ckirkhart's review against another edition
5.0
I've read the occasional Alice Munro story in the past, but this is the first large compilation I have read. With each story I became more and more impressed with her ability. She gives such a subtle complexity to her characters, most of whom live more or less ordinary lives. She alludes to intricate, deep emotions without ever spelling them out to her reader or lapsing into sentimentality. I can't wait to start the reading through all of her original collections, discovering more work and revisiting all of the stories in this compilation.
amelia555's review against another edition
5.0
This is my first Alice Munro book and I'm convinced it won't be the last.
Munro's leading characters are always women and they are always teachers/writers/bookstore owners/librarians - that may be another reason why I became so fond of her writing:) In (almost) every story the leading lady goes down the memory lane and recalling something from her past, something that's following her, something that caused her to live like she lives. Very often it's somehting to do about the relationships with one of the parents.
Munro is not straightforward when it comes to big revelations, she gives clues so the reader can interpret some things as he wishes. There's almost always this little mystery around the leading character thanks to those innuendos. My main impression from this book is that her stories feel so personal, intimate. It can even make you feel a little uncomfortable that you, I mean, she digged so deep and showed you what wasa there.
My most favorite stories from these particular book are Something I've been meaning to tell you, Royal beatings, The moons of Jupiter, Miles City, Montana; White dump, Carried away, Vandals.
Munro's leading characters are always women and they are always teachers/writers/bookstore owners/librarians - that may be another reason why I became so fond of her writing:) In (almost) every story the leading lady goes down the memory lane and recalling something from her past, something that's following her, something that caused her to live like she lives. Very often it's somehting to do about the relationships with one of the parents.
Munro is not straightforward when it comes to big revelations, she gives clues so the reader can interpret some things as he wishes. There's almost always this little mystery around the leading character thanks to those innuendos. My main impression from this book is that her stories feel so personal, intimate. It can even make you feel a little uncomfortable that you, I mean, she digged so deep and showed you what wasa there.
My most favorite stories from these particular book are Something I've been meaning to tell you, Royal beatings, The moons of Jupiter, Miles City, Montana; White dump, Carried away, Vandals.
vr_alyssa's review against another edition
3.0
2016 review:
Short story from a little girls perspective. Got me interested to know more about Ben (her father), especially because everything is viewed through her eyes. He seems like a nice character.
Short story from a little girls perspective. Got me interested to know more about Ben (her father), especially because everything is viewed through her eyes. He seems like a nice character.
andrewsutton's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
eklsolo's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
tessaays's review against another edition
5.0
Munro is a true master. Not a word out of place in any of the stories. Exceptional.
ladimcbeth's review against another edition
3.0
Book #8 on the Entertainment Weekly list of New Classics
volkerball86nox's review against another edition
5.0
I will not limit her as being just relatable, rather Munro has great skills in representing little, often ignored nuances of human life. Combined with her usual settings of small towns set in green, mountainous regions, her fiction had had quite an effect on my own small town sensibilities. Also, these stories are full of nostalgia for a past that may have not completely gone yet, making it rather endearing and melancholic. A few of the stories maybe boring, but most of them are quite engrossing and thought provoking. I certainly was led to think mote about my relationship with my family and how I feel about them. You will feel like you know these people in bits and pieces, like people whom you are no longer in touch with, but think of them out of the blue. Actually, that's how she portrays them too, like she'd just remembered someone. Its very cool. I'd never read Munro before, I will now.
kfreedman's review against another edition
5.0
Wonderful collection of short stories, mostly set in depression-era US. The most beautiful writing I’ve read in a long time, amazing stories and characters.
hitchmar's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0