How Fiction Draws Pulitzer-Winner Elizabeth Strout Home To Maine

Elizabeth Strout reflects on her childhood in Maine, where her curiosity about people began. Her character Olive Kitteridge, known for its depth, reappears in her new novel. Strout's upbringing in an isolated Maine environment fueled her imagination and writing. She explores community dynamics and the importance of reader engagement in her work. Despite living in New York, Strout's true subject remains small-town life, with its social hierarchies and diverse characters.

What does Strout mean by saying her characters often 'show up' unexpectedly?

What significance does Strout attribute to the community in her narratives?

How does Strout perceive the role of the reader in her writing process?