My Name Is Lucy Barton: A Novel

Elizabeth Strout

January 12, 2016

My Name Is Lucy Barton: A Novel by Elizabeth Strout is a story about a woman who unexpectedly visits her mother after several years, leading to a journey of self-discovery. The story takes place over the course of nine days in a New York hospital, and is a deeply intimate portrait of a mother and daughter.Lucy Barton has been estranged from her family for many years and her surprise visit to her mother’s bedside brings back memories of a difficult upbringing and all the hurt and pain she has experienced throughout her life. On the surface, Lucy and her mother’s relationship appears to be strained, but it soon becomes clear that despite everything, these two women have a deeply loyal bond and are committed to each other.The story shines a light on the power of love and the healing potential of human relationships. The themes throughout the novel include identity, relationships, the ways we talk about our pasts, and the forgiveness that forms the foundations of any powerful family bond.My Name is Lucy Barton is an emotionally charged, lyrically written novel exploring the complex and often painful interpersonal relationships of one woman’s life, and the intricacies of what truly makes a family. An emotionally intense and utterly riveting read, Elizabeth Strout's novel is filled with beautiful, honest writing that takes you down an unexpected, but ultimately rewarding journey of introspection.