Olive Kitteridge

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Readers learn about Olive Kitteridge through a series of connected short stories. Some are about Olive directly, while she plays minor parts in others.

First thoughts: Connected short stories are such an interesting way to tell a complete story about someone - we learn so much even from snippets of other people's lives, which might only briefly touch on Olive herself. The way lives intersect is beautiful.

First regrets: I wish I would have read more stories in a sitting - I would read a story here and there, and sometimes forgot some of the minor characters who came back into play later in the book.

Favorite quotes:

"He wondered what in her young life had made her not trust happiness..." p10

"She'd been through some things, but never mind. She straightened her back. Other people had been through things, too." p112

"People mostly did not know enough when they were living life that they were living it." p162

Recommended for: small-town dwellers, quiet folks with lots to say, character lovers.

Final thoughts: Loved it. Love Olive. It all works beautifully, and it's a perfect companion to a refreshing fall day.


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