In “Cracked,” the third chapter of Elizabeth Strout’s bestselling novel, Anything is Possible, I was most interested in the characters. The chapter’s main character, at least in contrast to Yvonne and Karen Lucie, is not entirely confident or assured. I question, even, if any woman could be self-assured if, after having been asked by her husband to watch other women undress, she agrees.

I have so many questions: Why doesn’t Yvonne continue in her pursuit of justice? Why won’t Linda testify against her husband, or admit to Karen Lucie that he has a problem? Why, when Joy stops by her house to talk to her about the possibility of jail, does she slam the door in her face? Where is Yvonne at the end of this chapter? We hear so much about Linda and her husband, but so little about Yvonne. That last we hear of her, Karen Lucie has taken her to the airport for a flight home where she will visit a “proper doctor.” What can we make of this?