Elizabeth Strout’s novels are just like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, except nothing happens and the multiverse is Maine. Her past books have explored the inner lives of a series of interlocking characters who are doing the best they can, given the specific set of events that made them who they are. Strout’s ability to breathe life into these non-superheroes , to create recognizable, flawed, sympathetic, interesting humans, has won her a huge following and many honors, including the 2009