So you need to read Lucy Barton to fully... — Anything Is... Q&A (2024)

MaryI think you can read the book without having read it, but go and read Lucy Barton after you do, and you'll appreciate it. Reading these books is like moving to a small town -- it will take you a long time to really understand the interconnectedness of people in the town.

I read Lucy Barton when it came out and loved it so much that I immediately reread the book. I had borrowed it from the library. When I saw that this book was coming out, I immediately ordered both books, because I know I will be rereading them. I want to immerse myself in Strout's world.

It's hard to explain, but reading these simple stories creates in me a meditation about being alive. It makes me look at my own relationships, and at the stories I tell myself about people in my life. There is something profound that Strout is touching upon, and a tremendous human empathy. Read Lucy Barton before or after -- see what you think. You too might be drawn to reread both books.

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• 7 years ago

SusanElizabeth Strout is an amazing short story writer whose stories stand on their own, chapter by chapter. However, the stories are connected somehow, usually through one character. In this case, the stories are connected by Lucy Barton. In Olive Kitteredge, they were connected by Olive. It's not essential that you read Lucy Barton first, but I think you'd get more out of Anything is Possible if you did. I'd like to go back now and read both of them to clarify all the connections in my mind. Again, that would not be essential, but these characters are very compelling!

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• 7 years ago

SonjaThe first book I read by Strout is Amy and Elizabeth - it was wonderful and I've tried to read all her other books. She's a great writer.

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• 7 years ago

Cathryn DuBowAfter I finished this one, I went back to re-read Lucy Barton so I could really appreciate all of the stories and how the characters related to Lucy.

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• 7 years ago

Meg LelvisNo, it's not necessary to read Lucy Barton first. I read it over a year before this one, and forgot some details. You discover more depth of Lucy's background, but you get the main idea here.

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• 7 years ago

AnneNo, not necessary, but it added to my enjoyment. I LOVE this book. Read it, and promptly re-read it, to get my head around all the relationships. If I drew a diagram of the connections within, I would have a complex web of lines. Smashing.

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• 7 years ago

Elizabeth I haven't read Lucy Barton, and I LOVED this one. You'll definitely want to hear her full story after finishing this. Maybe more of a companion novel than a sequel or continuation?

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• 7 years ago

RoseI read My Name is Lucy Barton but cannot recall a single thing.....hospital? Mom visit? maybe? I really enjoyed this book but it still doesn't measure up to Olive Kitteridge.

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• 6 years ago

Brenda LawrenceI am sorry that I had not read Lucy Barton before Anything is Possible. It is a stand-alone book but I felt a little bit 'at sea' with the different characters, not knowing much about their backgrounds. I have now ordered Lucy Barton and will read it asap.

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• 7 years ago

Annegitte HjortHugely enjoyed 'Anything is Possible', even though I have not read 'Lucy Barton' (yet!).

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• 7 years ago

SuzetteI read Lucy Barton first. That is not necessary, but you will want to read Lucy Barton if you like this book.

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• 7 years ago

LyndaIt could possibly be better to read this BEFORE reading Lucy Barton! I think reading this book may have provided insights to help understand My Name Is Lucy Barton.

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• 4 years ago

EllenNo. I did not read Lucy Barton, and still enjoyed Anything is Possible.

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• 4 years ago

LeaI read all of her books in order and while it isn't at all necessary, it is really cool to see the connections. It's exciting when a thread from a previous book is uncovered. It will not ruin the story for you at all though.

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• 5 years ago

Andrew MarshallI haven't read Lucy Barton but I read Anything is Possible. To be honest, I wished that I had because I kept on feeling I was missing out on important information. However, the feeling faded as I went through the book...

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• 5 years ago

lynwen wescottNo I don't think so, although the characters are familiar they crop up in individual short stories rather than a continuation of Lucy Barton. I was disappointed that this was the case, I'm not usually a short story reader.. however this is undoubtedly a good read l

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• 6 years ago

Kathleen BaltmanDefinitely!!! Short answer because the benefits add another level of depth to the book.

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• 7 years ago

DiI didn't read Lucy Barton first, but I plan to.

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• 7 years ago