Questions About Olive Kitteridge (Olive Kitteridge, #1)

by Elizabeth Strout (Goodreads Author)

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Answered Questions (16)

I read this a few years ago and it has haunted me ever since. I'm wondering if anyone else felt that way. I recently found out that a movie or mini series is in the works. As much as I believe the novel was beautifully written, I won't be watching because I just found it so very sad and maybe "too" relaistic. Anyone else feel that way?

Joan I watched the mini series and thought it was excellent. You fall in love with her husband because he is so kind. I didn't find it to be a depressing m…moreI watched the mini series and thought it was excellent. You fall in love with her husband because he is so kind. I didn't find it to be a depressing movie at all but rather, enlightening/eye opening and I was left with a feeling of being appreiciative. There's a lesson to be learned here in how lost people are in their own misery and don't recognize or realize there is help and medication for depression. Francis McDormand plays an extremely bitter and unhappy woman caused by her depression. She has no friends and is very solitary in her feelings and emotions. I, however liked her because I saw warmth, committment and love deep inside her. She just couldn't show it or accept/recognize how her harshness affected others.
I had the book on my shelf for awhile but never read it. Now I want to and started it last night. I'm anxious to compare the book and the movie and know I'll enjoy the book as much as, if not more than the movie.
The movie didn't make me sad and after I read the book, I'll probably place it on my shelf with books I cherish, love and made an impact on me.(less)

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I'm about half way through and can anyone tell me is there some hope in the end? I find the writing beautiful but it's kind of depressing to read so wanted to ask.

Judy Lindow Gawd, all these comments are telling me something about myself. I never thought: depressing like a lot of people seem to experience the book. I though…moreGawd, all these comments are telling me something about myself. I never thought: depressing like a lot of people seem to experience the book. I thought: realistic, honest, sad. I guess the matter of fact way, the know it all, kind of person Olive is - is not too dissimilar to myself. There are some beautiful sentiments, expressing hope, anticipation, and greed for the future - what happens in the end is nothing to sneeze at. IMO Olive's realistic and frank perspective is more exciting to me than someone who's a Pollyanna. Yes, I questioned whether there could be that much woe, sometimes ... but fell on the side of yes, there could be, there is, it's just that it's so ugly and scary sometimes we don't look or talk about it. (less)

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SPOILER. Was anyone else bothered by how casually Olive says toward the end that she hit her son (not just spanked - hit)?

Judy Lindow OMG. This is what makes OK so wonderful. This is a secret, a shame, that OK has kept under wraps her entire life. It's also proof of her having 'chang…moreOMG. This is what makes OK so wonderful. This is a secret, a shame, that OK has kept under wraps her entire life. It's also proof of her having 'changed', as I don't think she was aware it was wrong when she was living that experience. I think the stories reveal the process of Olive beginning to understand how others perceived her, her own culpability, and trying to be more accountable for her past actions, how she treated others. She is on the road to atonement and how lovely to think that any of us can have the courage to look for that in ourselves and those closest to us when we're in old age and approaching death.(less)

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Could anyone understand how the last chapter fits in?

Rachel McGeough Hi MSdigger, do you mean the chapter ‘the burgess boys’? I was confused by that - Olive didn’t appear in it, then I realised it’s the first chapter of…moreHi MSdigger, do you mean the chapter ‘the burgess boys’? I was confused by that - Olive didn’t appear in it, then I realised it’s the first chapter of another of the Elizabeth Stout’s books so it isn’t relevant or part of the olive kitteridge novel :)(less)

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Can anyone offer titles that might measure up to this book?

Cricket Muse I suggest A Man Called Ove or Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand, which also take on how a bereaved older person deals with life and its disappointments.

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