November Book - Olive Kitteridge

We discussed Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout this month.  We had a great turnout and a lively discussion.  Opinions were split as to liking or not liking the book.  Some felt the book ended on a hopeful note, while others just thought the whole thing was depressing.  If you would like to comment, please do so below.

© Random House

Barnes and Noble Synopsis

At times stern, at other times patient, at times perceptive, at other times in sad denial, Olive Kitteridge, a retired schoolteacher, deplores the changes in her little town of Crosby, Maine, and in the world at large, but she doesn’t always recognize the changes in those around her: a lounge musician haunted by a past romance; a former student who has lost the will to live; Olive’s own adult child, who feels tyrannized by her irrational sensitivities; and her husband, Henry, who finds his loyalty to his marriage both a blessing and a curse.
As the townspeople grapple with their problems, mild and dire, Olive is brought to a deeper understanding of herself and her life–sometimes painfully, but always with ruthless honesty. Olive Kitteridge offers profound insights into the human condition–its conflicts, its tragedies and joys, and the endurance it requires.