It makes sense that for an unconventional protagonist that Elizabeth Strout would take an unconventional approach. For "Olive Kitteridge," she explores the life of an aging librarian as she watches the world change around her. The 21st century brings with it more chaos as well as understanding, and her weariness makes handling all of it more difficult. She is someone with old school values, an old way of thinking that clashes with everyone around her. While this is theoretically her story, Strout decides to dedicate as much time to explore her perspective as she does those around Olive, creating a unique perspective that is at times humorous and others insightful and even dark. While she may not necessarily be the most interesting character in her own narrative, there's enough substance to at least keep one curious to know what happens next.
There isn't one cohesive narrative throughout the pages that follow. While there is a progression of life and personal changes, most of it exists in the periphery. Strout is more interested in exploring moments like weddings and tragic meetings, asking readers to determine what they are getting from such encounters. Olive may be the stand-in, but she is at times too blunt, not really willing to give into others in a way that creates a satisfying arc. She is there, observing and holding herself in higher value because of her education and fulfilled life. Everyone is lacking that comfort of direction and she's perfectly fine just dealing with life as it happens.
The novel itself is fine with many of the chapters working as standalone narratives. It is here where the story becomes strongest, allowing the reader to spend some time with external characters who are struggling with things like mental health and relationships, desiring some sort of balance that isn't easily afforded to them. They are unassuming, practically midwest, but captures a world in shift during the 2000s, needing to find some reason to continue. Olive knows that things will get better, but even that becomes a conflict of sort when doubt enters her life. She is unable to be comfortable with everything in her life. While she doesn't have any radical changes, she does enough to show a small piece of understanding each time around.
She is aware that people are struggling and that they need help. She is in some ways scared herself to alter her path because of the potential chaos it provides. Strout does a good job of making the whole thing read as subdued. It's understated in manners that make it feel more simple than it is, never really developing anything beyond a compelling approach to writing. For those more in line with Olive's ideology, this book may be more entertaining to read. Otherwise, it's a bit lacking in the page-turning quality or any depth of character that would make it feel essential. There's plenty to like, but in part because of the lack of overarching narrative, there's no momentum built in a way that's overtly satisfying.
"Olive Kitteridge" is a decent enough read, though it's more the story of ideas through the humble, simple perspective. It's especially interesting that Olive is one of the less interesting characters in her own narrative, serving more as an entry for the audience and not someone with a whole lot of agency and meaning in her life. She interjects at times that make for a balletic approach to prose, but it's not enough. This is a good book with plenty of great ideas, but it feels like others have covered them in more human and accessible manners. With that said, a look into growing old during a fraught and turbulent time in American history is definitely an interesting perspective and one of the redeeming factors of this tale. As time moves on, how will we march? Olive will probably just shuffle along, and that's fine.
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