I have read most of Elizabeth Strout novels but like this one the best so far. This novel consists of 13 short stories about community friends / acquaintances of Olive Kitteridge of whom she is sometimes a central character
or just a link between them. Olive herself is a late middle age, overweight woman who is a 7th grade maths teacher. She is married to a long suffering pharmacist and has an only son. Olive has a love- hate relationship with almost everyone, including her family,
but can be at times oddly compassionate and insight, often with strangers. I find the novel a blunt, poignant and humorous read