Olive Kitteridge – Elizabeth Strout

The tall figure of Olive Kitteridge, retired teacher of mathematics in Crosby, Maine, stalks the pages of this book. Sometimes she takes centre stage but as often she hovers in the background or just makes a cameo appearance in the loosely connected episodes.

Taken together, the chapters weave a portrait of contemporary lives in New England, with relationships to the fore. Olive’s role as wife, mother, mother-in-law (from hell), friend, ex-teacher, hostage, and airline security risk are all explored through gems of narration shot through with humanity, sensitivity, and understated humour.

Nothing much happens, but events and incidents that are small in the grand scheme of things are shown to be major in the impact they have on the individual. Olive’s character – spikey, self-reliant, and dismissive of the failings of others – is a delight.

A wise and insightful read.