Was it difficult to read about the pandemic?

For me there were times when reading about the pandemic was difficult. I was worried about friends and family and scared to go out. Did this book bring up those memories for you?

It definitely brought back 'feelings' that I had tucked away these past couple years. Revisiting that initial panic, not-knowing, worry about friends, family, work, etc wasn't always pleasant. I think Strout did a good job eliciting those feelings and it was an integral part of the novel.

I had no difficulty reading about the pandemic. I certainly was vaccinated and did go grocery shopping with a mask on, took walks outside etc. luckily I didn’t know of anyone who was adversely affected. My son lived in Manhattan and we often talked when people were banging pots and pans in support of the caregivers. It felt like a sense of community, foreign to Manhattan.

I did not find it difficult to read about the pandemic, and I actually thought it seemed like so long ago. I think we all felt like we lost 2 years of our lives. I was lucky in that I did not know anyone who died because of the virus and neither did I know anyone in NYC. I did lose friends over the pandemic response however.

I did not find it difficult to read about the pandemic. It reminded me of how isolated that I was during this time. At first, I thought that we would be locked down for a couple of weeks. We washed groceries and did things that we now know were not necessary, but we adapted. I began ordering groceries online and driving to curbside pickup. I liked to drive to get them because it got me out of my house. I remained in contact with some people through Zoom for meetings and book club. Every week, I looked forward to Sunday School on Zoom. We studied many good books, and the weekly time together was invaluable to me. I looked forward to my BookBrowse books. Belonging to BookBrowse during that time enriched my life. It was a difficult time, and I did lose a friend before vaccines were available. I am thankful that we can gather again, especially for the holidays.

No, I did not find it difficult to read about the Pandemic.
I think Lucy by the Sea really captured the gamut of emotions that was felt during the first year of the Pandemic and we were reintroduced to them all.

Reading about the pandemic definitely brought back flashes of isolation and anguish, but I feel most of us had a chance to revalue family and some close friends. Covid is here to stay and it will remain to be seen how it may once again affect our lives. I think most of us are better prepared for what the next pandemic will bring.I do believe the author, through this novel, definitely brought that period of time up close and personal in her descriptions.

I did not find it difficult to read about the pandemic. I do feel it difficult to live with the aftermath of the pandemic. The mistrust it created in our government, our scientists, the failures in our school system: who do you believe and what do you do? Lucy brought to mind the many fears people faced during that year and even now. By the same token, I feel it is good to be reminded of some of the fears for family, for friends and even personal hygiene. Pandemics are likely to occur again.

No, I didn't find it difficult to read about the pandemic.

I was surprised that this book was as in depth as it was and solely about the pandemic, but it didn't bother me. I don't know if I would have selected it had I known-not necessarily because of the subject-but I'm also not a huge fan of Elizabeth Strout.

Coronavirus has popped up in a lot of books I have read over the past year, although, not as the main focus of the story. During lockdown, I was on hold at my library for books about the pandemic in 1917. I think even in the midst of our own pandemic, people were searching for answers and understanding through books. We were alone so much during the Coronavirus, I found myself feeling very interested in what that experience was like for someone else (yes, I know Lucy is a fictional character). My friends and family aren't discussing it much yet, and I don't know if they ever will.

I didn't mind reading about the pandemic but I don't think I would have picked this book to read on my own. The characters had some different experiences during this time than I had - moving away from their home in another state, was able to make new friends.

I found it more interesting than difficult. I was much like Lucy--not really accepting
that it was here and we had to be careful. I hated the isolation but had no choice but
accepting the restraints. By reading Lucy's details of isolation I was truly thankful that
it is over and that I stayed well.

While I recognize it could be a trigger for some it was not for me. Everyone experienced it differently...for some it may be cathartic to read about other's experiences. I worked as a pediatric nurse practitioner during the pandemic...for us it did not effect children early in the pandemic and luckily more mildly. Every day was different as the information was rapidly changing in terms of diagnosis and management. We could not see sick children in the office, only well. Sick children were sent to the ED for evaluation, testing and subsequent management. We had to see newborns separately in a different location...as the science emerged and we followed the guidelines our patient population fared pretty well. I do agree with Reene...dealing with the aftermath is very difficult and continues to be so.

