A few years back, my friend Michael was pimping a book, <cite>Olive Kitteridge</cite> as being pretty awesome. It was a bit surprising to me, in that Michael, despite being an English teacher, tends to read mostly super-hero books and some non-fiction things about spirituality. His idea of cruel and unusual punishment would be being forced to read Jane Austen.

Anyway, I was intrigued by his thoughts and got a copy. I must say, I rather loved <cite>Olive Kitteridge</cite>. So, I was thrilled to be able to snag a pre-publication of the “sequel” just before vacation. Olive Kitteridge lives in Maine, so part of the point of my reading the book was to get me in the mood for spending several weeks in Maine. For once, I didn't have to re-read Sarah Orne Jewett.

In some ways, this book was even better for me than just the Maine slant. Olive, it seems, has become a bit “mature”, so we have “maturity” issues as well as Maine issues, and, of course, issues of a somewhat rigid and opinionated woman. I know all about “maturity”, rigidity, and being opinionated.

This book is much like the first one in the way it’s laid out. It’s essentially a series of short stories dealing with a number of people and their issues. In some stories, Olive is a major character, in others, she has a cameo role. There is some movement of sorts in that over the course of the book, Olive ages some dozen years, and finds herself at the end of the book living in an assisted living place. I suppose that’s in store for me in the next few years as well. I hope I can have the good grace to make the transition as did Olive, although, Olive being Olive, she did make it somewhat difficult for a time.

The interesting thing about Olive is that she thinks she knows all the answers, and isn't shy about telling other people so. But, by the end of this book, Olive has learned that people are different. Her personal point of view is not the only one that is valid. Her final journal entry says it all: <blockquote>I do not have a clue who I have been. Truthfully, I do not understand a thing.
</blockquote>

I'm beginning to understand something similar. This is a very <em>GoodRead</em>, while learning about Olive, we also begin to learn about ourselves.

I loved Olive Kittredge and didn't think this book could possible top it, but I actually like Olive, Again more than its predecessor. Perhaps because I'm an "aging" woman with roots in Maine, but I felt that the character development followed beautifully from the first book and offered realistic images of what you gain and lose as you age. I also was fascinated by the creative way she linked the stories through Olive's character - which in many cases were not obvious - but which really added to the flow of the stories through the course of the book. I love that this made Oprah's Book Club because it will get the attention and readership it deserves.

I love Olive Kitteridge, even though she is distinctly unlikeable. There is so much potential in her and at her advanced age she explores that potential. She This is a continuation of the town we first explored in Olive Kitteridge and Olive’s days and life after the first book ended. I would definitely read another book with Olive in it. She’s a cranky, crusty, but lovable curmudgeon, commonly misunderstood in her community. Pick it up. If you haven’t read the first book, what are you waiting for? Read that one and then grab this one. Another great by Ms. Strout! I was given an advanced readers copy of this book by the publisher and netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the original novel, but this sequel is not up to the same standard. I found it tedious and will not recommend it to those who enjoyed Olive Kittredge.

I was a huge fan of "Olive Kittredge" when it came out back in 2008. Strout does such a magical job creating a whole cast of characters with heart (as well as a bit of grit). Perhaps Strout's greatest achievement has been Olive herself: a woman who is definitely not afraid to speak her mind (even if it offends). In this sequel, we get introduced to even more characters who populate the sleepy Maine town of Crosby. We also get to see Olive in her golden years - although getting old is certainly not for sissies (as my great-grandma would say). Olive learns to love and to relate better to those who are different from her as she ages. Her heart gets broken several times, only to be re-mended each time she bonds with someone new. I love Strout's ability to weave stories together, and I'm definitely a fan of interconnected characters (like how Olive pops up for a moment in some stories while narrating others). But in this go-around, I found myself wanting to focus solely on Olive and her heartbreaks and triumphs. Maybe it's because I read the first book a long time ago and couldn't remember a lot of the plot or secondary characters. I might have enjoyed the other characters' perspectives more if I had done a reread of the first novel. Either way, I wanted more focus on Olive and found the chapters about her to be the most satisfying. Overall, I truly love Strout's writing style (poetic, yet realistically depressing), and I'm so excited that Oprah's book club pick will probably mean she gets some new fans.

