Kent District Library issued the following announcement on Dec. 10.
After over a decade of waiting, fans of Elizabeth Strout’s Olive Kitteridge get to dive back into the story of Crosby, Maine’s most abrasive retiree in Olive, Again. The familiar format of 13 short stories continues the life of the iconic Olive as she struggles to understand not only herself and her own life, but the lives of those around her. She bonds with a teen suffering from loss, a woman who gives birth unexpectedly, a nurse harboring a longtime crush, and a lawyer who resists an unwanted inheritance. While you wait to catch up with Olive, check out the following read-alikes selected for you by KDL staff.
In Clock Dance, Anne Tyler introduces us to another flawed and complex character: Willa Drake. A lifetime of painful milestones and fading grandchild prospects compel Willa to help her son’s ex-girlfriend, whose 9-year-old daughter needs protection after her mother has been shot. This impulsive decision leads Willa into uncharted territory as she is surrounded by eccentric neighbors, plunged into the rituals that make a community a family, and forced to find solace in unexpected places.
Another book that focuses on life’s second act is Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf. In Holt, Colorado, widower Louis Waters is initially thrown when the widowed Addie Moore suggests that they spend time together, in bed, to stave off loneliness. Soon, they are exchanging confidences and memories despite the objections of their children. You can also follow Louis and Addie’s story on the big screen: in 2017, the book was adapted into a film starting Robert Redford and Jane Fonda.
If you’re looking for a life-affirming story for all ages, you might enjoy Elizabeth Berg’s The Story of Arthur Truluv. It is a moving novel about three people who have lost the person they love most and must find their way back to happiness. Arthur forms a friendship with an angry teenager, Maddy, and his nosy neighbor, Lucille, to create an unconventional but loving family.
In Home, the second book in her Gilead series, Marilynne Robinson also tackles the themes of family and loss. Returning to Gilead to care for her dying father, Glory Boughton is joined by her long-absent brother, with whom she bonds throughout his struggles with alcoholism, unemployment, and their father’s traditionalist values.
Don’t forget to check out our recommendations page for even more librarian curated picks!
Original source can be found here.
Source: Kent District Library
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