Amy and Isabelle Book

Loved. Loved. Loved.
I'm already a huge Strout fan and I've been meaning to go back and read this, her first novel. I'm so glad I did. A sure sign of 5 stars for me is when I can hardly read fast enough to devour the writing/storytelling/characters while at the same time never wanting it to end. That was me this morning.
Strout fans will recognize the sense of longing and loneliness in her characters, themes she has continued to explore in her more recent works. I was captivated by the mother-daughter dynamic which propels this novel. She writes from both perspectives with such honesty and integrity that I was convinced I was in both women's minds. Even more astonishing (especially for a first novel), Strout brilliantly introduces and brings to life a host of ancillary characters who populate this small New England town.
I am so impressed that she keeps the central storyline moving while still taking readers down these side paths and dramas. In fact, I think it is this depth and richness of storytelling that makes Strout such a dependable and fulfilling read for me.
Obviously, she was a master novelist from the start. Now I just want more.