We Recommend: Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout

Elizabeth Strout's latest novel Olive, Again, is a continuation of the previous novel Olive Kitteridge. Olive indeed is back in all her cranky, DownEast hard scrabble ways. Olive delivers a baby, gets married again after living alone as a widow, has a poem written about her and marches into old age as only Olive can do. 

I loved this book for many reasons. The big one is the way Olive confronts aging and growing old. Elizabeth Strout's insight into its problems and difficulties and the hard won wisdom and self awareness Olive earns speaks to the heart. Strout's writing is effortless and she is a master in depicting the confused, complicated, wonderful way life can be. 

She perfectly captures the beautiful Maine coastline, the weather and seasons, and the weathered, worn and sometimes troubled people who live there. 

Don't miss reading this lovely book.