Elizabeth Strout’s Olive Kitteridge is the book I chose for my personal narrative response. Though it was the only book that I had not yet read on the list that I could obtain from the library several items contributed to me selecting this novel. Being particularly busy this summer, I knew that I would either devote an extensive amount of time to do this assignment or complete it last-minute. Consequently, I decided a smaller book would be necessary so I would be able to have the assignment completed on time. The book did not seem to be appealing at first. Not only did I continue to read the novel to finish the assignment, but I also read because the stories were quite compelling. Each small story in the chapters had a conflict and my interest…show more content… Caring Henry Kitteridge was the first character I had a relation to, for we both have the same feeling of responsibility and emotions towards others and our homes. Ordinarily, when death grasps someone, people will feel sorrow, but Henry’s coworker’s death “left him with some feeling of responsibility” (5) for he felt, as I do in countless situations, that there was something he could have done. For example, whether it is daily errands or a school project, I feel more confident doing the task on my own, for if there are any mistakes they will be my own fault. Though it is not the same responsibility felt by Henry, I, like him, take responsibility for things that should not concern us to the entirety that they do. In addition, I saw a connection to Henry when he looked at Denise and “he wondered what in her young life had made her not trust happiness” (10), as I do many times with others and myself. In other words, I constantly look at people who are unhappy and wonder why they feel so and sometimes I ask the same question about myself. Furthermore, I relate to Mr. Kitteridge for like me, “[he] doesn’t want people alone” (28), and pray for everyone in the world to have their own happiness throughout their lives. In reality, many people will live their lives feeling miserable, but whether or not they remember, everyone has felt happiness at one point in time.
