My first book by Elizabeth Strout, and it won't be my last. It's full of fascinating glimpses into the small everyday lives of a small town's inhabitants, their hopes, dreams, secrets and disappointments. All so very real. In the same breath you snigger at Olive Ketteridge, then you pity her, then you realise how alike we all are. Ultimately I came to care for her. Although it at first seems like the characters are disconnected, Olive floats through reminding us that this is a small town, where people know all about each other, and try to hide their secrets. I loved it.