Tell Me Everything

Tell Me Everything ~ Elizabeth Strout

Lucy Barton is a writer who has moved from New York City to a small town in Maine. She and her ex-husband went there during the pandemic, and decided to stay (in Maine, and together). Lucy’s gift is that she really listens to people. She has an understanding heart, which helps her with her writing, and to be a good friend.

Olive Kitterage is a gruff 90 year old, living in a care facility in this same town. She is a retired school teacher.

Bob Burgess is a lawyer, long time friend of Olive, and newer friend of Lucy. Bob’s ex wife Pam had an affair years ago with Lucy’s husband, William.

Fans of Lucy Barton and Olive Kitterage will be pleased with this latest novel from Elizabeth Strout, a sort of murder mystery set in Maine that finally brings two of her main characters together. The main character of Tell Me Everything is perhaps Bob Burgess, who agrees to defend the main suspect in the murder case. The murder mystery is mostly going on in the background of the book, however. Strout’s books are about people and their stories, and things unfold in twisty turny ways, and the action is mostly told by one character to another, rather than happening to the characters in ‘real time’. So you don’t read about the conversation or event, you read about Lucy telling Bob about the conversation that happened earlier, and Bob’s reaction. It’s deceptively simple, and I have loved all of the books that I’ve read thus far, though I haven’t read all of Strout’s stories. I’ve read all of the Lucy Barton books, My Name is Lucy Barton, Anything is Possible, Oh, William!, Lucy by the Sea, and now Tell Me Everything. I read Olive Kitterage, but not Olive Again. A quick search of my blog tells me that I have not reviewed any of these books. I have this idea in my head that I review everything I’ve read, but clearly that is far from the truth. I first read Anything is Possible, and loved it. LOVED IT. Then I read My Name is Lucy Barton, and was already a fan when the other 3 came out, so I read them quickly. Or listened. I guess I read the first 2 in physical form, and listened to the others.

Anyway, back to Tell Me Everything. Strout’s writing is, as I said, deceptively simple. Small conversations about events that mostly take place ‘off screen’, that build up to a shattering story. Strout’s gift is in the meaning behind words not said, and Lucy is the perfect witness to the lives going on around her. Above all else, as a writer, she is deeply interested in people, in their stories, and in their heartbreaks. But that doesn’t mean she is emotionally removed. She is a gift, to the characters around her, and to us. Highly recommended.

39 Comments

  • Tobia | craftaliciousme

    I’ve seen the authors name pop up here and there but never read one of hers. This one I find intruiging. I wonder… can it be read as stand alone or shoudl I read previous books beforehand?

    I just checked and my library has most of them available.

    • J

      I agree with Birchie, there’s plenty of explaining of relationships. I haven’t read all of the prior books, and I still knew enough about Olive and Bob.

  • Elisabeth

    I loved My Name is Lucy Barton and then struggled with the rest of them. It’s so character driven, which would be fine if I could keep track of the blasted characters! I feel like I need a cheat sheet at the beginning of the books. I know Nicole LOVES Elizabeth Strout, and I’ve heard really good things about this book.
    I think I’ll skip it, but it is tempting now that I learn Olive Kitterage AND Lucy Barton are in the same book. That’s pretty cool to have those literary characters overlap. Smart move by Strout, I’d say.

    • J

      Interesting that you loved the first book and struggled with the rest. Olive is such a prickly character! I love the little details that Strout includes, where you can just SEE her. Like her shifting on her chair, or tugging on her sweater. Tiny things.

    • Tierney

      I love Elizabeth Strout and I had the opposite experience. My Name is Lucy Barton was the first book I read and I did not like it. To the point that I almost wrote the author off but I have LOVED every other book by here. I’m really a fan of Olive Kitteredge and Olive Again. I’ve loved all the other books so much that I think I should read MNILB again because maybe I wasn’t in the right head space at the time.

      • J

        Funny how sometimes we’re just not in the right head space for a particular book. I haven’t read Olive Again, maybe I’ll put that on my TBR list.

