Olive's private view is that life depends on what she thinks of as "big bursts" and "little bursts." Big bursts are things like marriage or children, intimacies that keep you afloat, but these big bursts hold dangerous, unseen currents. Which is why you need the little bursts as well: a friendly clerk at Bradlee's, let's say, or the waitress at Dunkin' Donuts who knows how you like your coffee. Tricky business, really.


Olive Kitteridge (ed. Simon and Schuster, 2013) - ISBN: 9781471128653

Elizabeth Strout Quotes

Olive's private view is that life depends on what she thinks of as big bursts and little bursts. Big bursts are things like marriage or children,...

Olive's private view is that life depends on what she thinks of as big bursts and little bursts. Big bursts are things like marriage or children,...

Olive's private view is that life depends on what she thinks of as big bursts and little bursts. Big bursts are things like marriage or children,...

Olive's private view is that life depends on what she thinks of as big bursts and little bursts. Big bursts are things like marriage or children,...