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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
I'm conflicted about Elizabeth Strout. I have read all of her books and I love the way she writes. I love every sentence and every word and every character she creates. And yet - instead of the overall feeling of joy I should get from reading her books - I get an ineffable sadness, dare I say depression from living in her world for too long. The characters are so self-aware, so incredibly sad in their small lives and their inabilities to really connect to the person they're married to, or to their children, or to fit comfortably into their lives. And their sadness is so palpable, it hangs like a cloud over the experience of reading about them. So, I loved this book, but it made me feel utterly miserable.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Great book; all but one story were exceptional I would strongly recommend it.
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Different chapters held stories from different times in Olive's life. Some were from her point of view, others from her husband's, son's, or another person's point of view. Characters in the books were very realistic - flawed and sometimes annoying, but also sympathetic and appealing, just like real people!
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It is the sign of a gifted writer that the reader is able to feel such empathy for a character like Olive Kittridge, a woman filled with impatience and judgement and frequently, anger. I might be one of the last to read this — I happened upon a copy recently and will definitely read more by this author. The stories in this book are reflections of daily (almost mundane) life in a typical small town. People help each other and hurt each other and behave admirably in times of trouble but abominably when over reacting to the small stuff. Hearts are healed and hearts are broken. And we are broken and healed too, because we know these people. They are our parents, our neighbours, our friends and family. I adored this book.
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
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
Not my favorite Elizabeth Strout book I've read so far but still really good writing.