“This is the way of life: the many things we do not know until it is too late.”

This is the third book of the Amgash, IL series which originated with the departure of Lucy Barton from the run down town and onto pursue her dreams. Lucy receives a college scholarship and eventually becomes an accomplished author. In this book, Lucy is older and writes this book as if taking notes in a journal, reflecting on her life, marriages, daughters and in particular, William Gebhardt her first husband who is 6 years older. At this time Lucy and William are both around 70 years old having made successful careers and remarrying. Lucy met William when she moved to attend college as he worked in a lab as parasitologist and taught microbiology at NYU. When they married, Lucy devoted herself to being a loving, caring mother to her two daughters. She wanted to give them all the support and attention she craved as a child. As the years past, Lucy realizes that she needs to put herself first and rekindles her passion to become a writer.

Although they divorced, Lucy and William continued to have a symbiotic relationship that only two people who know each other so well can have. They seemed to experience many life events relying on each other for support and advice. Lucy recalls how William provided comfort when her second husband, David Abramson, died. She remembers his second wife, Joanne, because he had been having an affair with her for 6 years before the divorce. William married her a year after their divorce. Then, William married Estelle, his third wife who is 22 years younger and they had a daughter Bridget together.

Lucy and William have come to rely on each other through the years. William has been tormented over the years with night terrors about his mother, Catherine. Another memory which lingers relates to Germany and how his father died when he was 14 yo following surgery to remove an intestinal polyp. Although he didn’t believe in the afterlife, he often thinks about death and his convoluted family history. They have an open, honest dialogue about the course of life and the comfort of the “familiar” place were most married people end up after years of marriage. Ironically, they seem to know each other’s quirks and routines but acknowledge that sometimes people end up with kind and thoughtful people. But the routines and familiar are often superficial with people not fully understanding the depths of the other person.

A coming of age novel for the older woman. Reading “Oh William!”, we are privy to an intimate conversation with Lucy — divorced from the oft-mentioned William, widow of her second husband, a writer, and a mother of two girls. Lucy grew up with extreme poverty and implied abuse and neglect. She grapples with her feelings on life, marriage, and motherhood, as she accompanies William, who wants to go to rural Maine to meet the half-sister he didn’t know existed growing up.

Oh William! is apparently one of a series, none of which I’ve read. I believe it works just fine as a stand-alone novel.

I can’t say I loved this work or even particularly liked it, but I do not believe I am the intended audience. Regardless, I would certainly give this author another chance for the simple fact that I read the whole book despite there not being a plot, per se, and she did do such a great job with the characters.

Thank you so kindly to the author, to #NetGalley, and to #RandomHouse for generously allowing me to review a digital ARC of #OhWilliam!

OH WILLIAM
BY: ELIZABETH STROUT

This exquisite novel called, "Oh William," by Elizabeth Strout was dazzling and I fell in love with the character Lucy Barton. She has wisdom and she is authentic. I had in my possession at one time the hardcover called "My Name is Lucy Barton," and I am kicking myself now for discarding it without reading it. It was a First Edition, First Printing so I am really upset that I didn't hold on to it. Until, I just finished "Oh William," I was utterly captivated by how I would love to have a candid and honest friend just like Lucy Barton. Her first husband William is on good terms with her and they share two adult daughters.. Lucy is a writer and her second husband has passed away. William has just been divorced from his third wife named, Estelle. Lucy notices that William has never processed rejection well when they take a trip to Maine to look in on the sister his mother Catherine had with her first husband. His half sister talks to Lucy and she seemed to have lived a good life while Lucy goes to her house and meets her outside gardening while William stays in the car. His half sister does not have any desire to meet William and Lucy the ever diplomatic person understands. She does notice William has trouble with feeling rejection or as the novel points out with Lucy remembering William's now deceased mother Catherine telling her that William couldn't accept when the teacher couldn't pick up William everyday he was upset.

My favorite part is when Lucy realizes that she can't be the problem because it happened with his two former wives.--both Joanne and Estelle. As Lucy has that epiphany I grew to love and admire her.

This novel really was balm for my soul after just reading a really depressing book this one was just what I needed to cheer me up and restore my faith in fiction. I can't praise Elizabeth Strout high enough for creating such real and a narrative with a huge heart. I loved it and can't wait to read "My name is Lucy Barton." This was an absolute gem.

Publication Date: Octobor 19, 2021; Available Now, Already! Get your copy today! I guarantee that you will love this because nobody writes with such AUTHENTICITY as Elizabeth Strout!

Thank you to Net Galley, the Talented Elizabeth Strout and Random House Publishing Group for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#OhWilliam #ElizabethStrout #RandomHousePublishingGroup #NetGalley

This book really got me thinking. Oh William! was a pleasant, nice read, but after I finished, I started to think of how this could be almost anyone's life, even though it seems unlikely. I like the family drama, which was not the usual kind of "drama" at all. It was just the everyday types of things that families go through, including arguments, infidelity, divorce, finding hidden family secrets. On the surface, I would consider this to be a light family saga, certainly not "chick lit', but upon reflection, I think there is a lot more to this story. It certainly made me think and reflect on my own life, as I near William and Lucy's age.

Honestly, I could have read and read and read—I hated to have it end, With simple words and interesting characters Strout raises issues that are important for all of us to think about—why are we where we are? What do we really know about our spouse, our friend, our children. How does one emotionally nourish themselves and ones they love? It goes on and on but all written so beautifully.

