"Tell Me Everything" | Reviewed by Val Jankowski

I was first introduced to Strout’s imaginary community of Crosby, Maine in her Pulitzer Prize winning novel “Olive Kitteridge.” I have been a fan of her novels ever since. Her most recent novel, “Tell Me Everything,” was a welcome to return to Crosby and its characters I have grown to know and love.

Strout’s characters Olive, Bob Burgess, and Lucy Barton are brought together in this quiet novel about the meaning of one’s life, connection and love. Olive is in a nursing home and meets Lucy Barton after they are introduced by their mutual friend, Bob Burgess. Lucy begins to visit Olive often and they swap stories about people they have interacted with throughout their lives. Through these stories, they discover truths about each other and themselves.

Meanwhile, Bob and Lucy’s friendship grows as they share confidences over long walks even though they are involved with other people. Bob, a retired lawyer, agrees to represent a young man involved in a murder investigation which moves the novel along, yet also continues the theme of connection through story.

“Tell Me Everything” is the fifth novel in Strout’s Amgash series but it can be read as a stand-alone (although the characters will be richer if you read Strout’s other novels as well).  This was the perfect book for me to read when I wanted a quiet novel that would allow me to really know a character or, in this case, three characters.

One of my favorite quotes from the novel comes from Lucy: “Those are my stories…They are stories of loneliness and love…And the small connections we make in the world if we are lucky.” I feel lucky to have made a small connection with this wonderful world Strout has created.

     Buy the Book.