Oh William!: A Novel
by Strout, Elizabeth
- Used
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Good
- ISBN 10
- 0812989449
- ISBN 13
- 9780812989441
- Seller
-
Eugene , Oregon, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Random House Publishing Group. Used - Good. paperback This item shows wear from consistent use but remains in good readable condition. It may have marks on or in it, and may show other signs of previous use or shelf wear. May have minor creases or signs of wear on dust jacket. Packed with care, shipped promptly.
Reviews
On Oct 21 2021, CloggieDownunder said:
Oh William! is the third novel in the Amgash series by best-selling, Pulitzer Prize winning American author, Elizabeth Strout. Not long widowed and still very much grieving her second husband, David Abramson, Lucy Barton relates recent events in the life of her first husband, William Gerhardt.
Two life-changing things that occur in fairly short succession see her travelling with William to Maine to perhaps connect with a relative of whom William was, until recently, unaware. It's a journey of many revelations, both about newly-discovered family, those already departed, each other and themselves.
Lucy's narrative comes across as a little rambling, at first, but it soon becomes clear that all those casual asides, those frequently inserted anecdotes from earlier, are given to illustrate a certain point, a feeling, an opinion.
Musing on what she had with each husband, she tells the reader that even though "At times in our marriage I loathed him. I saw, with a kind of dull disc of dread in my chest, that with his pleasant distance, his mild expressions, he was unavailable", William was her home, that she felt safe in his presence.
She does not talk much about David, noting what they had in common "It is hard to describe what it is like when one is raised in such isolation from the outside world. So we became each other's home. But we— both of us felt this way—we felt that we were perched like birds on a telephone wire in New York City" and concluding that "David was a tremendous comfort to me."
Strout gives her characters palpable emotions, wise words and insightful observations. When Lucy is unable to understand why William married her, a nothing, he tells her: "Lucy, I married you because you were filled with joy. You were just filled with joy. And when I finally realized what you came from—when we went to your house that day to meet your family and tell them we were getting married, Lucy, I almost died at what you came from. I had no idea that was what you came from. And I kept thinking, But how is she what she is? How could she come from this and have so much exuberance? …. There has never been anyone in the world like you. You steal people's hearts, Lucy."
Strout's writing, both in style and subject matter, is reminiscent of Sebastian Barry with shades of Anne Tyler. Strout writes about ordinary people leading what they believe are ordinary lives (although there are definitely some quirky ones doing strange things amongst them) and does it with exquisite yet succinct prose. Another powerful read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Penguin UK Viking.
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Details
- Bookseller
- St. Vinnie's Charitable Books (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 2CC-07-1724
- Title
- Oh William!: A Novel
- Author
- Strout, Elizabeth
- Book Condition
- Used - Good
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10
- 0812989449
- ISBN 13
- 9780812989441
- Publisher
- Random House Publishing Group
Terms of Sale
St. Vinnie's Charitable Books
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About the Seller
St. Vinnie's Charitable Books
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Eugene , Oregon
About St. Vinnie's Charitable Books
St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County is a 501c3 charity based in Eugene Oregon. We serve at risk, homeless and low income populations in communities throughout Oregon. 100% of your purchase goes directly to help serve people in need by supporting our emergency homeless services, low income housing, or services for veterans, the elderly, and many other specialty programs helping those who need it most. We appreciate your business.
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