Saturday, January 29, 2022

Olive Kitteridge: Elizabeth Strout


This book won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 2009, and was described at that site as:

A collection of 13 short stories set in small-town Maine that packs a cumulative emotional wallop, bound together by polished prose and by Olive, the title character, blunt, flawed and fascinating.


Olive Kitteridge is the focus for many of the stories. Within the confines of her family, Olive's behavior can be very volatile and damaging. She is a controlling mother to her son Christopher and somewhat abusive. In her life outside the home she has a reputation for being disagreeable and prickly. Yet at times she can be helpful and kind to friends and neighbors.

The first story, "Pharmacy," focuses on Henry, Olive's husband, and is told from his point of view. Of course it tells us a lot about Olive, their marriage, and some about Christopher, their son. That story is a fantastic opener for the book. Henry is a genuinely good, considerate, generous man, who tries to think the best of all people at all times. From what we know of Henry in the stories in this book, he is this way with everyone: with his family and the customers he meets at his pharmacy and neighbors in the community. He also tries to mediate between his son and Olive.

There are only four or five stories (out of thirteen) that focus primarily on Olive and her thoughts and reactions to people. The other stories focus on incidents experienced by families within the community of Crosby, Maine. Each story contains at least one appearance or mention of Olive. Sometimes the story is not about her but she takes an active part. 

The other stories provide other viewpoints of Olive and her behavior. Those stories are still good, just not my favorites. And some of the stories were distressing to read. The stories cover Olive and Henry's life together and spans  decades of their lives, but most of them are about the later years. 


My thoughts:

The stories in this book provide an interesting picture of small town life in Maine. The emphasis was on people that have particularly problematic lives and relationships, and I am sure that communities like this one have many "normal" families also. Some stories related to old age, life after losing a spouse, and suicide.

I found most of the stories to be depressing. I am sure that this is not true for every reader, but it was true for me. Several of the stories were about damaged families with children who were affected by the situation. There we some rays of light, some people who escaped from their situation and were looking for a better life for them. Most nights I read only one story from this book, and had to stop for the night. Yet I liked the book quite a lot. Olive is a wonderful character regardless of her flaws. I was never bored. 

The last two stories that were primarily about Olive were exceptional. In "Security," Olive visits her son and his new family; it was emotional, unsettling at times, but not so depressing. "River" ended on a positive note. 

I will read Olive, Again, the second book of stories about Olive Kitteridge, and I will read more books by this author. I have My Name is Lucy Barton on my TBR. Elizabeth Strout is a fantastic writer and had me sympathizing or empathizing with many of the characters.


 -----------------------------

Publisher:  Random House, 2008
Length:     270 pages
Format:    Trade paperback
Series:     Olive Kitteridge
Setting:    Small town in Maine
Genre:     Fiction
Source:    I purchased my copy


26 comments:

Rick Robinson said...

Interesting. I'll admit that of the Pulitzer winners I have reading past years, none have been particularly fun, but the Committee who picks the winner isn't looking for reader enjoyment so much as (I hope) quality of writing. Since early 2020, I've had a hard time with books that are depressing, so this isn't for me, but I'm glad you liked it and are impressed with the author's skill.

Hope your weather is as beautiful as ours here: sunny, cold, bright, clear.

TracyK said...

Rick, I haven't paid much attention to prize winners over the years, but I took the time to look at Pulitzer Prize winners for Fiction over the last 10 or 20 years while I was at the site, and some I might like to try someday.

I can understand why you would avoid depressing reads, especially in these times. I find I am look more for a fun or light read more often nowadays.

It was overcast here most of today, but it looks the weather will be mostly sunny for the next week or so and the high temperatures in the 60s.

col2910 said...

I like linked short stories and I would probably enjoy this. The cover alone would deter me from picking the book up and exploring it.

Cath said...

I don't seem to be in the mood for depressing at the moment, just started Wintering, a non-fiction by Katherine May and that turns out to be that way inclined too. Think I'll go back to some vintage crime. LOL!

Margot Kinberg said...

It sounds like an interesting collection, Tracy, and a real look at life in that part of Maine. That said, though, I think I'd have to be in the right frame of mine to read it. Still, the writing sounds skilled.

Kathy's Corner said...

I have been curious about this book. It's an interesting idea to take one character, Olive Kitteridge, not necessarily loveable but human with her flaws and strengths and let us get to know her through a series of connecting stories. I should give this book a try.

pattinase (abbott) said...

