Oh William!: A Novel
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • BOOKER PRIZE FINALIST • The Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Olive Kitteridge and My Name is Lucy Barton explores the mysteries of marriage and the secrets we keep, as a former couple reckons with where they’ve come from—and what they’ve left behind.
ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Maureen Corrigan, NPR’s Fresh Air
“Elizabeth Strout is one of my very favorite writers, so the fact that Oh William! may well be my favorite of her books is a mathematical equation for joy. The depth, complexity, and love contained in these pages is a miraculous achievement.”—Ann Patchett, author of The Dutch House
I would like to say a few things about my first husband, William.
Lucy Barton is a writer, but her ex-husband, William, remains a hard man to read. William, she confesses, has always been a mystery to me. Another mystery is why the two have remained connected after all these years. They just are.
So Lucy is both surprised and not surprised when William asks her to join him on a trip to investigate a recently uncovered family secret—one of those secrets that rearrange everything we think we know about the people closest to us. There are fears and insecurities, simple joys and acts of tenderness, and revelations about affairs and other spouses, parents and their children. On every page of this exquisite novel we learn more about the quiet forces that hold us together—even after we’ve grown apart.
A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The New York Times Book Review, The Washington Post, Time, Vulture, She Reads
ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Maureen Corrigan, NPR’s Fresh Air
“Elizabeth Strout is one of my very favorite writers, so the fact that Oh William! may well be my favorite of her books is a mathematical equation for joy. The depth, complexity, and love contained in these pages is a miraculous achievement.”—Ann Patchett, author of The Dutch House
I would like to say a few things about my first husband, William.
Lucy Barton is a writer, but her ex-husband, William, remains a hard man to read. William, she confesses, has always been a mystery to me. Another mystery is why the two have remained connected after all these years. They just are.
So Lucy is both surprised and not surprised when William asks her to join him on a trip to investigate a recently uncovered family secret—one of those secrets that rearrange everything we think we know about the people closest to us. There are fears and insecurities, simple joys and acts of tenderness, and revelations about affairs and other spouses, parents and their children. On every page of this exquisite novel we learn more about the quiet forces that hold us together—even after we’ve grown apart.
A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The New York Times Book Review, The Washington Post, Time, Vulture, She Reads
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Readers say Elizabeth Strout’s *Oh William!* is a deeply character-driven novel that explores the human condition with empathy, honesty, and rich emot...
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What’s it about?
Lucy Barton and her ex-husband William have been divorced for years and yet they remain connected to each other. In this novel Lucy explores the nature of their relationship.
What did it make me think about?
“But who ever really knows the experience of another?”
Should I read it?
I LOVE Elizabeth Strout- she writes so sparingly and yet has such insights. I am in awe of her abilities as a writer. Do not miss this little gem of a story. My absolute favorite book this year!
What’s it about?
Lucy Barton and her ex-husband William have been divorced for years and yet they remain connected to each other. In this novel Lucy explores the nature of their relationship.
What did it make me think about?
“But who ever really knows the experience of another?”
Should I read it?
I LOVE Elizabeth Strout- she writes so sparingly and yet has such insights. I am in awe of her abilities as a writer. Do not miss this little gem of a story. My absolute favorite book this year!
This is a very character-driven series that explores the human condition through multigenerational connecting stories. Elizabeth Strout has a lovely way of writing about complex people with such a beautiful depth, empathy, and honesty. I didn't love the 2nd book, but this one was a wonderful. Each book in this series has left me reflecting on how we all are imperfect people who contain multitudes, and we are capable of so much in one lifetime. I agree with another reviewer who said, Strout can "write about the ordinary in a most extraordinary way." (I'd love to know how much of the author's life is reflected in the character Lucy Barton, who is also a writer.)
I did not enjoy this book. The characters were hard for me to care about, and the author's writing style made me want to throw the book against the wall at times. I know this is a well regarded author, but thank goodness we all don't have to like the same things, right?
Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout is a slow, slice-of-life novel that follows Lucy Barton, a successful writer living in New York. I read this one with my book club, and really enjoyed it.
The book is about various incidents that make Lucy "reconnect" with her first husband William, after the death of her second husband. They go on a trip together (both literally and emotionally), just to unearth old memories and family secrets.
The story isn’t driven by dramatic events. It's mostly about Lucy’s inner thoughts and her interactions with people around her, especially William. It feels like reading someone’s private journal written at the end of a long day.
At just 240 pages, Oh William! is almost a short read. And even though it's part of a series, it feels complete on its own.
The writing is simple and easy to follow, and Lucy feels personal and honest. She feels like a charming grandma looking to build new connections out in the world.
It's not fast-paced though. So, you might like taking your sweet time to read. It's a slow read for slow afternoons.
Best suited for readers who enjoy introspective, literary fiction. The relationship between Lucy and William made me mushy on several occasions.
This was an OK book but not one of my favorites by far. The writing style was interesting and different from any other book I have read.
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