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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
sad
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Just not my jam. Well written, interesting structure, could not capture my enthusiasm or interest
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
i read this because my mom recommended it to me as one of her favorites and so im very sad to prove her right about me not loving what she reads. i did enjoy this book overall and i fully acknowledge that elizabeth strout has a talent for writing and especially for constructing complex characters. i loved olive and i loved how complicated she is as a character- strong, stubborn, and often described as intimidating, yet with a presence that can be comforting and enough empathy to cry over someone she just met (this isn’t to say she’s not often judgmental of others because she is). i also thought the organization of the short stories was done well and she was able to do in 20-30 pages what some authors can’t do in an entire novel- create people with complex inner lives and a rich backstory. however i didn’t always feel like these added to the overall narrative of olive herself and indeed one of my favorites if not my favorite was the piano player which only very briefly mentions olive.
i think the stories just didn’t come together to create anything that really touched me emotionally or thematically (except for some occasional moments such as the final page). for a novel so much about people, i only sometimes felt touched by their existence and experiences. it just lacks something which i can’t put my finger on. this saddens me because i would have very much liked to love this novel and i do think ill try another of hers in the future to see if i feel a stronger connection to it.
i think the stories just didn’t come together to create anything that really touched me emotionally or thematically (except for some occasional moments such as the final page). for a novel so much about people, i only sometimes felt touched by their existence and experiences. it just lacks something which i can’t put my finger on. this saddens me because i would have very much liked to love this novel and i do think ill try another of hers in the future to see if i feel a stronger connection to it.
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Could there be another fictional character as unlikable as Olive? I shudder to think there’s actually a sequel to this. There are a couple of lines — all in the latter half of the book — where Strout’s insights scintillate, and there are two brilliant pages of Olive in love. Mostly it was a slog to get through.
funny
reflective
medium-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
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief
Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Medical content, Medical trauma, Lesbophobia
Olive is the cranky old bird that all of us seem to know. She's one that many of us can relate to and embrace. Who really likes getting dressed up and mingling at a wedding reception even if it is your own son's event? A waitress who gets her doughnut and coffee order at the local shop is the high point for Olive. This is a character study that delves deeply into what it means to be a realist in a world full of people wearing rose-colored glasses. The ending was just about right if not a little abrupt. Strout gave me plenty of warning of what was to coming, so I found the ending predictable and suitable -- just like Olive herself. I won't soon forget Olive.
this book had me sobbing over and over again. The writing was so beautiful - God, how I love reading gorgeous prose about New England. Pulitzer prize well deserved. I feel blessed with lessons about gratefulness and the beauty of every day, mundane life. I wish I could discover this book all over again.