At times stern, at other times patient, at times perceptive, at other times in sad denial, Olive Kitteridge, a retired schoolteacher, deplores the changes in her little town of Crosby, Maine, and in the world at large, but she doesn't always recognize the changes in those around her: a lounge musician haunted by a past romance; a former student who has lost the will to live; Olive's own adult child, who feels tyrannized by her irrational sensitivities; and her husband, Henry, who finds his loyalty to his marriage both a blessing and a curse. As the townspeople grapple with their problems, mild and dire, Olive is brought to a deeper understanding of herself and her life-sometimes painfully, but always with ruthless honesty. Olive Kitteridge offers profound insights into the human condition-its conflicts, its tragedies and joys, and the endurance it requires. Praise for Olive Kitteridge: "Perceptive, deeply empathetic . . . Olive is the axis around which these thirteen complex, relentlessly human narratives spin themselves into Elizabeth Strout's unforgettable novel in stories." -O: The Oprah Magazine "Fiction lovers, remember this name: Olive Kitteridge. . . . You'll never forget her. . . . [Elizabeth Strout] constructs her stories with rich irony and moments of genuine surprise and intense emotion. . . . Glorious, powerful stuff." -USA Today "Funny, wicked and remorseful, Mrs. Kitteridge is a compelling life force, a red-blooded original. When she's not onstage, we look forward to her return. The book is a page-turner because of her." -San Francisco Chronicle "Olive Kitteridge still lingers in memory like a treasured photograph." -Seattle Post-Intelligencer "Rarely does a story collection pack such a gutsy emotional punch." -Entertainment Weekly "Strout animates the ordinary with astonishing force. . . . [She] makes us experience not only the terrors of change but also the terrifying hope that change can bring: she plunges us into these churning waters and we come up gasping for air." -The New Yorker
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Was highly recommended to me and rightfully so:
The mother of a friend read this book in a book club of hers and raved about how good the writing was and how much they all enjoyed it. After reading it myself, I completely agree. So very worthy of the awards received. A must read!
unforgettable book:
One of the most beautifully written books I have read in a long time. The author is masterful in her approach to touching upon
life's most delicate moments.
Short stories can make a novel:
This was an interesting style of writing that caught my attention throughout the book. The characters were unique and Olive was a fascinating woman with quirky habits and ways of thinking that were intrigueing. A great read.
Thoroughly enjoyable:
Beautifully written, poignant and powerful, this loosely connected collection of vignettes illuminates life's inexorable changes as experienced by retired schoolteacher Olive Kitteridge. As Olive's daily life quietly orbits her fellow townsfolk, the transient conjunctions formed between them reveal lives of "quiet desperation" and provide profound insights into the human condition. Pierces straight to the heart.