  • Ally Bean

    Like I recently admitted on my blog, I don’t groove on Strout’s writing. However ditto what Elisabeth said, if Olive and Lucy are in the same novel I might try reading it.

    • J

      I’m not convinced that folks who don’t love Strout’s book should read this one, actually. I loved it, but I’ve loved all of the Lucy Barton books. I didn’t LOVE Olive Kitterage.

  • Birchie

    I put off reading Elizabeth Strout forever and finally read most of the Lucy Barton books this summer after Nicole mentioned them. Usually character driven books don’t work for me, but Lucy was a very pleasant exception.

  • Kyria @ Travel Spot

    I am with Ally; I did not “groove” on Lucy Barton! This does not surprise me though, as you also loved MBF and I was not a huge fan, and I feel like the reason I did not love MBF and the reason I did not love Lucy were similar. So I will probably give this one a pass, but am looking forward to your next review. Have you read God of the Woods yet? I am curious to hear if you are team Birchie or team Lisa (PS I am the latter).

    • J

      No, I haven’t read God of the Woods yet. I just put it on hold yesterday, but it’s a 9 week wait. I may use one of my Audible Credits and buy it, we’ll see.

  • Jenny

    Hmm! I’m not usually a fan of character driven novels, but I feel like I should give Elizabeth Strout a try- so many people love her books. I think Birchie already answered this question, but can i just read this one without the others?

    • J

      You definitely can, I think there’s enough explination. I haven’t read all of the prior books myself, though I have read and loved all of the Lucy Barton books.

  • NGS

    I read one Lucy Barton book and it was so good and it tore me up and I have vowed to not read any more Lucy books ever again. It hit too close to home. I guess Strout is TOO GOOD of an author for me?

    • J

      I’m guessing you read the first book, where she’s remembering her time in the hospital and her mom is visiting, that one was rough. Though I think there are rough spots in all of her books, so perhaps you’re doing the right thing by avoiding further contact.

      • J

        Interesting, I don’t remember much of Olive Kitterage…and I don’t know why. Maybe I should give it another go.

  • Margaret

    Like you I love her writing and characters but I can understand why people don’t. It’s a particular style that is beautifully simple and yet complex. Meandering yet purposeful. I am about halfway through this book and am enjoying it a lot.

    • J

      Nicely said Margaret. A couple of times while listening to this book, I thought, ‘some of the cool bloggers are not going to like this one’, and I was thinking of those who say they’re not fans of character driven novels.

  • Karen Gow

    I’ll add this to my list to read. I read Oh William first and loved it, My Name is Lucy Barton last year and didn’t like it as much. I wish I had given them reviews in addition to my star ratings, I can’t remember why!

    • J

      I’m hoping that these book reviews will help me remember WHY I liked or didn’t like something. I’m keeping them short, so it may not be entirely useful.

  • Ernie

    I have My Name is Lucy Barton checked out of the library right now. As of yet, I have not read any of her books. I always hear such great things. Hmm. Reading what Elizabeth wrote though – I don’t enjoy books if I can’t keep characters straight. I’m looking forward to this month of reviews. I need all the suggestions I can get. 😉

    • J

      I hope you don’t have the problem that Elisabeth had. I find that occasionally I lose track of who someone is, but not often.

  • Lisa’s Yarns

    I have this checked out from Libby and will read it soon. I love this author’s work as well! She is such an amazing writer! It will be fun to see characters from multiple books collide!!

      • Lisa’s Yarns

        I finished this over the weekend and loved it! I gave it 5 stars. I love how she weaved characters from all of her previous books so seamlessly. I have read almost everything she has written expect one other back list book that I can’t remember the name of and Lucy by the Sea. I read Olive Kitteredge for book club 15+ years ago and loved it. But then I did not like Olive, Again as much. I think I gave it 3 stars. I also did not love The Burgess Boys but wonder if I would like it more if I read it now? I loved Bob’s character in this book so much.

        • J

          I wondered the same thing, if I would enjoy The Burgess Boys now? I mean, I’ve never read it, but now that I know and like the characters, it might be fun to give it a try.