Play Book Tag discussion

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
2 stars

This book tells the stories of different people that live in the town of Crosby, Maine through the eyes of Olive Kitteridge.
I had a hard time finishing this book, but kept reading to see if I could figure out why it won the Pulitzer Prize.
I can see how some people could relate to it; I just couldn't.

I liked this book even though I didn't really like the characters.

I agree this book isn't everyone's cup of tea. I tried to watch the mini-series and it felt just too depressing to continue after a couple episodes.

I really liked the book, but agree it is not to everyone's taste. I enjoy short stories and novelizations based on vignettes. I like Olive too. Interestingly I am reading Gertrude Stein's Three Lives, and I am struck in the first story how Anna reminds me of Olive. I might have to write to Strout and ask if she is familiar with Stein's work.

I was in the greatly dislike the camp. I’m with you Theresa! I just couldn’t understand the hype.

Like Amy, I'm in the dislike camp. I just couldn't warm up to Olive. (It didn't help that one of the secretaries at work could have been Olive's twin and she was HARD to deal with.)

And I'm with Theresa in the "liked it very much" camp. I re-read it last summer when my book club decided to read the sequel Olive, Again. I loved Olive, the character, even more in the second book.

Wait - it was Linda's review! I'm with Linda!

I'm a fan of both Olive Kitteridge, and Olive, Again. I really liked the characters (especially Olive's husband Henry). I def. agree Olive is not for everyone, but the themes truly resonated with me. In the second book she becomes more reflective as she ages. It made me more reflective as well.

After years of reading thrillers about men, and watching movies starring men, I got tired of them. I got tired of the macho men, and I got tired of the bland female characters - they were too good, or too slutty. or too easy to ignore.

I like that female characters are breaking out of the molds. They don't have to be nice or perfect. They can be grumpy and demanding, and still impact others. Flaws make them more interesting and complex, and more relatable. I don't need to like a character to be able to identify with her. It think it's a sign of equality when female characters can defy gender stereotypes.

NancyJ wrote: "I'm a fan of both Olive Kitteridge, and Olive, Again. I really liked the characters (especially Olive's husband Henry). I def. agree Olive is not for everyone, but the themes truly resonated with m..."

I also liked Henry. I think the reason I didn't like Olive is that she was too negative.