I have read all of her books now and she is very successful in creating a world of her own, or perhaps reflective of Maine citizens. I think the TV series done with Frances McDormand captures this world so well. I feel sad about events in the books, like her difficulty in connecting with her son especially, but depressing doesn't bother me. She would regard herself as a plain speaker, I guess. She says aloud things the rest of us merely think. Perhaps a form of autism.

Lark said...

This book and this author are two I've been meaning to read for years. The whole thing with each chapter being a short story has always stopped me a bit even though I know they all connect together. But everyone always says such good things about this one. I should really give it a try.

TracyK said...

Lark, I agree, you should give it a try if you have a chance. I have gotten to like short stories a lot lately anyway, but I found the linked stories a good reading experience.

TracyK said...

Patti, I think I will be reading all her books, although it will take a while. I would like to watch the series, but we have no free access to watch it. Maybe we will buy it on DVD eventually.

I did not find Olive herself so depressing or even unlikeable but I did have problems with how she treated her son. It was the other stories not directly about Olive that I found most depressing. But regardless, it was well worth spending my time on.

TracyK said...

Cath, Vintage crime is a good choice. And it amazing the variety in subjects and moods that you can find in those books. It has been a while since I have read either a Miss Marple or a Miss Silver book, and I am hankering to get back to those.

TracyK said...

Col, I agree that the cover would not lure me into reading the book. I was already interested in the author when I bought the book (at a book sale in late 2021). If you like linked stories, this would be perfect for you. Mostly no real crime going on, although there are a couple of stories that are crime related.

Rick Robinson said...

Tracy, get hold of Martin Edwards’ The Golden Age of Murder. Your library may have it, but if not it’s a wonderful reference. There’s so much more to vintage mystery than Allingham, Sayers and Christe.

TracyK said...

Rick, I have a copy of Edwards’ The Golden Age of Murder and have read it, back in 2020. It is a good resource, but it focused only on on the British Detection Club members, and I like a lot of US vintage mystery writers. Of three authors you mentioned, Allingham is my favorite, but I only like a few of Sayers books now after rereading them. I have read a good number of other vintage authors, are there some you particularly recommend I try?

I also read The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books by Martin Edwards, another good book. But a lot of those (that I had not already read) were too obscure for me and not even available anymore. And also only British mysteries. I would love to see a good mystery reference for that time period focusing on US authors.

TracyK said...

Margot, I don't know anything about Maine or small town life, but it seems like the author does. Yes, you do need to be in the right mood for this kind of book. I just took the slow approach to reading it.

TracyK said...

Kathy, this was a different approach to a character study. There is an interesting interview with the author at the end of the book and discussion notes. The interview helped more than the notes. I will be interested to see what her other books are like.

Sam said...

I'm a fan of the whole series of Olive books and a big fan of Strout's writing in general even though the books are always a bit disturbing and somber. I read fiction more for the characters, I think, than for the plot, though, and that may explain why the tone of the books doesn't much bother me. I find the characters and their relationships to be totally believable and really like the way that everything has been slowly revealed over a number of books. Other Strout novels are much the same.

TracyK said...

Sam, now I remember that you review Oh, William! a few months back. I look forward to getting to that book someday. I picked up this book and My Name is Lucy Barton in late 2020 at a small book sale and am very glad I did.

Bill Selnes said...

TracyK: Thanks for your review. I think I will pass. It sounds a little heavy on the dysfunction.

TracyK said...

Bill, that is a wonderful description: "a little heavy on the dysfunction." I still found it worth reading, though.

Nan said...

I looked back in my blog and found the report I wrote in 09! Cannot believe it was that long ago. If you would like to read what I wrote, here it is: https://lettersfromahillfarm.blogspot.com/2009/07/olive-kitteridge-by-elizabeth-strout.html
I really must read it again and see if I feel the same way now.
Thank you for your post.

TracyK said...

Nan, That is a lovely review. So thoughtful, and it explains so well what you liked. I really thought more people would be turned off by this book, but you found the more beautiful events and thoughts in the book. I loved the paragraph about the tulips and I loved Olive's enjoyment of gardening.

Katrina said...

I really really disliked this one, and just can't understand why so many people seem to have adored it. Each to their own I suppose.

TracyK said...

I remember that you did not like Olive Kitteridge, Katrina. I am somewhere in the middle. There was a good bit I liked about it, and I do want to read Olive, Again. But almost all the stories left me depressed. I was curious enough to keep reading the stories, though.

Neeru said...

First time hearing of the book, Tracy. Glad you liked the stories despite the depressive tenor.

TracyK said...

At times it was a struggle to read this book, Neeru, but in the end worth it. Maybe this isn't the best one to start with.