GODFREY! She did it again. Thank you Elizabeth Strout. Olive Kitteridge is a gift that keeps on giving.

As I read this follow up to Olive Ketteridge, I again found myself identifying with many of these characters and their daily life's events. Elizabeth Strout writes of a community where everyone knows their neighbor and his business. In a life where secrets are rare, the conversations are often a dance between what you know and what you are not supposed to know....if that makes sense. A very easy book to read, you are immediately part of each story and have a vested interest in your neighbor's news. A great book for any reader, it's sure to be one of your favorites, too.

A couple years ago I read Olive Kitteridge for the first time. I had heard about the book before, and when I skimmed the back and read that Olive was a retired teacher, I thought it would be right up my ally. Olive Kitteridge turned out to be very different than I expected, but I still loved Olive and her story so much. A few months ago when I was browsing on Netgally, I saw that Elizabeth Strout had written a follow-up. I requested a copy, which Netgally and the publisher, Random House, kindly sent me.

To some readers, Olive may just be a grumpy, old woman – which she 100% is. But, I love her and her brash, blunt, and black and white views. I have so much affection for her, probably because she reminds me so much of my grandmother. In Olive, Again we meet Olive toward the end of her life during her 70’s and 80’s. It is essentially a journey of self discovery for Olive to understand herself and also to understand those around her. Like the original, this novel is set up like a series of short stories. In one chapter we will be seeing the world and aging through Olive’s point of view, then the next chapter will be told in the point of view of someone else in Crosby, Maine. Sometimes, Olive will have a profound impact on this character and sometimes, she may just be mentioned or passed by on the street. I love how Strout weaves in and out of Olive’s point of view and allows readers to see how others within Olive’s town perceive her too.

Strout is a wonderful story teller, who fully understands our shared human conditions. Her characters, not just Olive, are real and fatally human. I’m never too crazy about sequels, but this one was perfect! There have been a lot of sequels that I have simply chosen not to read or disliked so much. Olive, Again was the perfect sequel. It met all of my expectations and literally just feels like a continuation of the first novel. As a reader, if feels like we never left Olive. We picked up exactly where we left off. However, I do not think it’s necessary to have read Olive Kitteridge before reading Olive, Again. But, if you would like to understand Olive, her town, and her story better I think it’s best to start there.

I received a free e-copy of Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout from NetGalley for my honest review.

What a beautifully written and amazing read. This book had me laughing and crying. A fantastic read that everyone can enjoy. Bravo Elizabeth Strout!!

I liked this book, but I didn't love this book. I loved many parts of this book, but I didn't like a few parts of this book. I'm glad I read this book, but I wouldn't read it again. I have yet to read Olive Kitteridge, and I may or may not read it.
I was fascinated by Elizabeth Strout's style of writing and especially liked how Olive was the vehicle for telling many more stories.
Thank you, NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In November 2009, I read Strout’s Pulitzer-prize winning book, Olive Kitteridge. When I reviewed that book, I had this to say about Olive:
“Olive…is the kind of person that people avoid in her small town of Crosby. Olive was not a perfect neighbor, not a perfect wife, and certainly not a perfect other. She is abrasive, outspoken, and not in the least able to communicate well with anyone in her life.”
Later I added:
“…somehow, in some way, Strout is able to convince us that Olive is someone we should care about.”
And that is the genius of Strout. She made me care about Olive. She has been the standard to which I hold every other unlikable character. I expect all authors to give me a reason to still care about those characters. For ten years, Olive has stayed with me. I never expected I’d get another chance to read about Olive. In many ways, it didn’t seem necessary. So when I first read that Strout had written a sequel, I had mixed feelings. Could Strout move Olive’s story forward while retaining everything that made Olive Olive?

The quick answer is yes.

Olive is still outspoken and often abrasive. She is still terrible at communicating with those she cares about. But this is the Olive that we saw at the end of the first book, the Olive that is learning to mind what she says, who can be empathetic, and, even, vulnerable.

