Reviews

The Beggar Maid: Stories of Flo and Rose, by Alice Munro

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grgrhnt's review against another edition

4.0

The way Munro rallies around past and present with such sleek and simple stream is the best aspect of this book. We hear the life of Rose, whose character is strengthened by the simple moments of past which in retrospect seem critical to her attitude towards life. She is human, she is one of the most human characters I've come across. While there are gaps in the life, the reader still feels a connectivity. The stories flow, despite their disjointed beginnings. That's not to say that Rose is bland as people are in real life. She is brave, but also consciously timid. She is human with a tint of rebellion that makes for great characters.

pandabearsfly's review against another edition

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5.0

"That is not to say he is pretending, that he is acting, and does not mean it. he is acting, and he means it" (19).

Exquisite prose laden with keen observations that I couldn't help rereading. Marvelous characters, at times ferocious, other times pathetic.

I enjoyed this one more than Lives of Girls and Women, largely because Rose is more compelling as a character (Del seems more of an observer) and because of its better title, which points out a theme throughout the collection. As we see in "Royal Beatings," everyone is assigned a role to play in society. When you deviate, when you aspire to something more, (or when, like Rose, who wants to an actress and transform herself,) you may get shot down spectacularly. You may make a fool of yourself. That's how people think of Rose, who marries into wealth, gets divorced, has many disappointing affairs, and continually struggles to find her footing. But could she really have survived otherwise?

I liked how the first and last stories, "Royal Beatings" and "Who Do You Think You Are?", demonstrate the starkest temporal jumps, from Rose's childhood to after Flo's mental health has deteriorated drastically. They're great bookends, given how meditative the book can be.

I'd argue that this book deserves the title of novel more than Lives, which I'm convinced publishers bestowed with that label because it's more marketable.

Anyway, this a real treasure trove of wisdom and feeling. So much to reread and draw from.

saj_81's review

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challenging mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I think this book will stay with me for a while. There is something intimate and relatable in these stories. It is not a traditional narrative, but rather like a large picture that allows you to zoom into certain parts. Like getting to look inside someone's head.