Olive Kitteridge in Reading in Maine

Mar 10, 2019 Dollie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

When I first picked up this book, which I’d honestly never heard of, I saw that it took place in Maine and I love to read about Mainers, so I bought it. My Bestie came over and saw it and said, “You’ve never read Olive?” and seemed surprised. I was like, “You’ve read it?” and she said she’d loved it. So, feeling like Olive was some great secret I’d never been told about, I started it. I’ve never read a story of a woman’s life told as this one was, with little short stories about other citizens o When I first picked up this book, which I’d honestly never heard of, I saw that it took place in Maine and I love to read about Mainers, so I bought it. My Bestie came over and saw it and said, “You’ve never read Olive?” and seemed surprised. I was like, “You’ve read it?” and she said she’d loved it. So, feeling like Olive was some great secret I’d never been told about, I started it. I’ve never read a story of a woman’s life told as this one was, with little short stories about other citizens of the town, which is great because sometimes you need a break from Olive. Olive is married to a nice man, Henry, has a son, Christopher, and teaches Math at the local Junior High. Most of her students are afraid of her. Reading the book, sometimes I was afraid of her, but mostly I was afraid for her. Olive is probably one of the most unique fictional characters out there. She’s blunt, sometimes harsh, says what she thinks, all others be damned and I admire that about her. Sometimes I was rooting for her, and sometimes I didn’t like her, which bothered me because I related to her a lot. When I read about what she thought about the 911 hijackers who traveled down through Maine to fly out of the Portland Jetport, it brought back memories of watching the planes fly into the Towers and then learning two of these men had come through Maine. I felt like she had felt, but more than that. I love living here and the I love the people here and remember that I didn’t just feel ashamed that they had traveled through this wonderful place, I felt violated and embarrassed and downright guilty. Olive is a character with strong feelings, many of which she keeps to herself. She can seem very tough and then you realize she can also be very tender. She can be hateful and lonely and sad, and then still have hope that things will turn out okay. Her character showed that we are all a crazy mix of emotions and thoughts, some great, some bitter, some confused. I think all of us have some Olive Kitteridge in us. I cannot recommend this book enough. It will always be in my bookshelf to remind me that no one’s perfect. Olive reminds me that I don’t have to be perfect. It’s okay to just be me. I LOVED this book and am now making my way through the discussion questions at the end. I’m also enjoying watching the miniseries with Frances McDormand and Richard Jenkins. It’s great, too. If you like characters who are a bit out there, you should read Olive Kitteridge. ...more

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Jul 26, 2014 Elaine rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Olive! What a character! Her hang-ups make her so believable, life-like, and human. Everyone is somehow touched, influenced, or enraged by her. This is one of the greatest reminders of how we are all uniquely tied to one another in the web of life. I love this aspect of the novel as told from many voices in a small fictitious but oh so real Maine town. In this collection, I met up with people I knew, my relatives, and distant friends.

You have to read it over a span of a couple days or else you ...more

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Jun 02, 2012 Don Trowden rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This may be the best modern-era novel I have read in many years. She is a fabulous writer and I believe this book won the Pulitzer the year it was published. She also has roots in Maine, where I live. Read it twice...right after I finished went back again, it is that good.

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Apr 30, 2010 Aimee rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Love it when I have both the time, and desire, to read a whole book in a single day. I couldn't put this one down! And I do love me a beach vacation.... :-) ...more

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