The Mookse and the Gripes discussion

Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout

Does one need to have read previous books in the series (is it really a series?) to appreciate this one? I'm not sure I want to take that on . . .

I don't think it is absolutely necessary, it are more cameo's (and I can imagine it will increase enjoyment), not anything really related to the overall plot of this book perse.

It is kind of the culmination of most of her previous books and brings all of the characters together so while it might not be strictly necessary, I do think one would appreciate it more after having read at least a few of the previous titles.

Rachel, which ones do you suggest? If I just wanted to read one or two? TIA!

I read this without knowing it was a series, and as Rachel said, one can appreciate more if you've read the other books. BUT it can be read as a standalone. I had no problem following the characters and she gives small "flashbacks" or "summaries" of each one (some fans of the series even complaint the beginning was too repetitive when revisiting previous books).

Well I think it is clearly designed for people who have read all her previous books (or at least the olive and Lucy series) - it’s Olive meets Lucy and that really only works if you are Team Olive, Team Lucy or both.

I've read two of the previous books in the series - which means I'm not keen to read this one! An author whose books completely pass me by.

Gumble Yard's review had "read (as a minimum) Olive Again and then back to back “My Name is Lucy Barton”, “Oh William” and “Lucy By The Sea” before this book" as his take.

Rose wrote: "Rachel, which ones do you suggest? If I just wanted to read one or two? TIA!"

I think either reading some of the first books of the different series, like Olive Kitteridge and My Name Is Lucy Barton and maybe The Burgess Boys. Or alternately just reading the one or two most recent releases Oh William! and Lucy by the Sea. But that is kind of a lot of pre-reading and like Henk said, it doesn't really affect the plot, just gives you more back story and understanding of the characters.

Yeah that all feels like more of a commitment than I'm willing to make, lol - for whatever reason these books have never appealed to me enough to try one. I'll probably just give this one a go and see how I like it.

thank you all for your great insight on if / what previous books needed* to be read!

honestly, the character(s) of Olive / this writer originally got on my radar after an interview featuring Frances McDormand & she talked about reading Olive Kitteridge & loving it so much that she immediately secured rights to make it into something, which turned into an HBO original limited series (she brilliantly plays Olive & it’s well-done & well cast)! I was in grad school when it came out & didn’t have time to read the book beforehand… the adaptation is a mix (kind of) of the different stories… I remembered Olive Kitteridge randomly when finally reading all of John Berryman’s Dream Songs just last year (lines from the poems are mentioned in it & effect two characters in different ways (& sidenote: Dream Song 29 influences directly some themes & even episode titles etc of HBO’s Succession)) & THEN finally read OK & Olive, Again… then rewatched the OK series. I haven’t read any of the Lucy books, & based on comments might wait to read this later…

it’ll definitely color how you “see” the characters based on the actors & etc, but might be a good way to know who Olive is at least by watching the series, if you wanted to think about going that route for Olive & read just one or two Lucy books, Rose!!

Thanks, Victoria! I might check that out. I do love Frances McDormand.

That’s a great tip

Yes, I also thought the HBO series was great! I love Frances McDormand.

Elizabeth Strout's books don't have the drama, trauma and breadth of a lot of typical prize shortlisted books, but that is largely their strength. I find them strangely comforting stories of normal people and small communities at a time when the wider world seems a dark and scary place!

I'm intrigued that people love Olive Kitteredge so much. I thought it was well written but soooooooooo depressing (yes, deserving of all those extra o's!). I honestly wanted to kill myself reading some of the chapters. All it seemed to tell me was that life grinds inevitably towards death, and that we all have a strong chance of being misunderstood, forgotten or even hated by our relatives.

I also found it strangely unrealistic. Everybody was constantly having an affair. Which maybe isn't in itself unrealistic, but the relentless focus on affairs at the expense of other sources of drama was a bit unbalanced I thought.

Definitely Team Lucy but too many affairs there as well

Just chiming in here. I have read every Elizabeth Strout novel over the years, including all of the "series" books. I am a big Olive fan, but Lucy has grown on me over the years. If you have not read any, I would at least read Lucy by the Sea, which gives some context for Lucy's being in Maine with William and how things have evolved to a point with Bob Burgess. It also has some Olive in the background to lay the groundwork for Tell Me Everything. I loved Tell Me Everything, but I am a bit surprised to see it on this longlist.

It has to be a Strout career tribute I think . Much as I love it I hope this does not make the shortlist.

Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer wrote: "It has to be a Strout career tribute I think . Much as I love it I hope this does not make the shortlist."
I agree. I have really enjoyed many of her books over the years, and this one brings the storylines together nicely, but I don't think it stands alone well enough to make the shortlist.

Agree with that, Joy. This was a somewhat surprising addition to the long list - I don't think it is the strongest of the series. I think Lucy is also rendered more human / less likable in this book than in the other books in the series. I think Bill's backstory is more relevant to this book than Olive's backstory, so The Burgess Boys might make a good read.

Emily wrote: "I'm intrigued that people love Olive Kitteredge so much. I thought it was well written but soooooooooo depressing (yes, deserving of all those extra o's!). I honestly wanted to kill myself reading ..."

I had exactly the same reaction, I've avoided Strout's work ever since.

By now she is so miserable it’s funny.

Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer wrote: "It has to be a Strout career tribute I think . Much as I love it I hope this does not make the shortlist."

I agree 100%. I enjoyed this so much, but I think it’s a fan base book. I have to say I would love a book of conversations between Lucy and Olive.

I love Olive, she is so real and so human and so much a Mainer. Lucy has taken time for me to like as well. The Burgess Boys have become more likeable - almost my least favorite Stout characters in the beginning. I don't think this book in and of itself should win the prize but I do love how these characters have matured over the years and how much more depth they now have. They truly are aging like fine wine!

I am 50% in and I admire Strout's storrytelling but I'm afraid her characters and folksy downhome treatment lacks the freshness of the first Olive. I hope the author succeds in exceeding my hopes by the end, but this feels like the fifth installment of any series, which is fine if you are a fan, but not up to my expectations for a Booker winning novel. This is one of those situations where Strout's catalog seems to in the running, not just the book.

Largely agree. In some ways Olive has finally mellowed as she approaches death but it does not make for as sharp a book as

A Strout career tribute as I said earlier in the thread.

I did say in that comment I hope it is not shortlisted but I will partly take that back as so far based on 15 books I only have 4 others I would really shortlist.

Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer wrote: "Largely agree. In some ways Olive has finally mellowed as she approaches death but it does not make for as sharp a book as

A Strout career tribute as I said earlier in the thread.

I did say in ..."

I agree with that. It doesn't feel like it should be shortlisted, but on the other hand, there aren't that many books on the longlist that I think are more worthy.

I agree too. I haven't read the entire list since I cannot locate them all, but I currently only have 4 on my personal list that are worth shortlisting.

Joining with GY, Cindy, and Joy D.

I read this without having read any of the others in the series. I felt there was enough explanation to have a good sense of the characters, who were realistic and believable. I appreciated the sense of place and nature references and found this an enjoyable read. Not amazing or in my view worthy of a shortlist place. It’s quite comforting and easy going, but hasn’t really stuck with me and not made me want to rush to read the others.