A welcome fictional return to Crosby, Maine where we revisit its residents, most notably Olive Kitteridge. Olive is still blunt and cantankerous, yet increasingly self-aware as she faces the challenges of aging and of changing relationships. As a reader, I was again pulled into Olive's mind and world, fascinated by her evolution and by the experiences of Strout's other vividly drawn, sometimes heartbreaking characters. A solid four stars from me, with thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

So much fun to visit Olive again. Elizabeth Strout does a wonderful job bringing Olive up to date, along with characters from some of her other books (The Burgess Boys). Highly recommended for her many fans!

Elizabeth Strout’s writing is compelling - she is unflinching in her depiction of relationships and even though it is sometimes uncomfortable and you almost want to look away, her writing is so honest, you have to keep reading. I believe I have read all of her work, but Olive is truly an extraordinary character and it was wonderful to step back into her life.

Elizabeth Strout’s novels are deceptively simple, straightforward narratives that become more and more layered as they progress. Olive is a feisty, honest character who emerges as more and more interesting each time she appears in this book. The novel is constructed as a series of (sometimes loosely) linked narratives that create a depth of characterization and narrative as they build on each other. This is a quiet and moving novel, and I loved reading it.

There are few authors who create characters as memorable as Olive Kitteridge and her Maine neighbors. This book explores the issues related to old age as part of Olive’s later years, it is a lovely opportunity for the reader to revisit this extraordinary character.

Strout takes the opportunity to peek into the lives of some of the characters from her earlier novels. Since I am a huge fan, I was thrilled to see Jim and Bob Burgess again, and catch up on their lives. My favorite of all her novels was “Amy and Isabelle,” and despite the fact it was written in 1998, I was delighted to reconnect with Isabelle and learn about their lives.

It is amazing that a reader can get excited about characters 20 years after their appearance, Strout has certainly given us some of them.

Yes, it is painful to explore aging with Olive, but Strout portrays the process with frightening realism. The reader is spared no part of the process. Although this is a sad time in Olive’s life, it is also a time of reflection and understanding.

Strout brings closure to Olive, but also to the lives of her Maine neighbors. Since I was so intrigued by many of them, I truly enjoyed this book. Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this exquisite jewel.

I have always loved Olive Kitteridge as a character and a book and while the book came out 10+ years ago it has stayed with me. What a lovely surprise to see that there was a follow up. In some ways I was nervous about reading new stories but that fear slipped away very quickly. Fell into this book and had to make myself slow down to read each vignette and think about-savor. Readers of the original will not be disappointed. Those who are just meeting Olive, i believe, will want to go back and get to know her earlier self a little better.

I really enjoyed Olive Kitteridge, but Olive, Again is a masterpiece. It was funny, sad,, and so very touching. This is , without a doubt, one of the best character development novels I have ever read. I read it quickly until the end when I slowed down to savor every word. I am looking forward to more by this author.

Olive Kitteridge — gruff, direct, honest and with absolutely no patience for pretense or pretentiousness. Some people love Olive for just this reason — many others consider her a rude “old bag”. I love the fact that Olive — in her late seventies now — continues to have epiphanies about herself and her life.

The book is a collection of snapshots of life in the coastal town of Crosby, Maine. Some are centered on Olive herself, but in others she plays only a peripheral, though impactful, role. Ranging in age from middle school to elderly and incorporating contextual situations such as drug use, sexual harassment, suicide, Somali immigration, and even the value provided by a dominatrix (!) — the stories are full of introspection and reflection. They are more about how people absorb experiences into their own perspective, rather than the experiences themselves.

Strout is the master of the imperfect relationship — no closure, no solutions — just the reality of evolving relationships with ups and downs and fresh interior “ahas” rather than the drama of abrupt discovery via loud confrontation.

For those who loved Strout’s 2008 work Olive Kitteridge, Olive,Again takes up where the latter leaves off, covering the next decade of Olive’s life (it’s not necessary to read the first book, this one stands up well on its own). It’s a fascinating look at life from the perspective of old age, and while there is loss and plenty of “old age indignities,” there is also a great sense of hope, understanding, and wisdom.


