Olive Kitteridge

I cannot remember when I downloaded this book - and its sequel, "Olive, Again" - but I clearly wasn't in the right frame of mind and stopped, 1/4 way through. I then picked it up at the weekend again, finished it and started and finished the sequel! The main character is Olive (Kitteridge) who is an awkward, uncomfortable, outspoken to the point of being rude personality, completely unaware of the perception others have of her, with nearly zero introspection of herself, the impact her reactions have on others or the consequences and actions have and will have all her life. Despite all of this, she is so personable and loveable, you just want to know what happens, how her life develops. She lives in a mall town in Maine and many stories of other inhabitants are woven into the book, all with their lives, problems, secrets, just like little cameos. This is a densely woven book with a myriad of characters finely observed and it completely transports you to Olive's world.