As an English Major at the University of Victoria in the mid-80’s, Alice Munro was on the syllabus. I was forced to read her. I didn’t understand her stories. I didn’t get what all the fuss was about. A) they were just short stories, B) they were very ordinary in setting, time and character, and C) nothing seemed to happen (more on C in a moment.) Shakespeare made more sense to me than Alice Munro at the time. It’s why I never read any of her stories in the decades in between. Avoided her if I’m being honest. Which is embarrassing to admit.
Bravo Kim, this is an excellent essay. As a fellow Canadian school student it's as if you entered my own head and life on this one, I was nodding along with every single word. That we had a countrywoman writing stories of this calibre and we thought they were boring speaks to...being human! May we open our minds (as you already have) and hold space in our hearts (as you already did) for the great Alice Munro.
18 is a tough age for anything. You're still a teen yet on your own, trying to figure out who you are.
I don't think I've ever read Munro. I always preferred disappearing in a good novel. I felt gyped with a short story or didn't have patience for one that was character driven without plot. I'm always willing to try again. Which one would you suggest?
I had the same belief about short stories. I've been shaken loose of that belief after this experience with Munro's stories. Her plots are so twisty and subtle, her characters so rich yet normal and she covers so much time and space, but with such brevity it's breathtaking. I'm left wanting more and at the same time feel like I've just been smacked in the face. Like, wait, what??? You definitely have to be ready for her.
The one that is still stuck in my head is "The Children Stay." So many levels and layers. The other one is "The Love of a Good Woman." That was a very clever mind twister. With lots of plot. But, as I've said, they start so simply, then it all sneaks up on you fast and slow at the same time. It's quite the ride.
Kim will have her own opinion, but I think you will not feel gypped with "Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage." It's a longish story with several character backstories developed and some plot twists. You can find it in the book of the same name or in the collection (kind of a "greatest hits" compilation) that Kim checked out.
Kim, this essay is fantastic! It's so true that as we experience more of life, and more loss, we finally see the vast spectrum of gray spanning the length between black and white. We often feel two opposite emotions at the same time as we understand that what has brought us our greatest joy will eventually break our hearts. I love the idea of going back to a celebrated book or author I didn't didn't understand when I was younger and looking at it through my 56 year old eyes. I'll need bigger print, or readers, but I'm sure there will be other differences too. Thank you for sharing both of your impressions of Alice Munro.
Thanks Amy. If you do get around to reading any of her stuff (or bring forward another author from your youth) and given your own experiences of late, I'd be interested to hear your take this duality and what comes up for you.
"As a reader, I couldn’t help but wonder how much of Alice was in her stories. How much of her inner life, inner desires, dreams and regrets were part of her own experience."
PS - Kim - The book for you is Robert Thacker's Alice Munro: Writing Her Lives. Hopefully, the library queue for it is not so long. :-) It's organized around the question of how her life (and people and places) influenced the stories. It also covers a lot of the who, what, when, where facts. Short answer: Yes, she was often writing about her own feelings and experiences and about people she knew, though she would change and fictionalize just enough.
Also, see Peter Meilaender's "The Secret Lives of Canadians" in the memorial post. That title is a little tongue-in-cheek, and speaks to this point of the inner life.
Thanks for the recommend Tara. I've asked my library to order it as they don't have it. I've read the synopsis and it sounds perfect for what I'm looking to learn about her. My curiosity is piqued!
I also recommend Sheila Munro (daughter b. 1953)'s _Lives of Mothers & Daughters: Growing Up with Alice Munro_. Maybe your library has that one. Much of it is set in Vancouver and Victoria. The Thacker bio is much more comprehensive and relates life and story, but the daughter's memoir is strong on the personal stuff. Mother and daughter had a good relationship, from what I understand.
Yes... I do go back and reread and I'm usually always surprised by what I failed to grasp the first time through. It's so funny though... I started checking Alice Munro stories out of the library when I was maybe 9... I don't think I had the slighted idea what I was reading 😂
Now that I’ve discovered what I have with Munro, I’m going to make a point of doing the same. At very least not avoiding authors altogether because of an early read of their work. You certainly were an early adopter of Alice’s work. That’s young. I was only just discovering Black Beauty at that age.
I was so terribly bored, especially in summers... the grown ups seemed to have all the interesting things going on... I remember doing the same with big, thick Joyce Carol Oates books and an Edie Sedgwick biography... I may have slipped that one under my skirt, lol.
Thanks Mary. I had the opportunity to listen to @Tara Penry’s interview with Robert Thacker today and it was very affirming of what I’ve been experiencing as I read her work. He also mentions the story about the workshop you referenced in your own tribute which still leaves me shaking my head with a mix of sadness and anger. Yesterday I cried about it, today I’m angry.
Yes! There is so much in each story it’s dizzying. No wonder she won a Nobel prize. I’ve got a lot of reading to catch up on when it comes to Munro and I’m looking forward to it. I know there will be many surprises.
Bravo Kim, this is an excellent essay. As a fellow Canadian school student it's as if you entered my own head and life on this one, I was nodding along with every single word. That we had a countrywoman writing stories of this calibre and we thought they were boring speaks to...being human! May we open our minds (as you already have) and hold space in our hearts (as you already did) for the great Alice Munro.
