This past weekend I completed "Olive Kitteridge" by Elizabeth Strout, the 2009 winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. It was an absolutely superb piece of work. It is actually a collection of 13 short stories, each story about a different character who either directly or indirectly has a connection to Olive Kitteridge, a retired school teacher. The stories are set in a seemingly quiet New England coastal town, but I was completely consumed in the lives of these characters. Many of the stories are heart-wrenching and touch on the ups and downs of life that you only hope you don't have to experience. Or maybe it's ok to experience such life dilemmas because clearly it's what makes these characters who they are. The appearance of Olive in the stories is sometimes subtle, often as a bystander and onlooker, but at times she is centerstage. As I read the book, I was not sure whether or not I was a fan of Olive, but as her role unfolded in the lives of the different people she encountered, I started to connect with her. Her sympathy and compassion towards some people often clashed with her stubborn, critical behavior towards others, it all depended on the situation. I'm definitely glad to add this book to my shelf.
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