Nov 12, 2009

Amy and Isabelle | Amy and Isabelle

At a glance:

Author: Elizabeth Strout
First Published: 1999
Type of Work: Novel
Time of Work: The 1990’s
Setting: Maine
Principal Characters: Isabelle Goodrow, Amy Goodrow, Stacy Burrows, Avery Clark, Thomas Robertson
Genres: Long fiction
Subjects: Maturation or coming of age, Mothers, Parents and children, Sex or sexuality, Class consciousness, New England, Illegitimacy, 1990’s
Locales: Maine

Elizabeth Strout’s first novel, Amy and Isabelle, is about desires, disappointments, and secrets and features a single mother, Isabelle Goodrow, and her sixteen-year-old daughter Amy. Both have needs which they hide from each other, until Amy is caught in a sexual encounter with one of her teachers and the mother and daughter’s relationship changes.

The story takes place in Shirley Falls, a mill town in Maine that is divided by a river. Amy and Isabelle live on one side of the river as the exceptions to the well-off residents who also live there, including Amy’s...

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Amy and Isabelle | Amy and Isabelle

At a glance:

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