Olive, Again

Genre: Fiction

This is the story of Olive Kitteridge, Strout's complex main character and namesake of her book, Olive Kitteridge. Olive is back, again. And just like in the first book, Olive, Again includes the stories of several characters in Crosby, Maine. Strout's characters are complex yet, average. The eighth grade girl who works as a maid and experiences life-changing moments; Cindy the librarian who is dying; Jack, Olive's new companion; and Olive's own son, Christopher and his new family, including Olive's grandchildren, and several more characters make an appearance in this book. Just like the first book, as you're reading the various stories you are lulled into thinking the story is about a certain character, and before you know it, Olive is there, and is part of this character's life in a very profound way. This is a story about how life happens while you are living it. It is a beautiful and well-written story about one woman's life which is effected by and affected of others around her. Olive does not disappoint!

First, let me say we should all worship at the author-alter of Elizabeth Strout. I cannot say just how much I love her writing and the characters which she creates. I love Olive. Olive is human. Strout gives her abounding humanity and flaws (mixed in with a certain New England sensibility), so much so, that you can't help but thoroughly love her. I was so scared to read this one because I was worried that Strout couldn't match her first Olive stories, but I shouldn't have been. In some ways I love this one even more than the first. In true Strout style, she brings some of our favorite characters back (from The Burgess Boys, Amy and Isabelle and the original, Olive Kitteridge). She is masterful at creating stories. You are so busy learning about Olive's daily life, her habits, her neighbors, that before you know it, you have spent twenty years with Olive and you thoroughly know her. And that ending! Folks, as Olive would say, "Oh my Godfrey!" Please read this one. It's excellent!