ACPL Online Book Club discussion

Lucy Barton’s legend looms large in Amgash. How do we perceive her through the eyes of the characters in each of these stories? How do these impressions of her differ? When Lucy makes an appearance in “Sister,” did your perception of her change as Strout reveals the impact of Lucy’s absence on her siblings? Question provided by the author. https://www.elizabethstrout.com/books...

Her niece, Lila, thinks Lucy is a snob. Her brother, Pete, idolizes her. The entire community follows her career with a bit of, "Can you believe it?" awe given the horrible conditions in which she was raised. But the success is superficial. When we meet her, we realize she is damaged still from her past and cannot bring herself to be in Amgash. We know she is unlikely to ever visit again.

I liked the chapter Sister because Pete and Vicky, Lucy's siblings are further developed and shown to be admirable, though also damaged, people.