Olive Kitteridge

By:

Synopsis
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. Random House Publishing Circle includes a Reader's Guide. The first portion of this is a mock interview with a Random House representative, meeting at Dunkin' Donuts in Crosby, Maine, interviewing both Elizabeth Strout (the author) and the fictional Olive Kitteridge herself.
Copyright:
2008

Book Details

Book Quality:
Excellent
Book Size:
288 Pages
ISBN-13:
9780812971835
Publisher:
Random House Publishing Group
Date of Addition:
Copyrighted By:
Elizabeth Strout
Adult content:
No
Language:
English
Has Image Descriptions:
No
Categories:
Literature and Fiction
Submitted By:
Liz Halperin
Proofread By:
Liz Halperin
Usage Restrictions:
This is a copyrighted book.

Reviews

5 out of 5

By on

Olive Kitteridge is a truly a literature reader's gem. When I proofread this book, I did not know it was a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction winner. Now I know and am so pleased. I will add that note when I tell friends to read it. Olive is present in all of the stories, sometimes just as a marginal, yet always forceful, character. She is opinionated about everything, but her views change a bit over her working and retired life. Possibly most illuminating is her relationship with her son, and of course her husband. At one time, her husband points out to her that she has never once apologized for anything. Does Life change Olive? Does Olive change Life? I don't know. I still wonder at the outcomes of several stories. Regardless whether you are in a readers' group, be sure to read the first part of the Random House Reader's Group content. The fictional interview between the publisher's rep, the author, and the fictional (?) character of Olive is hilarious.