Reviews

Alice Munro is a master of the short story. Truly — a genuine master. But as much as I want to, I just can’t love short stories. I need to immerse myself in someone’s life, sit with them awhile, know everything. Short stories are over too quickly, even when they are written superbly. Invariably, after a short story collection, I have forgotten everything, though later on — even years later — a fleeting moment or memory will come to me, almost as if I were recalling a story about a friend’s life, and I will realize it was from a short story. Then, I will know I have read something extraordinary, but I don’t often feel it in the moment. I can’t say for certain, but I think one of the stories in this book (whose name I already can’t recall — something Bear Mountain or so?) will come back. It’s a haunting tale of an elderly husband as he struggles with the mental decline of his wife. I could spend a lot more time with that couple — and in the end notes, it appears a movie has been made so I can. The rest of the stories? Sadly, I have already forgotten. If you are a short story fan, this is a gem; of, like me, you need more, I would pass this one by.

hanamayall's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

granola_boi's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

mary412's review against another edition

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3.0

When this was picked for book group, we all agreed to read certain stories. I read them in preparation for the discussion, enjoyed them very much and promptly shelved the book. It's still somewhere in my house, and I keep telling myself I'll get back to it. This is almost always the way with short stories. I don't feel compelled to finish like I do with a novel. I'm marking this as finished even though I've only read a few stories. My loss, I'm sure.

melanieapril's review against another edition

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5.0

My favorite stories in this collection are the first and last, but they are all weird and winding and great. Munro has one of those prose styles that gets stuck in your head - I caught myself thinking like her writing whenever I put down the book.

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