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“http://babbettesbookblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/current-read-short-stories.html”
Elisabeth W wrote this review Monday, October 12 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I'll read anything Alice Munro writes. These short stories are so consistently vivid and each a world unto itself. How does she do it? So timeless and real, they must come from her own life.”
BAg wrote this review Saturday, October 10 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“intriguing...”
Claudia T wrote this review Tuesday, September 1 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Never thought I'd be so enthralled with short stories! ”
Leslie W wrote this review Saturday, August 22 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Absolutely beautiful series of short stories - some loosely connected. Munro is a brilliant writer. The title story is about a young woman in an abusive relationship who seeks help from her neighbour. The woman helps her but the abusive husband finds out. The runaway of the title is the young woman and her pet goat - which shows up at an important scene in the story - saving the kindly neighbour from the abusive husband - sounds lame I know, but it works so well on so many levels. ”
Wendy J wrote this review Monday, August 10 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This is another attempt to acquaint myself with modern short story voices and techniques. Change and Trespasses are both notable for the oblique emotional routes they take yet don't seem contrived for doing so. Overall a strong collection.”
John B wrote this review Monday, June 15 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“She creates wonderful characters.”
Laura B wrote this review Wednesday, April 22 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Alice Munro is one of my favorite short story writers. And I love short stories, though it is a dying art. This is not my favorite collection of hers, but I read it for a book club and really enjoyed discussing reasons why the characters do what they do in the stories. Her development of complex characters is Munro's true gift.”
Lisa R wrote this review Sunday, August 3 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Finally, I read some Alice Munro. What took me so long? she is an amazing writer. How does she do it? These stories will stay with me forever. I particulary liked the last two, "Tricks" and "Powers." But, they were all great. I love the way she can make a short story cover a character's whole life without ever saying, "and now it is twenty years later..."
Meg wrote this review Tuesday, July 22 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Ah, those Canadians! ”
“Alice Munroe is widely lauded as one of the most brilliant modern short story writers. As a lover of short stories, I was expecting to really enjoy this collection. Certainly the stories are well-written and enjoyable to read. They are peopled largely with women, many of whom seem to exhibit a host of stereotypical feminine flaws (far too subservient or braggingly independent, ready to throw their lives away for randomly met men, etc). It isn’t necessarily that the characters are not realistic; they seem real, but in such a way that I think I would despise or pity them if I met them out in the world. A few of the stories also employ thematic elements which struck a false note, at least with me (the main offenders - the mistaken identity of murdered adopted baby, a deaf-mute twin brother, sudden defection of a beloved child to a cult camp). That said, I did enjoy reading the stories, especially the title story (Runaway) and Passion. Worth reading, but I think I will reserve judgment concerning Monroe’s status at the pinnacle of the craft.”
Jamie E wrote this review Thursday, July 17 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
