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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
In anticipation of reading Strout's upcoming "Olive, Again," I decided to read "Olive Kitteridge" (always a bit embarrassed to admit that as a bookseller, I had never read it!). Yowza, wow -- I loved this novel!! Olive is simply wonderfully awful and I could not get enough of her, in all her cringing ruthless honesty and poignant moments of humanity. The townspeople in and around Olive's life are brought to life with much depth and often humor. I cannot wait to read the continuing story of Olive in the next book!
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Read this in paperback and listened to a bit of it to help me along. Love Olive. She's a tough cookie but very human. Theme of parenthood and roles after kids have grown is explored through many different characters. Short story collection, really.
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Powerful and beautifully written stories about ordinary people in all the ordinary circumstances life presents - written with extraordinary depth, insight and warmth.
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
I enjoyed the writing, but the book needed more of a plot. Once I got halfway through, I skipped to the last chapter, and didn’t miss a beat, which doesn’t align with my reading taste.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Goodreads blurb says “offers poignant insights into the human condition” and that is a perfect description of this book and it’s many flawed, messy, and beautifully written characters. It’s made me think about life, about choices made, and despite the many tragedies, the story left me with hope for the future.
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Definitely a must-read, and not just because she's a Maine author.