Jen takes on Olive this week (no, not the kind with pits but rather one-of-a-kind Olive Kitteridge, who lives in Crosby, Maine) and finds herself captivated by the tangled web into which she ventures.  Author Elizabeth Strout won a 2009  Pullitzer for this book and we’re thinking, if there were a Pullitzer for book reviews, our Jen would win one hands down. 

This is collection of stories all involving at some point the same character, namely Olive Kitteridge.  What we see is the world of Crosby, Maine, through the eyes of many of the residents at various times in both their personal and the town’s history.
Olive is the common denominator and we see her through many eyes as well.

Elizabeth Strout is a very good writer.  From the first page I was completely in tune with the characters and Crosby.  Like a small town movie, you walk right in and can go have coffee with anyone you like.

It is slightly maudlin, but not disheartening.  Lives are hard and people are sometimes sad, but you are never tempted to leave or be disdainful.  These are inherently good people and you want to be with them.

Unlike a straightforward novel, the bits and parts of small stories make a perfect venue for Crosby.  We are presented with insight we could not ordinarily have and have a veritable kaleidescope of offerings.  However, it never feels anything but straightforward and palatable.  No flash, no tricks.  Strout isn’t attempting to dazzle us with craft she just moves us along.

Every transition is smoothly done.  No shocks, no, “What the heck? Now where are we?” moments.  The painting of Crosby, Maine, and Olive Kitteridge is, forgive the analogy, like an impressionist one.  A canvas filled with pointilist dots that creates a whole.  Like a Chuck Close or Seurat, Strout has a real gift for this and the result is beautiful.