Great Quotes:
“It seemed to her she had never before completely understood how far apart human experience was.”

“And then he thought: how does one live an honest life?”

“It’s just the way it was, that’s all. People either didn’t know how they felt about something or they chose never to say how they really felt about something”

“…and during the night they would shift, but always they were holding each other, and Jack thought of their large old bodies, shipwrecked, thrown up upon the shore — and how they hold on for dear life!”

“What frightened him was how much of his life he had lived without knowing who he was or what he was doing. It caused him to feel an inner trembling, and he could not quite find the words — for himself — to even put it exactly as he sensed it. But he sensed that he had lived his life in a way that he had not known.”

“But it was almost over, after all, her life. It swelled behind her like a sardine fishing net, all sorts of useless seaweed and broken bits of shells and the tiny, shining fish — all those hundreds of students she had taught, the girls and boys in high school she had passed in the corridor when she was a high school girl herself, the billion streaks of emotion she’d had as she’d looked at sunrises sunsets, the different hands of waitresses who had place before her cups of coffee — All of it gone, or about to go.”

“Because as her heart became more constricted, Henry’s heart became needier, and when he walked up behind her in the house sometimes to slip his arms around her, it was all she could do to not visibly shudder.”

“Cindy Coombs, there’s not one goddamn person in this world who doesn’t have a bad memory or two to take with them through life.”

I'm sorry that I can't give a positive rating to this novel, especially since I've enjoyed most of the author's other books. The prose seemed to have an odd, choppy rhythm that made reading a struggle. Perhaps that was intentional? I'll come back to this book and try again in a few weeks but right now I don't feel it's worth more of my time.

Another set of stories, poignant and funny all surrounding the world of Olive Kitteridge. Picking up where the first book left off, there are important plot points that are satisfactorily answered.

Wow, I feel so privileged to have been given the opportunity to read an ARC of Olive, Again. Elizabeth Strout is an excellent observer of human nature and with Olive Kitteridge, has created the perfect spokesperson. Perhaps one reason I like Olive so much is because I can see myself in her and honestly, sometimes she makes me wince! For me, Olive is akin to looking in a mirror.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Thanks again to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title. And thank you Elizabeth Strout for your keen insight and for sharing it with your readers. #OliveAgain #NetGalley

I have not read the first book, so I feel like something I am missing a big chunk of the story plot that could have made my experience with this book more rewarding.

Nonetheless, Elizabeth Strout is an exceptional writer, who is able to captivate readers attention with the stories set in a small town in main. It focuses on the evolving relationship with her son, as well as introductions of many characters, diving into their lives and stories. the dialogues among the characters were so descriptive, portraying the interactions as if you were submersing yourself into the scene as well.
I love her writing, and will definitely be reading her first book.

Thank you Random House and Netgalley for this ARC.

Thank you, Elizabeth Strout! I didn’t expect the arrival of this novel, but Olive Kitteridge does return in OLIVE, AGAIN. As in OLIVE KITTERIDGE, she appears in a series of stories, sometimes as the main character, sometimes as a minor character, and other times only mentioned in conversations by neighbors and former students who remember her. Although described as “that pickle person” by a visitor, herself pickled in wine at the time and who, coincidentally, can’t recall Olive’s name, and by that same visitor’s brother-in-law as someone “thinks everything is crap,” Olive endears herself to me as she earnestly tries to understand herself and others

I originally read Olive Kittredge when I was in undergrad. I vaguely remember enjoying it, but I seem to somehow have forgotten how absolutely annoying Olive was.

I think this sequel would serve an older book club quite well. The tone is a bit different and the stories are more mature. (I didn't particularly enjoy reading about a prostate that graphically.)

This is a solid sequel, even though I wouldn't have said Olive Kittredge needed one. But it fits nicely and is a good addition, for the right reader.