I think it could be difficult to read about the pandemic but in Lucy by the Sea, the pandemic created the conditions for Lucy and William to rekindle their romantic relationships and their commitments to each other. William often seemed self absorbed in his life but he was so thoughtful about the well being of others in avoiding serious illness or death due to the corona virus. I began to appreciate William much more because of his concerns and the actions he took to keep others safe.

No, I did not find it difficult to read about the pandemic. It made me revisit that time and I felt Strout did a very good job of creating the loneliness and all the feelings associated with lockdown and the fear. We lost members of my husband’s family who believed the lies spread about the virus and the vaccine and refused to be vaccinated. It hurts still. They were good people, misguided, but truly good people. I remember how much I depended on my books and BookBrowse and how much I missed my in person book clubs. None of which have restarted. However, I did find more online Bookclubs to start and to join. There was much in the book that resonated with me

I'm glad I read this book in 2023 and not sooner. There was a lot more than just the pandemic tied up in that time period, with a lot of emotion. I think that Elizabeth Strout did an excellent job of describing that time when we were isolating and worried about those we loved and worried about our country. She touches on events without going into great depth, but for those of us that have lived through it recently, she didn't need to go into depth. For me, this story is a great representation of what I experienced. With a daughter living with us who has a chronic medical condition, we did and still do take things very seriously, so I was one who wore a mask (actually wore it, covering my nose and mouth), didn't attend in person events, did curbside pickup, etc.

I don't think it was difficult to read about the pandemic, but the storyline drew me back in time to remember some of my own fears, emotions, and coping mechanisms.
I remember especially trying to deal with not being able to see my children and grandchildren, working around masks and vaccines to start being able to get together again. My husband has heart issues so all of us were focused on keeping him safe--we did!!! He did have a bout of Covid, but because of the vaccine, he got to the other side with only a little discomfort. One of my grandsons has apparent natural immunity!
.

I think the experience of the early days of the pandemic was more intense in the East. By the time it affected our lives in small town middle America we knew more and could perhaps cope better. Reading about it was not difficult because I didn’t experience it like the characters in this book.

I really liked reading about the pandemic with someone that was processing it in real time.. I feel like I am Still learning things from that experience, learning about myself and what is important to me. The story helped me see other people's experiences, in different parts of the country and in different careers.

I don't find reading about the pandemic difficult. And this is not the first book set during that time that I have read. I particularly enjoyed Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult, as well as Doctors and Friends by Kimmery Martin.

I remember those early confusing days so well . . . including March 13, 2020, which was a Friday, ironically. That's the day I called my staff into my office, & told them to sign a telework agreement, grab their laptops, files, and any other needed equipment . . . and go home! I was on vacation the next week because I was supposed to be on a cruise to South America, departing March 11th, but canceled. (Fortunately, because the ship sailed, but only got as far as Mexico where all the passengers had to disembark and scramble to find flights back home!) I resumed work the following Monday, and ended up practicing law in my home office for 20 months, at which point I retired. We never did return to the office. My employer concluded that telework was so effective it would be permanent.

It was such a surreal time! I left the house rarely, worked in yoga pants with no makeup (to this day I still haven't worn any of the many suits still hanging in my closet), and mentored my staff, several of whom had young children & were trying to balance work and family at home. Court appearances were made via Zoom and there was absolutely no more business travel, which was a huge adjustment for folks who spent a lot of time traversing the California freeways and staying in hotels.

And yet . . . it was also weirdly enjoyable because I found I worked much more efficiently, and didn't miss having to dress professionally & commute.

But it was devastating to sit down and watch the news every night & see the suffering, fear, and grief all around me & throughout the world. So many lost so much and are still struggling . . . author Kimmery Martin, mentioned above, is a physician as well as author who has written openly about dealing with long COVID herself.

And it isn't really over, is it? I just got another booster shot last month. Wonder how many more there will be. Will COVID ever be completely eradicated?