I think I would have enjoyed this book more if I had read the previous two. I had no idea it was a series and that there were two more before it. I also think I would have liked it more if I knew what it was like to be married. Because I don't, I found it difficult to identify with characters in their sixties trying to make sense of their relationship after a divorce and subsequent new marriages and their children becoming adults. I'm sure someone in a long-time marriage would enjoy this a lot.

That is what the book is about, after all. Not much happens in it. It's very much an inner exploration by a woman in her sixties as she reflects upon her relationship with her former husband, William. The writing is skillful but it's a lot quieter than the books I like to read. I enjoyed William's mother, Catherine, the most. The final dawning realization that Lucy has was powerful and satisfying so I ultimately wasn't mad that I read through to the end. It's always nice when the ending is worth it, leaving me feeling full. All in all, I'm sure that there are a lot of people out there that would love this!

Thank you to Netgalley for a chance to read and review this book. I discovered Elizabeth Strout just a few years back and have thoroughly enjoyed her books! Elizabeth Strout returns with her beloved Lucy Barton, now 63, reflecting on her enduring relationship with scientist William Gerhardt, her first husband, with whom she has 2 daughters, Chrissy and Becka, leaving him after almost 20 years of marriage.

This is the ongoing tale of Lucy Barton from Strout's previous book. Lucy is now divorced, remarried and widowed. She reconnects with her first husband William, and the life stories of many people are developed by this connection.. Lucy has her own issues, as does William, and we know much more about them by the end of the book. And maybe a bit more about ourselves.

An interesting read - neither life-altering or can’t-put-downable… might follow the author for backlist & future reads.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.

This is my third Elizabeth Strout book, and it’s as well-written as her other work. Candidly, her style isn’t my first choice, but I know I’m in the very small minority. Fans of hers will adore this!

Oh William! Oh Elizabeth, what a wonderfully engaging new American classic from the gifted author Elizabeth Stroud. I always want to read her novels slowly, savoring the eloquent turn of phrase, smiling at the tender bits, and closing my eyes at the sad ones. A five star read of course.

Elizabeth Street's Oh William! Is a book I will re-read and I'll be recommending it to friends. No one writes about families, the mysteries of families, and the deep intermingling feelings Mrs and emotions not families quite like Ms. Strout. Loved it!

I was fortunate enough to get an advance copy of Oh, William! by Elizabeth Strout through @netgalley (thank you!) - life got the better of me and I was not able to finish it before it was released late last month, but I still had to come on here to share how much I enjoyed this novel. I have not yet read any of Elizabeth Strout’s books (though I will certainly pick up My Name is Lucy Barton!), and was surprised by the unique voice that narrates this story. It feels very much like speaking with a good friend, which I found just delightful. It’s a quiet story about marriage (told through a story largely about Lucy’s relationship with her ex William), and this book leaves an impression. It was a great read during this hectic time of year.

This is my first novel by Elizabeth Strout, and although family dramas can be hit or miss for me, I really enjoyed the story of the troubled ex-husband, Lucy, and the layers of marital issues they experienced. The writing is not literary, nor is the story plot-driven, but the thoughts and conversations being had felt intimate and subtle. There are themes of loss, acceptance, betrayal, and forgiveness.

Overall, this was an interesting read. I look forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you to #netgalley and the @RandomHouse for my advanced e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

Life goes so fast. But yet when we are stuck in it we feel like it can drag and stagnate at certain stages. And you think that if you spend every day with someone then you know them. Everything, But that isn't true. It can never be true. Enter the lives of Lucy and William. Lucy, we have met before. I know when I was reading I am Lucy Barton years ago I was a little conflicted about how I felt about her and her family dynamics. Now in Oh, William! I am fully invested but now Lucy and William are truly over and I am heartbroken. I will never NOT read an Elizabeth Strout novel. She takes you, your friend, your neighbor and exposes everything from the mundane to the little spark that makes a personality extraordinary.

Once again, a magical, unique slice of Lucy Barton’s life, with all its honesty and attachment. This third encounter is less heart wrenching but just as vivid as Lucy accompanies her first husband on a peculiar quest. Strout is splendid.

Elizabeth Strout At her finest. Her characters are so real you feel like you know them. Her take and observations on marriage are like no other author I’ve read

Lucy reminisces life with her first husband, William after her 2nd spouse, David dies. Reminiscing helps provide some insight into William's temperament, particularly in light of William's father, Wilhelm, being involved with Germany's concentration camps.,

I just finished this gem and truly, it was indeed a gem!

This read like Lucy (the main character) was sitting in my living room and she and I were having a conversation. I absolutely loved it! The subject was interesting and the details were incredible.

Lucy is William’s ex wife but, still plays a very important part of his life. He respects her opinion and he asks for her help and advice quite often. They share two daughters together and their histories are pretty incredible.

This was such a great read that I want to read her other books. Apparently they are a series and all focus on the same characters and past history. Thank you to the author, Random House and NetGalley for the review copy! Without a doubt, a recommended read!

This book took me some time to get through. I definitely could see why she was frustrated with her ex-husband. She also had quite a bit of trauma from her past. This book just seemed disjointed to me and didn't really flow until about halfway through.