Olive Kitteridge in Review

My most recent literary delight came in short story form. Olive Kitteridge, by Elizabeth Strout, is one a book I thoroughly enjoyed and will certainly remember. Here is the Pulitzer Prize websites (which this book is a recipient of) summary of the book:


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.

I really loved the way that each story incorporated Olive and her quirks. Each story you read has some meaning, and at times the stories overlap. They are not all "feel good" stories, but very real and true to life. You'll for sure laugh, maybe cry, and definitely relate to this book. I truly think everyone knows an Olive. I know who mine is, who is yours?