Olive Kitteridge: A Critical Review
Introduction
Olive Kitteridge is a collection of short stories written by Elizabeth Strout in 2009. The stories, linked by a common thread, the title character Olive Kitteridge, typify life in small town Maine. Trudy Bush’s review of the book was witty and enlightening because Bush never attempts to flee from Olive’s colorful character, as tempting as it may be. Bush embraces Olive entirely, giving a glimpse into her gloomy, and at times loving nature while coming to terms with growing old.
Summary
Olive Kitteridge is a book whose character’s lives intertwine in the small town of Crosby, Maine. The main character, Olive crosses paths with the locals, many of whom she helps, such as a young man on …show more content…
She thinks that we long for stories that give us beauty and value, not just stories that speak of the pain or losses we have encountered. We all need stories that help us understand what real life is like for our friends, family, and even strangers. When Suzanne makes fun of Olive’s dress, Olive was infuriated and rightly so, but upon taking a closer look, Olive is deeply hurt. Although Henry loves Olive, he is happy being away from her and in the company of his employee at the pharmacy. It is easy to feel sorry for Henry because Olive’s bad temper is directed mostly at him. A point of contention with Bush’s analysis of the book is that younger readers may find it more meaningful that older readers, stating Strout’s degree in gerontology as a possible reason. The book contains very few younger characters, and if they are, they are suicidal or anorexic. Olive Kitteridge is a book that only an older audience can identify with and enjoy.
Conclusion
Getting old can be full of challenges and uncertainties, but we should neither overlook nor take the happy moments for granted. The arguments Bush presented are worth further examination. Her analysis brings to light the challenges we will all face in the
Introduction
Olive Kitteridge is a collection of short stories written by Elizabeth Strout in 2009. The stories, linked by a common thread, the title character Olive Kitteridge, typify life in small town Maine. Trudy Bush’s review of the book was witty and enlightening because Bush never attempts to flee from Olive’s colorful character, as tempting as it may be. Bush embraces Olive entirely, giving a glimpse into her gloomy, and at times loving nature while coming to terms with growing old.
Summary
Olive Kitteridge is a book whose character’s lives intertwine in the small town of Crosby, Maine. The main character, Olive crosses paths with the locals, many of whom she helps, such as a young man on …show more content…
She thinks that we long for stories that give us beauty and value, not just stories that speak of the pain or losses we have encountered. We all need stories that help us understand what real life is like for our friends, family, and even strangers. When Suzanne makes fun of Olive’s dress, Olive was infuriated and rightly so, but upon taking a closer look, Olive is deeply hurt. Although Henry loves Olive, he is happy being away from her and in the company of his employee at the pharmacy. It is easy to feel sorry for Henry because Olive’s bad temper is directed mostly at him. A point of contention with Bush’s analysis of the book is that younger readers may find it more meaningful that older readers, stating Strout’s degree in gerontology as a possible reason. The book contains very few younger characters, and if they are, they are suicidal or anorexic. Olive Kitteridge is a book that only an older audience can identify with and enjoy.
Conclusion
Getting old can be full of challenges and uncertainties, but we should neither overlook nor take the happy moments for granted. The arguments Bush presented are worth further examination. Her analysis brings to light the challenges we will all face in the