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Olive Kitteridge (Olive Kitteridge, #1)

Elizabeth Strout

Discussion: July/August 2008

Discussion leader: Jenn

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Showing 2 of 8 topics — 53 comments total

July/August 2008

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
By Jenn · 25 posts · 78 views

last updated Jul 29, 2010 05:10PM

Unaccustomed Earth
By Betsy · 1 post · 9 views

last updated May 27, 2010 11:50AM

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What Members Thought

Jan 08, 2013 Kathrina rated it really liked it

Shelves: american-fiction

So apparently, the concern of the day is -- is this a novel, or a collection of connected short stories? Beyond saying, does it matter? I will cast my vote that this is a novel. In fact, anything described as "connected short stories" is, to me, a novel. Whether the author imposes chapter breaks or breaks in perspective from point to point, a novel is a cohesive story (define cohesive as you will), not necessarily one character's story or pov. While a title like A Visit from the Goon Squad is pe ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Jun 25, 2021 Erika Nerdypants rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: family, fiction, library-reads, women, audiobooks, audio-books, strong-female-leads, marriage

So, so good. My only regret is that it's over. ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Sep 02, 2013 Michelle rated it really liked it · review of another edition

In an attempt to read the more recent Pulitzer fiction winners, I decided to listen to Olive Kitterage. I definitely enjoyed these bleak linked stories. Honestly, linked stories are one of my favorite literary devices and Stout did a great job dropping Olive into each story. I like this one much better than Goon Squad.

I loved Olive - her acerbic nature was hilarious to me. She used the phrase "hells bells" which is also one of my routine utterances. Unfortunately, I figure I will be/act very si ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jun 04, 2010 Joanne rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I thought this was brilliantly written by Elizabeth Strout, but have to confess I was bored on occasion, and lost a few times. With that being said I loved the ending, the writing and the characters, especially Olive. I will definitely try Elizabeth Strout again.

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Aug 11, 2010 Renee rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011

Absolutely loved all the characters. Each one depicted in such a raw and emotional way. Although some stories were much better than others, each one had it's own pearl of wisdom and tied back into how everyone carries some sort of burden. I got the sense that in many ways, we are all like Olive in that we think we may be doing the right thing(s) but in reality, other people see those things in a very different light. Great book on human relationships and how our thoughts and/or actions not only ...more

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