Olive Kitteridge has become an iconic figure in American literature, her vituperative, downer personality reverberating to a Pulitzer Prize some ten years ago and several Emmy awards when Strout's first book with her as its star was made into a fantastic (and fantastically cast) HBO miniseries. Despite being the most unlikable of characters, someone who verbally abuses those who love her and sees little joys in a life impacted by tragedy and likely mental health issues, Kitteridge still manages to engender sympathy.
In the follow up to the classic, Strout once again structures it as many interlaced stories, some with Olive at the centre and others at the periphery, but even more than the first she is the centre. As life as a widow takes hold and the unwinnable trek toward death take hold, Olive begins to consider her life and her attitudes, her treatment of others, her now dead husband Henry and her somewhat estranged son, and she begins to self-reflect and take responsibility for her bitterness and what it must have done to others. Despite those she has crossed continue to be skeptical about her, she manages to grow, find love, and try to find meaning in old and new friendships. As we approach the twilight of her life, Olive remains cantankerous but also more rounded, a better person, and we are happy to have journeyed with her as she has grown.
Strout remains a remarkable conveyor of the intimate meanings of life, taking the small moments in life and uncovering them for their profundity. Her writing is economical, no wasted word, but also takes its time to slowly reveal the secrets below the surface of the ordinary life, how difficult ordinariness can be, with its suffering, its loneliness, but also how wonderful and rewarding even the smallest joy can bring to the mundane. Strout hits it out of the park again and hopefully this one will not disappoint the loyal followers of Olive Kitteridge.
Olive, Again comes out on October 19th.
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