WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE • THE EMMY AWARD–WINNING HBO MINISERIES STARRING FRANCES MCDORMAND, RICHARD JENKINS, AND BILL MURRAYIn a voice more powerful and compassionate than ever before, New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Strout binds together thirteen rich, luminous narratives into a book with the heft of a novel, through the presence of one larger-than-life, unforgettable character: … unforgettable character: Olive Kitteridge.
At the edge of the continent, Crosby, Maine, may seem like nowhere, but seen through this brilliant writer’s eyes, it’s in essence the whole world, and the lives that are lived there are filled with all of the grand human drama–desire, despair, jealousy, hope, and love.
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 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 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.
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY
People • USA Today • The Atlantic • The Washington Post Book World • Seattle Post-Intelligencer • Entertainment Weekly • The Christian Science Monitor • San Francisco Chronicle • Salon • San Antonio Express-News • Chicago Tribune • The Wall Street Journal
“Perceptive, deeply empathetic . . . Olive is the axis around which these thirteen complex, relentlessly human narratives spin themselves into Elizabeth Strout’s unforgettable novel in stories.”—O: The Oprah Magazine
“Fiction lovers, remember this name: Olive Kitteridge. . . . You’ll never forget her. . . . [Elizabeth Strout] constructs her stories with rich irony and moments of genuine surprise and intense emotion. . . . Glorious, powerful stuff.”—USA Today
BONUS: This edition includes an excerpt from Elizabeth Strout’s The Burgess Boys.
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Enjoyed the character of Olive. Prickly, but funny at times too.
Disjointed.
A wonderful reflection on what makes a woman’s life and the choices some have to make. It gave great psychological insight into the main character.
Marvelous portrayal of a rocked-ribbed Mainer. Sad, funny, and ringing true. I think Olive is one of literature’s great characters.
It won for good reason.
I love the stories that revolve around Olive. The writing is lovely and the people are realistic and wonderfully flawed.
I loved this book… the writing style, the involving and intriguing characters, and how the story unfolded. This is my favorite by this author, hands down.
Big in personality, feet, hands, Olive goes through life like a bull in a China closet. There are many whose hearts she touches. Her insight, her idiosyncrasies make her endearing.
I recommended this for my book club. I’ve read it 3 times. I love it.
This book came to me highly recommended and I was glad that I read it. However, I could not like Olive or even understand her, so that made the book disappointing to me.
This is a hard book to describe. I kept expecting something to happen but it never really did. I got through it but can’t recommend it.
I fell in love with this book. Well earned Pulitzer Price winner
The characters were well developed.
It’s brilliant. Quite an unusual main character. One doesn’t even necessarily like her. But one KNOWS her. And the pacing of the novel works very well.
Fabulous book. Olive Kitteridge is an interesting character.
I loved this one. What a character. Excellent writing, setting, and well… everything! Wonderful stuff.
Olive was hard to like yet was likable.
The author’s style of writing had me hooked from the first page. But, it is her characters that make this book gritty, yet believable. We have all known some of these people, or lived with them.
I just could not get into this book. Didn’t like the characters much and the story line was not very interesting. Kept trying but finally gave up
I read about 1/3 and had to stop. Pathetic, unsympathetic characters; jumpy, disjointed time line – and just plain boring.