My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout (#13 in 2020)
As fictional character, Lucy Barton, recovers in the hospital from an operation, her estranged mother comes to visit. Lucy's healing comes in multiple forms as she not only heals physically, but she also has to come face to face with the poverty she experiences in childhood and her decision to leave her family behind and make something of herself in New York City.
You know how actors audition for a roles and they stand in front of a panel of people and deliver their most impactful monologue? That's literally what this audiobook is. Laura Linney narrates this audiobook with all the passion and ferocity necessary to convey the character of Lucy Barton.
Thought you loved her as a hopeless romantic and dedicated sister in Love Actually? Thought you loved her as a strong yet conniving mother in the Netflix series, Ozark? Think again! Laura Linney brought the character of Lucy Barton to life. THIS is what an audiobook should sound like. If I had read this as a physical book without the accompanying voice, I don't think I would have enjoyed it nearly as much.
My Name is Lucy Barton is very much a portrait of a character. There isn't a focus on plot as much as there is a close scrutiny of the character of Lucy. The book is short -- only 193 pages -- and the story quality (not writing style) is very reminiscent of James Joyce of Edgar Lee Masters. While Lucy recovers in her hospital bed, she encounters what I can only describe as a Joycean epiphany in that this smile hospital visit, an ordinary occurrence, forces her to look within and uncover the hard feelings she has towards her mother and the connection to her past. 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Also a BIG thank you to @sewhappystitchhappy for my new marble printed book sleeve! It’s literally perfect!
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