Reviews

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

jackc5755's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

angelica_jardinerica's review against another edition

5.0

There's something exquisite about how Elizabeth Strout portrays the human condition, with all its flaws, virtues, joys and tragedies. While it's true there doesn't initially appear to be much joy in any of the stories presented in the book, I found myself wanting to go back and join the world of these complex characters as they just try to get through life and all it throws at them. There's so much to identify with and so much that resonates in the different relationships, some which overlap in the various chapters. Strict, disciplined, ex-teacher Olive comes across as extremely judgemental, but we are at risk of falling into the trap of judging her as she simply struggles to navigate a world she often doesn't understand. One of the issues the novel raises is: how far are we victims of circumstance, or victims of our own decisions? We are all products of our past, and no life is free of trauma; and, at the end of the day we all want to be loved.

jenmangler's review

2.0

I really had to force myself to finish this book. It was such a long slog and made me sad.

afletche's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Community, marriage, linked short stories

monkeyboystiff's review

2.0

The writing in this book was very poetic and evocative, it gave a real sense of the place and the people in it. The first story really tugged at my emotions, and I thought I would really enjoy this series of short tales.

Then I read on...and they were just all miserable one after the other. Terrible things happened to them in them all, they were all about chances missed, opportunities lost, and people wasting their lives. The blurb makes it sound like out of these misfortunes there will be some jewel that shows off the beauty of the human spirit or something. Nope, they were just bloody depressing.

I also hated Olive, she was a mean-spirited, grumpy, and immature creature. I didn't sympathise with her at all - I liked her husband and felt incredibly sorry for him. She treated everyone like shit; again I expected that gradually the reasons for this would be revealed and she would be humanised. Nope, she was just a cow.

It took me ages to finish this pretty short book, because I couldn't face delving into such depressing lives.

snailondawindow's review against another edition

3.0

look it was fine, better towards the end. mum and dad recommended and it’s definitely more their thing. boring for the most part 

chrisje's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

jennyluwho's review

4.0

‘Had they known at these moments to be quietly joyful? Most likely not. People mostly did not know enough when they were living life that they were living it.’

liltag's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective relaxing sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

bibi003's review against another edition

4.0

Olive Kitteridge is a salty old lady and she has very little patience for all the stupid people in her life. She has been living with the trauma of her father's suicide and not quite succeeding at managing her mental health for YEARS, and now, in her retirement, she is coming to terms with being in the twilight years of her life.

I loved how Strout didn't simply tell us Olive's story. She showed us who Olive IS through her relationships and interactions with her family and the people in her community. Her strained relationship with her son, the confusion of why her husband sticks around (he must love her), her past students and neighbours all give us a glimpse into Olive's life and her motivations.

This novel unfolds in a series of chapters that are more like short stories, told from the perspective of numerous characters. Each piece reveals a little bit more about Olive to the reader, and deepens our understanding of this grumpy and impatient person, the "mean old math teacher." Eventually, I found myself having a lot of compassion for her. And I will probably read the sequel, because I'm invested enough now that I want to know how things work out for her.

The writing was beautiful and immersive. At times, I found myself being swept away in Olive's thoughts and jarred back to reality along with her when she was forced to interact with the people around her. Reading this book was a beautiful experience and I see why this nivel won the Pulitzer.