Olive Kitteridge: Fiction
Olive Kitteridge: Fiction In a voice more powerful and compassionate than ever before, New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Strout binds together thirteen rich, luminous narratives into a book with the heft of a novel, through the presence of one larger-than-life, unforgettable character: Olive Kitteridge.
At the edge of the continent, Crosby, Maine, may seem like nowhere, but seen through this brilliant writer’s eyes, it’s in essence the whole world, and the lives that are lived there are filled with all of the grand human drama–desire, despair, jealousy, hope, and love.
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 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 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.
Customer Review: Olive Kitteridge is every person who questions what in the world they are doing here.
I closed this book with a feeling of “oh my gosh, what a story!” Presented in a series of short stories within the ongoing story of a woman’s later years in life, this was one of the most unique books I have read in a long time. The main character is somone we have all been at one time or another whether we want to admit it or not. We have all felt put-upon, self-rightous, lonely, hateful, superior, and tired. I also think, at one time or another, we have all felt that all the other people around us are slow-witted jerks who are only trying to make our lives miserable. This is Olive Kitteridge. She, like all of us, is ego-centric and wonders why all these things keep happening to HER. At times you want to despise her while at the same time completely understanding what she is thinking. The author does a wonderful job at describing the insecurities, obsessions, insanities and sadnesses of small town denizens and their interconnected lives.
Customer Review: Olive Kitteridge
This is a book about a small Maine community filled with “normal” people who have a preponderance of problems often complicated by their stereotypical prejudices. We learn about it all and get carried along by an unusually blunt woman’s life experiences. The format for this book is a collection of vignettes linked together by their connection to the middle-aged Olive Kitteridge. Lovely scenes along the Maine coast sparkle throughout the book as we get to know this character who is transitioning from working to retirement and old age.
Joining chapters loosely in stories instead of using a traditional novel form may be an interesting artistic device in some circumstances, but sadly, it did not work for me here. Frequently repetitions occurred from chapter to chapter. I also believe this format caused the severity of the problems her characters faced to be rushed through. I believe a deep story was constrained by the autonomous chapter structure the author used. Ms. Strout had something of value to impart, and I think it got overwhelmed.
Victimhood and complacency among Olive’s acquaintances and neighbors cast a net of hopelessness, so I wouldn’t recommend this book if you are feeling depressed. Fiction that focuses us on difficult circumstances seems obliged to offer some alternatives. That way, readers can finish the book with strength, not emotionally exhausted. Remarkably, the author succeeds in winning the reader’s sympathy for Olive despite her outright crankiness and lack of a socially acceptable filter.
For me, the book ended with a scenario that did not seem consistent with the Olive I came to know. People mellow as they age, but do not change that much.
Tags: Fiction book, Cheap Fiction book, Literature and Fiction book, Literature book, Cheap Literature book
