life? We love, we age, we worry, we die, and we wonder what the purpose of life is.

''Love is love.''

''People suffer. They live, they have hope, they even have love, and they still suffer.''

This book is beautiful and feels like a warm embrace. Congratulations, Elizabeth Strout! Please write the next book for us soon.

"All these unrecorded lives, and people just live them.''
_____________

''We like to think that our lives are within our control, but they may not be completely so. We are necessarily influenced by those who have come before us. ''

''People did not care, except for maybe one minute. It was not their fault, most just could not really care past their own experiences. ''

''No one gets anything when they're young. ''

"God, we are all so alone.''

''...you don't come from my background without being lonely.''

''..people just live their lives with no real knowledge of anybody...''

''People always tell you who they are if you just listen- they will always eventually tell you who they are.''

Elizabeth Strout is the consummate storyteller of American life- the joys, the tragedies, the struggles, the challenges and the absurdities.

Tell Me Everything is about stories - the sharing of stories- the telling , the listening and the responding.

The familiar cast of characters return and we revisit their lives in Shirley Falls- this time most of the focus centres on Bob Burgess , Lucy Barton and Olive Kitteridge. and the dialogues they have sharing secrets, tales of others and their feelings and thoughts.

Elizabeth Strout knows how to tap into the rawest of emotions and this latest book also opens wide American life and the fractures that are becoming larger and more evident across society.

The novel focuses around Bob as he is asked to defend a local man accused of murder whilst at the same time deal with a family tragedy and his conflicted emotions towards Lucy.

Familiar characters re-emerge and we learn more of their pasts and current lives even they are not directly in this latest book.

Strout has created a beautiful web of lives and if you've read the books in order then this further adds to the enjoyment.

Olive's brusque or is it just direct manner is brought to the fore in the conversations she has with Lucy Barton as they develop a friendship based on story telling - each trying to provide meaning or clarity to one another.

Bob and Lucy share weekly walks and share details of their lives that reaches a beautiful deep connection but where can this lead.

Elizabeth Strout has a unique voice- in many ways it is as if she was sitting next to you and actually telling the stories of this town in Maine and its residents - the use of present tense and direct address.

This is a wonderful book to immerse yourself into and escape - Bob's insecurity /vulnerability ; Elizabeth's childlike view of the world and Olive's wisdom, tenacity and loneliness are exposed.

Highly recommended - and let's hope there is morello discover about Shirley Falls in the future.

It's such a joy to have another instalment in the imaginative world of Elizabeth Strout. The familiarity of the characters for Strout fans makes this book a dream to read, although it will surely resonate with any reader who enjoys gentle storytelling with wonderful attention to detail. Everything from precise and repetitive handling of cigarettes to the consequences of a terrible haircut are delicately woven into a subtle exploration of character and narrative. We are taken through the growing friendship between two major characters of past novels, Lucy Barton and Bob Burgess, amidst the various concerns of their respective families and Bob's latest case, and under the watchful eye of Olive Kitteridge, who is regularly visited by Lucy to share their stories. Altogether a perfect continuation of Strout's storytelling and also a beautiful opening novel in its own right to any fortunate reader new to this author.

Another wonderful look into small town America, less about events as about people, and those who don’t have all the answers to life. Quite the opposite in fact, these are broken people clinging to the wreckage of family struggles, unhappy childhoods; divorce; abuse and neglect. We are no strangers to many of these characters, they have a habit of cropping up in Strout’s stories. We feel we know them: Olive is still curmudgeonly but all seeing well into her nineties, and she loves a story, with Lucy more than happy to oblige. Facing old age these are people who have lost contact with some of their children, with disappointments on both sides.ultimately they need to make sense of things, especially the people they connect with.
This could spell a massive depression alert, but the writing is conversational and insightful with the local colloquialisms shining through to bring it alive.

I am in a ridiculously small minority of perhaps just one, but unfortunately I didn't enjoy this book and it became a DNF for me when I just couldn't connect after about the 25% point. It's clearly just a style of writing clash as I've heard nothing but great things about all of Elizabeth Strout's work, but for me it just didn't click. I couldn't get invested in the characters and I felt like I was an outsider observing, instead of being invested in their lives.

Somewhat to my surprise - I haven't liked Elizabeth Strout's more recent books as much as her early ones - I enjoyed this book. Here, the central character, Bob, really comes alive through his varying relationships. He is a kind and thoughtful man and a good friend to many, I found him very credible in this account. Characters from the earlier books reappear - i still find both Olive Kitteridge and Lucy Barton deeply irritating but here the stories they tell each other, about people they have encountered, are interesting. i think Elizabeth Strout is better at writing men than women.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.