Oh William! by Elizabeth Stout

The current installment in the trilogy that reflects on the life that is Lucy's, she is in her sixth decade, a moderately successful novelist who is about to lose her second (and dearly held) husband. He is the one who well and truly gets her, who values her above all others. She is still friendly with her ex-husband, partly for their shared kids, partly because they are still friends. The book, sparse as it is, reflects on all things that make up family--the ones you marry, the ones you leave, and the ones that you share blood with. There are a lot of permutations on display here, and oh so many hurt feelings. COVID is not in the picture, but severe neglect and poverty in childhood are front and center. The reverberations to the next generation and beyond are unmistakable. It is a quiet book, one that leaves you with more than you started with, and a lot to ponder.