Like the first book, though, this is not just a book about Olive. Once again, Strout has strung together a group of short stories that tell readers as much about Crosby and its residents as it does about Olive. Some characters from the first book reappear; some characters from others of Strout’s books appear. Here again Strout deals with issues of love, marriage, and the relationships between parents and children. And, here again Strout does not pass judgment on her characters; she puts these relationships and situations out there for the reader to consider, allowing us just enough from both sides to really give us pause to think.

It’s quite possible that I care even more about Olive now than I did ten years ago. Ten years ago I thought I was done with Olive. Now I know that she will always be there in my head. Thank you, Olive, for moving back into Elizabeth Strout’s head and making her tell more of your story.

How is it that we've grown to love Olive so much that this new offering by Elizabeth Stout reads like a visit from an old friend. Yes, we see ourselves in Olive. We see our worst selves and our best selves, and as we learn to love Olive (she isn't always easy to love) we forgive ourselves our own "Oliveness."

Stout's ability to take everyday life in vignette and weave it into a cohesive portrait is testimony to her skill as a writer. Oh Olive, how good to see you again!

Elizabeth Strout does it again. Olive Kitteridge is one of my favorite literary characters and this second telling of her life story is just as brilliant as the first. The character development is phenomenal and the storytelling beautiful. At times I felt as though I was in the room with Olive and Jack and the rest of the characters. Wonderful, wonderful book.

A lovely book revisiting Olive Kittridge and the town of Crosby, Maine.

Structured similarly to the first book (with interrelated stories and Olive as the main thread), in Olive, Again, Olive Kittridge is older and in a later phase of her life. Strout offers a set of stories that are relate-able and empathetic. You don't need to have read the first book, but I'd strongly recommend it in order to get the most out of this book.

If you liked Olive Kitteridge, I think you'll love this follow-up, which is a worthy successor to the Pulitzer-winning first book.

In this sequel to the Pulitzer Prize-winning Olive Kitteridge, we once again get to revisit the town of Crosby, Maine and our old friend Olive, who is now entering her sunset years in what is possibly the last decade or so of her life, with new husband Jack in tow. As fierce and brash as ever, Olive is still insufferable at times and continues to be stubborn to a fault, but yet, she also seems more empathetic this go around, which I attribute to the fact that she has come to a somewhat better understanding of herself (ok, perhaps only slightly, haha). Of course, Olive being Olive, the usual brutal honesty is expected, but she has also learned to be a bit more aware of other people's feelings and in that regard, understands how to let things go a little when circumstances call for it (though still depends on who she is interacting with).

Structure-wise, we have the same short story format told from the perspective of different characters, nearly all residents of Crosby (with a few returning characters from the first book), but this time, I felt like more of the stories centered on Olive, and even the stories that were about others seemed to incorporate her presence a bit more directly. For some one like me who is not a huge fan of short stories, this continuity of course worked better for me, since it made this read less like a series of short stories and more like a continuous novel. One of the things I appreciate most about the sequel compared to the original is that this time around, we get more humorous moments with Olive — not that she deliberately tries to be funny, it's just that seeing the way she would react to certain situations made me chuckle (such as the entire baby shower segment and also her row with Jack about flying first class).

The original Olive Kitteridge was written in 2008, while this sequel Olive, Again was just published last month (October 2019). To be very honest, this book doesn't feel like it was written 11 years after the first one — when I picked it up and started reading, the transition between the 2 books was so seamless that I felt like I was merely continuing on from the first book. Elizabeth Strout's writing continues to be masterful and despite only having read 2 of her books (so far), she can already be counted amongst my list of favorite authors.

Olive is the type of character who will probably never be "endearing" (she herself would never permit it anyway), but she IS a character who, like those in the most beloved of classics, will live forever in the hearts of readers like me who were lucky enough to have made her acquaintance. I will most certainly miss Olive, but I am also grateful for the amount of time (the span of two books) that I was able to spend with her.

Received ARC from Random House via NetGalley.

I received this book for free from Netgalley. This did not influence my review.

