Olive Kitteridge

Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Olive-Kitteridge-Fiction-Elizabeth-Strout/dp/0812971833/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262640407&sr=8-1

Because Ms. Parrish also posted about this book, I will try to add to what was already said and not be repetitive. I liked reading Olive Kitteridge because of the complexity and realness of the characters. I agree that Strout uses subtle, and often beautiful language which makes the novel enjoyable. However, I also agree that the town of Crosby, serves as simply a setting. The foundation of the novel that connects the vast population of characters together is Olive, who is linked to each character somehow. The novel is comprised of thirteen different stories, and honestly, the majority of characters besides Olive and her family were interchangeable in my mind. If the purpose is to focus on how Olive pulls the inhabitants of Crosby together, I feel it would be more effective for Strout to describe about four or five of the different people in depth, so we could at least remember them all. I agree that the structure of the novel is unclear, and still question the purpose of the multiple stories of families within Crosby, if Crosby is not central to the novel. Why not focus on solely people that were close to Olive, regardless of where they lived?

Although Olive is a gruff, cranky old school teacher, and most are either are afraid of her or hold a grudge against her, I found myself sympathizing with Olive throughout the novel. She pushes many people away, and suffers from this. She is truly a complex character, and I don't know if I am supposed to understand her, or if Strout wanted to leave her identity open for interpretation. However, I do know that she is capapble of being a heartfelt person. I would recommend this book solely because Olive's story is interesting and complex, but I cannot say that I enjoyed the content of the novel where she wasn't closely connected to the character's lives.