Books: “Tell Me Everything” by Elizabeth Strout
Fans of Elizabeth Strout—and I am one—will be pleased by her latest novel, “Tell Me Everything.” Set in Crosby, Maine, it brings together a handful of characters from her previous novels—Mainers like the Burgess brothers (Bob and Jim); Lucy Barton the novelist; and of course the indomitable Olive Kitteridge (played by Frances McDormand in the 2014 miniseries).
“Tell me everything,” Lucy the novelist asks Olive, who thinks she may have a few stories that Lucy can use in her next book. Turns out both women have some juicy stories to share.
Two larger situations, however, drive the novel: the first is the dilemma of Bob Burgess, a mostly retired lawyer who has lived in Crosby for 15 years with his wife, Margaret. He is feeling especially guilty as of late because he’s slowly falling in love with Lucy, with whom he takes long walks. Bob is also tortured by a secret he’s kept since childhood: he took the blame for a family murder he did not commit.
The other plot driver is the murder of Gloria Beach whose body is found dumped in a nearby quarry. Beach was the school cafeteria lady who was so unpleasant to the students they called her “Mrs. Bitch” behind her back. Who dunnit? Her oddball son Matthew who had a habit of painting pregnant women in the nude? Whatever the case, Bob is the attorney who decides to defend him.
“Tell Me Everything” is about the importance of human connection: confiding in others when you have something to get off your chest, and listening in turn as they tell you their story. While to some readers this may seem like common sense—or about as interesting as watching paint dry—others will be deeply invested in the lives of these characters, for whom issues like Ukraine, LGBTQ, and immigration are a universe away. This interchange from the book sums it up best:
“Lucy Barton,” says Olive, “the stories you told me, for all that I could tell–had very little point to them. Okay, okay, maybe they had subtle points to them. I don’t know what the point is to this story!”
“People,” Lucy said quietly, leaning back, “People and the lives they lead, That’s the point.’
Like this review? Follow me at “What Does Aug Think?” at acsntn.substack.com. Thank you!