In the small town of Amgash, Illinois, people struggle to cope with the disappointments of life. Some seek to live a good life, to perform small acts of kindness and to understand those around them. Some don't. Pulitzer Prize winning author Elizabeth Strout paints a picture of Amgash via a series of portraits of its citizens. She quietly illuminates lives of poverty, prejudice, betrayal, bravery and occasional grace. If you've read her previous novel "My Name is Lucy Barton" then you will recognize Amgash as Lucy's hometown, the place she fled as soon as she was able. Strout reminds me of Kent Haruf, another chronicler of small town life. Her stories are not full of action, they are reflective and concerned with people's inner lives, and the legacy of past deeds. Although sometimes sad, "Anything is Possible" is written with a generous spirit and is a joy to read.
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