I read Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout almost eight years ago so the details are fuzzy, but I remember being moved by the characterizations. A follow-up novel, Olive, Again, has recently been released and it’s a worthy successor.

This novel is also a collection of vignettes, stories about the inhabitants of Olive’s small Maine town, whose lives swirl around and occasionally intersect with that of the curmudgeonly retired school teacher. For the most part, the characters in this story are older than in the original. Delving deeply into their psyches using glimpses of daily life, Olive, Again is a masterful portrayal of loneliness, aging, resignation, and a smidgen of hope. Olive is as uncompromising as ever, but her perspective shifts as her world shrinks and there is some healing in her relationships.

Although it’s a fairly quick read, it’s a melancholy book. Strout has a gift for storytelling that can make a reader think and feel. Olive Kitteridge and Olive, Again should not be missed.

Olive Kitteridge is from Maine. Several of my friends, after having read Olive Kitteridge when it appeared in 2008, thought Olive was too stern and taciturn. Have they ever met anyone from Maine? An old Mainer friend once told me that Moxie was the greatest beverage in the world (and actually gave me a bottle to try.) I rank it right up there with cough syrup and kerosene. "Acquired taste," he said. But I digress.

If you know anyone from Maine, you probably noticed that they don’t suffer fools gladly, don’t waste time with long drawn out dialogue, are fiercely independent, have an innate kindness, generous spirit, and are best known to be smiling with a puckered-up lip arrogant expression.

So, don’t judge Olive too harshly. She comes by it naturally. Ayuh (yup anywhere outside Maine). It’s just that she is a bit overboard with her honesty and “just tell us what you really think” personality. You don't have to read Olive Kitteridge first, but I recommend it.

Olive, Again picks up a month after Oliver Kitteridge left off. Henry Kitteridge has been dead two years and her son, Christopher, lives in New York City with a new wife and a houseful of children. Olive, now in her 70's, still lives in Crosby, Maine. If we were to ask her why, she would probably utter her exasperated trademark phrase, "Phooey!" Walking away, she would flip her hand over her head in dismissal.

The point of the new novel; Olive, the unfiltered, presumptuous, and dismissive busybody of Crosby has bumped up against a much stronger opponent - old age. She's beginning to realize that she has been a smart-ass all her life and it is just possible she doesn't have the answer to everything after all. Stress the word - beginning to realize. She's facing unwanted and uncontrollable changes in her life. One thing she never loses is her "Olive-ness".

The novel is comprised of 13 interconnected stories of drama and emotion that transpire over the next ten years; some featuring Olive and some she slips through tangentially. Each vignette dives deeply into the troubled behind the scenes lives of everyday people. People that Olive has crossed paths with in her teaching career or lived among for years.

Don't be turned off by the threat of a gloomy book. It is a book full of acceptance, compassion, and resilience. A struggle to accept aloneness as opposed to loneliness. A struggle to find answers to the meaning of one's life and the answers to why bad things happen and how we come to accept ourselves.

My favorite chapter, The Poet. Olive is now 82 and walking with a cane. She is having a lonely breakfast at a local diner. She sits and stares out at the water and admiring the beauty of the land. The waitress oblivious to her presence after taking her order. A young woman enters the diner and sits staring out the window with a deep concentration etched on her face. Olive recognizes her as a former student who has returned to Cosby; a woman, now, who has become a world famous poet.

Excerpt from The Poet
Olive placed her fork on her plate...and walked to Andrea's booth. "Hello Andrea, I know who you are."...There was a long moment of silence - before Olive said, "So. You're famous now."
Andrea kept staring at Olive...Finally she said, "Mrs. Kitteridge?"
[They chat for a while with Olive asking Andrea questions but interrupting her with answers to the questions from Olive's own life. Olive tells Andrea that she reads about her life on Facebook and Andrea is surprised she would be interested. Olive asks if Andrea enjoyed a recent business trip to Oslo. Andrea replied she gets lonely on those trips with little time to sight-see.]

Olive wasn't sure she'd heard her right... "Well, you were probably always lonely." [Olive stares at Andrea and remembers the young girl from a poor Catholic family, one of eight children, who always looked so sad and preferred her own company.]

