Reviews

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

magsville's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

I re-read this in prep to read Olive, Again. Such an enjoyable exercise!

mayame's review against another edition

Go to review page

got this from the library... let's see how long it takes me to read this!

I couldn't get into it and I didn't have the time to give to really read it. Plan to revisit later.

knitreadlife's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Maybe it's my stage of life, but this book spoke to me even more than others I've read by this author. Strout has such insight into the human condition, the variability of relationships and the dramas and joys of ordinary lives. There's much to stop and ponder in each story and I know I'll be returning to them again and again.

libdebbie's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

I got halfway through this book, which is being covered by the library book club this month, and finally gave up. It's just not my kind of book, despite (or perhaps because of?) the Pulitzer Prize. It was an interesting structure, having each chapter be from a different perspective, and I was sticking with it to see how it all came together. I just wasn't enjoying any of the vignettes. They were all so negative and depressing. There's enough of that in the "real" world, and I don't want to read about it, too. And because I enter story, primarily, through character, not having any with which I can empathize or sympathize with just ruins it for me.

klh77's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional funny tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

stephie209's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective sad 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

4.25

sarah_guido's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

joylesnick's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Mrs. Kitteridge, a small town 7th grade math teacher, plays some role in all of the short stories in this book. Through the stories, we learn about her and her life. A Chicago book clubber described it as focusing on the different tragedies that people experience throughout their lifetimes. I plan to read it again.

marcwhittington's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Tender and thoughtful, though increasingly the vignettes that didn't center Olive felt tangential, and the stories veered into uniform depression. But overall enjoyed it.

laragazzapigra's review against another edition

Go to review page

reflective sad slow-paced

3.25