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50 pages 1 hour read

Elizabeth Strout

Lucy by the Sea

Elizabeth StroutFiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2022

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Book 1, Chapters 4-5Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Book 1

Book 1, Chapter 4 Summary

Sometimes Lucy feels angry with David, her dead husband. She knows this is part of grieving, but also worries because she hasn’t dreamed of him. In addition, she cannot stop seeing the news image of coffins for those who died of the virus in New York and are unclaimed.

William has gone to the grocery store and pharmacy a few times. He tells her about the empty shelves and the toilet paper shortage. The next time he goes, she decides to go along with him, but stays in the car. She is interested in everyone going into the store—especially the women, dressed in leggings and no makeup. While Lucy is waiting, a woman yells at her to go back to New York. Lucy is embarrassed, but when she tells William, he is not sympathetic.

Bob brings Maine license plates for their car. He asks if he can bring his wife Margaret along next time. One night, William sees a guard tower, but Lucy doesn’t care. She still struggles to comprehend what they are living through, and life feels foreign. However, they have moments of happiness, and have settled into a routine over the month they have been in Maine.

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