18 is a tough age for anything. You're still a teen yet on your own, trying to figure out who you are.
I don't think I've ever read Munro. I always preferred disappearing in a good novel. I felt gyped with a short story or didn't have patience for one that was character driven without plot. I'm always willing to try again. Which one would you suggest?
I had the same belief about short stories. I've been shaken loose of that belief after this experience with Munro's stories. Her plots are so twisty and subtle, her characters so rich yet normal and she covers so much time and space, but with such brevity it's breathtaking. I'm left wanting more and at the same time feel like I've just been smacked in the face. Like, wait, what??? You definitely have to be ready for her.
The one that is still stuck in my head is "The Children Stay." So many levels and layers. The other one is "The Love of a Good Woman." That was a very clever mind twister. With lots of plot. But, as I've said, they start so simply, then it all sneaks up on you fast and slow at the same time. It's quite the ride.
Sounds wonderful. Thx for the recommends.
Kim will have her own opinion, but I think you will not feel gypped with "Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage." It's a longish story with several character backstories developed and some plot twists. You can find it in the book of the same name or in the collection (kind of a "greatest hits" compilation) that Kim checked out.
Kim: What else would you suggest?
Alice does all that you say so well here.
Thank you, Kim!
Kim, this essay is fantastic! It's so true that as we experience more of life, and more loss, we finally see the vast spectrum of gray spanning the length between black and white. We often feel two opposite emotions at the same time as we understand that what has brought us our greatest joy will eventually break our hearts. I love the idea of going back to a celebrated book or author I didn't didn't understand when I was younger and looking at it through my 56 year old eyes. I'll need bigger print, or readers, but I'm sure there will be other differences too. Thank you for sharing both of your impressions of Alice Munro.
Thanks Amy. If you do get around to reading any of her stuff (or bring forward another author from your youth) and given your own experiences of late, I'd be interested to hear your take this duality and what comes up for you.
"As a reader, I couldn’t help but wonder how much of Alice was in her stories. How much of her inner life, inner desires, dreams and regrets were part of her own experience."
PS - Kim - The book for you is Robert Thacker's Alice Munro: Writing Her Lives. Hopefully, the library queue for it is not so long. :-) It's organized around the question of how her life (and people and places) influenced the stories. It also covers a lot of the who, what, when, where facts. Short answer: Yes, she was often writing about her own feelings and experiences and about people she knew, though she would change and fictionalize just enough.
Also, see Peter Meilaender's "The Secret Lives of Canadians" in the memorial post. That title is a little tongue-in-cheek, and speaks to this point of the inner life.
Did I mention, I love this post? ;-)
Thanks for the recommend Tara. I've asked my library to order it as they don't have it. I've read the synopsis and it sounds perfect for what I'm looking to learn about her. My curiosity is piqued!
I will do my best to feed your freshly whetted appetite for things Munro! 😂
I also recommend Sheila Munro (daughter b. 1953)'s _Lives of Mothers & Daughters: Growing Up with Alice Munro_. Maybe your library has that one. Much of it is set in Vancouver and Victoria. The Thacker bio is much more comprehensive and relates life and story, but the daughter's memoir is strong on the personal stuff. Mother and daughter had a good relationship, from what I understand.
Kim: I love this post. Anyone who had Munro inflicted on them before they were ready deserves this kind of reacquaintance, on their own time.
I love how you've described it above. She was inflicted on me, way too soon. I only wish I hadn't waited so long. But, better late than never.
I have Selected Stories on hold at the library now. Eager to read for myself - thank you.
Enjoy! I’m looking forward to when it comes back around to my turn again.
Yes... I do go back and reread and I'm usually always surprised by what I failed to grasp the first time through. It's so funny though... I started checking Alice Munro stories out of the library when I was maybe 9... I don't think I had the slighted idea what I was reading 😂
Now that I’ve discovered what I have with Munro, I’m going to make a point of doing the same. At very least not avoiding authors altogether because of an early read of their work. You certainly were an early adopter of Alice’s work. That’s young. I was only just discovering Black Beauty at that age.
I was so terribly bored, especially in summers... the grown ups seemed to have all the interesting things going on... I remember doing the same with big, thick Joyce Carol Oates books and an Edie Sedgwick biography... I may have slipped that one under my skirt, lol.
Terrific addition to the memorial, Kim! Am blown away by this.
Thanks Mary. I had the opportunity to listen to @Tara Penry’s interview with Robert Thacker today and it was very affirming of what I’ve been experiencing as I read her work. He also mentions the story about the workshop you referenced in your own tribute which still leaves me shaking my head with a mix of sadness and anger. Yesterday I cried about it, today I’m angry.
And aren't Munro's stories very much about dialectic too?
[as in BOTH CAN BE TRUE - and the AND of it all].
Yes! There is so much in each story it’s dizzying. No wonder she won a Nobel prize. I’ve got a lot of reading to catch up on when it comes to Munro and I’m looking forward to it. I know there will be many surprises.