I wanted to read Olive Kitteridge because I was intrigued by the idea of painting a portrait of one character by watching how she passed through the lives of those around her. And, of course, by peering into the lives of those around her, a portrait of the town itself emerges.

Elizabeth Strout has brought to life the kind of complex character that I dream of reading about. Olive is not particularly likeable, but she is deeply fascinating. After taking a disliking to her daughter-in-law, Olive ruins one of her sweaters and steals one of her shoes. Just one shoe, not the pair. Yet, when meeting a young girl with an eating disorder, Olive is heartbroken to the point of tears. Marital problems exist between Olive and her husband, Henry, just like with any relationship. After Henry’s stroke, however, Olive visits him in the nursing home every day.

Strout’s use of language is elegant in its simplicity, forming brilliant and vivid pictures without boring the reader with rambling descriptions or giving off the impression that Strout got too cozy with a thesaurus. When describing a bed of flowers, for example, Strout claims that “The tulips bloomed in ridiculous splendor.” Ridiculous splendor. It brings immediately to mind excessive blooms, a beautiful clashing of colors, a richness that is almost too much. Although Olive spends much of the book toiling over flowers, calling them “ridiculous” is also such an Olive thing to say.

And Olive is far from the only compelling character in the book. As the reader sees glimpses of Olive through the eyes of her neighbors, they learn deeply personal things about the point-of-view characters, as well. Things that are perhaps not good or admirable, but certainly relatable.

Different books serve different purposes in our lives. When I need a quick and lazy weekend read, a quirky YA book can be just the thing. When I’m frustrated, a fluffy book with a happy ending will be my go-to. When I feel homesick for something I can’t identify, Hogwarts always feels like home.

Olive Kitteridge is not a lazy weekend read. It’s not a fluffy book with a happy ending, although the ending is also not a sad one. It’s never going to feel like home. Olive Kitteridge is a book that brings the reader intimately, uncomfortably close to the lives of the characters living between the pages. It quietly, subtly encourages empathy and understanding for those around us, even those we may not be fond of. It shows the worst traits, and maybe the best ones, in undeniably relatable people.

Which characters in your favorite books are the most compelling to you? Let me know in the comments below!