On July 17th, Central Library Brown Baggers discussed Elizabeth Strout’s “Tell Me Everything” , a 2024 Oprah’s Book Club selection and the 5th title in Strout’s “Amgash” series.  (The books in this series all take place in a fictional small town in Maine, and the characters intersect through the different books.)  The books can be read as one-offs, meaning you don’t have to read them in order.

Most of our readers had read other books by Strout with “Olive Kitteridge” considered the best in the series.  Some readers felt “Tell Me Everything” had not only had too many characters, but they really didn’t like most of the characters and didn’t want to hear everything they had to say!  Also, even though there was a “murder mystery” side plot, most of our readers felt the plot line didn’t really build to anything.  

We primarily discussed the various characters in the book.  Most of our readers preferred the scenarios when Olive Kitteridge was involved. Lucy Barton (My Name is Lucy Barton) who is listening to Olive’s stories, is also a potential love/conflict of interest for the character Bob.  Bob is described by Lucy as a “sin-eater”, with a sin-eater being someone who carries or absorbs others’ burdens.  (Have you heard that term before?)  Bob also takes on the role of trying to fix things for everyone he encounters. (Learn more about Bob Burgess in “The Burgess Boys” by Strout.)

We also discussed the various possible themes of the book–including- what is the meaning of any person’s life? 

Entering Epheus by Daphne Athas