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A review by natlbugz
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
TLDR: A beautifully understated story about the messiness of life and relationships. If you love character-driven books with real, flawed humanity at their core, this one is a must-read. Olive isn’t always kind, but she’s always honest, and that’s what makes her unforgettable.
This book is a quiet masterpiece. Elizabeth Strout has this rare ability to find beauty in the mundane, and Olive Kitteridge captures life in all its messy, raw, and deeply human moments. It’s not about dramatic twists—it’s about the small, everyday choices and regrets that shape us.
Olive herself is unforgettable. She’s prickly, flawed, and often unlikable, but that’s what makes her so real. Strout doesn’t ask us to love Olive; she asks us to understand her. And through Olive’s wisdom—sometimes sharp, sometimes unexpectedly tender—there’s a perspective that only comes from having lived a full, imperfect life.
Each chapter feels like a snapshot of the people in Olive’s orbit, with her as the constant thread. The interconnected stories highlight how we affect others in ways we may never realize. Strout’s simple, understated prose hits hard, delivering moments of reflection that are quietly profound.
There’s a quiet wisdom here—about aging, love, loss, and the unglamorous truths of life. It’s not sugar-coated, but that’s what makes it resonate. Reading this during the Christmas holiday felt like the perfect choice—reflective, cozy, and with just enough melancholy to keep it grounded.
This book is a quiet masterpiece. Elizabeth Strout has this rare ability to find beauty in the mundane, and Olive Kitteridge captures life in all its messy, raw, and deeply human moments. It’s not about dramatic twists—it’s about the small, everyday choices and regrets that shape us.
Olive herself is unforgettable. She’s prickly, flawed, and often unlikable, but that’s what makes her so real. Strout doesn’t ask us to love Olive; she asks us to understand her. And through Olive’s wisdom—sometimes sharp, sometimes unexpectedly tender—there’s a perspective that only comes from having lived a full, imperfect life.
Each chapter feels like a snapshot of the people in Olive’s orbit, with her as the constant thread. The interconnected stories highlight how we affect others in ways we may never realize. Strout’s simple, understated prose hits hard, delivering moments of reflection that are quietly profound.
There’s a quiet wisdom here—about aging, love, loss, and the unglamorous truths of life. It’s not sugar-coated, but that’s what makes it resonate. Reading this during the Christmas holiday felt like the perfect choice—reflective, cozy, and with just enough melancholy to keep it grounded.