Andrea looked at her then, gave her a long look that confused [Olive] somewhat; the girl's eyes... seemed to break into a tenderness around their corners as she looked at Olive. The girl said nothing.

[Andrea attentively listens to Olive talk about her life, the ravages and indignities of old age, the recent death of her second husband and the distant relationship between Olive and her son, Christopher. Andrea politely asks why Olive thought children were needles to the heart. When Olive has run out of steam, she rises from Andrea's table to leave.] Olive wiped her fingers on a napkin, "You can put that in a poem. All yours."

[And she did. A mysterious person slipped a copy of the poetry journal with a post-it flagging the new poem to Olive's attention under her door.]

Accosted
... Who taught me math thirty-four years ago / terrified me and is now terrified herself / sat before me at the breakfast counter / all white whiskered / told me I had always been lonely / had no idea she was speaking of herself . . .

It was all there. . . the poem's theme, pounded home again and again, was that she - Olive - was the lonely, terrified one. It finished, Use it for a poem, she said / All yours.

[Olive tossed the magazine in the trash.] "Andrea, this poem stinks." [But Olive knew better. It was true.]

I thought Olive, Again was the better of the two books and I loved them both. Not a bad read for any person facing the indignity of sagging skin, faulty "towers", leaking pipes, and the sense that you don't matter anymore. Loved it. Restored my sense of humor and purpose; do the best you can do with what you got. Highly recommend for book club discussion.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

Once again I didn’t do my homework, and went into Olive, Again without knowing it was a sequel to already published book called Olive Kitteridge.
Nevertheless, this book can be read on it’s own.
However, if I read it’s predecessor, I would just skip this one for sure.

I’m not saying this is a bad book, because, judging by other readers’ and critics’ reviews, it is a really, really good book, but it wasn’t for me.
I just couldn’t see it’s greatness, I guess.

I think that the main reason why I couldn’t connect with the story was that the main character, Olive, is so much older then me.
This is the thing I realized while reading this novel: I just can’t enjoy the story, connect with it if the characters are so much older then me (we talk here about 70+ years old characters, and even 80+ as the story progressed).
Therefore, thanks to this piece of literature, I made a decision not to read books featuring old main characters any more (at least at this period of my life).

The second issue I had with Olive was that I didn’t like her as a character at all. I know she is described as honest, outright and ruthless, but to me, she often came as just rude.
I just didn’t like her energy and I could not care for her or what was going on in her life, and it especially showed as I was further into the story.
I caught myself scanning the last 50 pages of the story because I just wanted to be finished with it.

It is a shame, I do know, but it is what it is!

Also, when it comes to writing style my expectations were pretty high because this novel is labelled as literary fiction, which stands for beautiful prose.
Unfortunately, I was very disappointed because it read as simple general fiction.

Still, I have to note that the book covers some pretty important things and some of the stories that involved other characters were interesting.

On the other hand, there were some situations that made me feel uncomfortable (like when Olive said that it was stupid that an adult man cries aloud, and even if he’s Jewish, it’s still stupid).

In the end I’ll just repeat that Olive, Again is very loved book and I am aware that many people won’t agree with my opinion.
As for me, I won’t be reading Elizabeth Strout’s other work because I don’t think I would enjoy it at this stage of my life.

Oh how I adore olive! Was so excited to read about this beloved character again. Stout is so talented.

I was lucky enough years ago to win an ARC of Olive Kitteridge. I have the same feelings about that book which I have about this book. I just feel depressed when I read them. Did I enjoy both books? ABSOLUTELY! But, there is just something about Olive which depresses me. And to be honest, I think it is the way she loves people…she cannot find the joy in that love. And lots of people do not like Olive for this very reason. She is prickly, ornery and cantankerous.

However, this has not stopped me from reading all the Olive books. There is just something about that woman that draws me in. She is tough, independent and a hard worker. And then, there is her kindness. It is so out of the ordinary. It is not a side she shows often and when she does, it completely surprises the reader and you see a totally different side of this wonderful character.

This story has fantastic characters and it is amazingly well written. This whole series is not to be missed! Olive is…just Olive.