Dear life, like every new alice munro collection, is like returning for. Winner of the nobel prize in literature 20 a new york times notable book a washington post notable work of fiction a best book of the year. Alice munro s latest story collection includes the first and last and the closest things i have to say about my own life. The bookstore has grown to become one of the most magnificent bookstores in canada.
Dear life is a collection of short stories by nobel prizewinning canadian. Author alice munro and the cover of her novel, dear life. Where to start with alice munro, the newest nobel laureate for fiction. The stories in dear life, by nobel prizewinning author alice munro, build to form a radiant, indelible portrait of just how dangerous and strange ordinary l. Suffused with munros clarity of vision and her unparalleled gift for storytelling, these tales about departures and beginnings, accidents and dangers, and outgoings and homecomings both imagined and real, paint a radiant, indelible portrait of how. I had never read any alice munro, and i find its difficult to say anything. Alice munro is currently considered a single author. Alice munro captures the essence of life in her brilliant new collection of stories. If dear life is, indeed, her last book, shell have left behind a large body of work that might feel daunting for the. Stories vintage international kindle edition by munro, alice. Moments of change, chance encounters, twists of fate that create a new way of thinking or being. Dear life, stories by alice munro the new york times. Winner of the nobel prize in literature alice munro was born in 1931 and is the author of thirteen collections of stories, most recently dear life, and a novel, lives of girls and women.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers. The atlantic, npr, san francisco chronicle, vogue, av club in story after story in this brilliant new collection, alice munro pinpoints the moment a person is forever altered by a chance encounter, an action not taken, or a simple twist of fate. With her peerless ability to give us the essence of a life in often brief but spacious and timeless stories, alice munro illumines the moment a life is shaped the moment a dream, or sex, or perhaps a simple twist of fate turns a person out of his or her accustomed path and into another way of being. In dear life, her th collection, munro again breathes life real, blemished, nuanced life into her characters and settings usually her hometown in huron county, ontario. Moments of change, chance encounters,the twist of fate that leads a person off the accustomed path and on to a new way of thinking and being. Moments of change, chance encounters, the twist of fate that leads a person to a new way of thinking or being. Alice laidlaw munro is a writer who grew up in wingham, ontario. The henna artist opens a door into a world that is at. Dear life by alice munro penguin random house audio. Set mostly against the sprawling backdrop of rural canada during and just after world war ii, these 14 stories explore with. Youve written so much about young women who feel trapped in marriage and motherhood and. The best thing to say about alice munro is said so often, it doesnat mean much anymore. Reading guide for dear life by alice munro bookbrowse.
Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Most of the stories collected in dear life had previously been published elsewhere. Alice munros peerless ability to give us the essence of a life in often brief but always spacious and timeless stories is once again everywhere apparent in this brilliant collection. She is a popular writer who has been on the scene since the 1950s. Dear life is a short story collection by canadian writer alice munro, published in 2012 by mcclelland and stewart the book was to have been promoted in part by a reading at torontos international festival of authors, although the appearance was cancelled due to health concerns publication history. Alice munro, canadian shortstory writer who was known for exquisitely drawn narratives that reveal the depth and complexities in the emotional lives of everyday people. The questions that follow are intended to enhance your groups conversation about alice munros dear life, a group of stories by one of our. Where to start with alice munro, the newest nobel laureate. Since starting this book club a few years ago we have formed a nice core membership.
The book is more, however, than just the latest evidence of her excellence. Reading these stories will tell you something about alice munros life, but it. As the nobel prize presentation speech says in part. Dear life stories book club kit short stories book club kit. Reading guide for dear life by alice munro discussion guide for book clubs. To ask other readers questions about dear life, please sign up. Nobel prize winner alice munros peerless ability to give us the essence of a life in often brief but always spacious and timeless stories is on. A new york times notable book a washington post notable work of fiction a best book of the year.
Alice munros dear life allows us to travel through various locations, experience a series of events and become acquainted with diverse characters. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. If you havent come yet, please look out for the books on the table, pull up a chair, order a wine and join us. And in stories that munro has described as closer to the truth than usualdear life, working for a living, and home among themwe glimpse the authors own life. Dear life is a 2012 short story collection by canadian author alice munro, containing the stories. In this book, munro has laid bare the foundations of her fiction as never before. Alice munros dear life alice munro has been heralded as one of the most influential shortstory writers to ever come from canada. Alice munro was born in 1931 and is the author of thirteen collections of stories, most recently dear life, and a novel, lives of girls and women. Her stories all involve small rural towns and are all collections of short stories that deal with the authors own experiences. Just after my mother had grabbed me up, as she said, for dear life.
The couple moved to victoria in 1963 and opened the munros books, a large and independent bookstore that is still operational to this day. I was surprised to see you characterize this section of the book as the first and last thing. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. Dear life is alice munros latest collection of short stories, which include four amazing. Her works are often recognized as being both well written and captivating, and it is not uncommon for her works to receive national attention and recognition. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of dear life by alice munro.
Stories by alice munro alice munro delivers a collection of stories that makes ordinary existence seem extraordinary, from the costly nature of first love to the literal. For good reason, its rare when an alice munro book gets something. She has received many awards and prizes, including three of canadas governor generals literary awards and two giller prizes, the rea award for the short story, the lannan literary award, the whsmith book. Dear life is a collection as rich and surprising as any in alice munros deep career. Munro weighs the twists and turns of this dear life november 15, 2012 alice munro delivers a collection of stories that makes ordinary existence. A brilliant new collection of stories from one of the most acclaimed and beloved writers of our time. National post alice munro has always been the poet of the unexpected passion that comes seemingly out nowhere and changes a characters life. These were the questions that came to mind as i turned the last page of her phenomenal book. In one sentence, how would you describe the book dear life. Alice munros latest story collection includes the first and last and the closest things i have to say about my own life.
With her penetrating new collection, dear life, alice munro demonstrates once again why she deserves her reputation as a master of short fiction. First off i confess to not having read many short story collections, so i was pleased when my book group chose dear life by alice munro a writer ive be. This was our chosen book club read and, struggling with time, i was delighted to have short stories on the list so that i could still comment even if i. I need only to start reading a few pages of a book by alice munro to know i can relax to the strains of a familiar voice and feel secure in the steady pen of a solid writer. You half expect a new collection of stories by the beloved alice munro to arrive already devoured. Alice munros peerless ability to give us the essence of a life in often brief but always spacious and timeless stories is once again everywhere apparent in this brilliant new collection.
Dear life munro litlovers book club recommendations. In story after story, she illumines the moment a life is forever altered by a. Lovers of her writing must hope this is not, in fact, her finale. Many people, from members of my writing group, to lecturers ive listened to. Reading one of alice munros texts is like watching a. The questions that follow are intended to enhance your groups conversation about alice munros dear life, a group of stories. Learn more about munros life and work, including her notable books and other awards. The atlantic, npr, san francisco chronicle, vogue, av club in story after story in this brilliant new collection, alice munro pinpoints the moment a person is forever altered by a chance encounter, an action not taken, or a. The following questions are designed to help you guide your high school students through a structured discussion about alice munros short story collection dear life. In dear life, her th collection, munro again breathes lifereal, blemished, nuanced lifeinto her characters and settings usually her hometown in huron county, ontario. In dear life, she shows no sign of running out of material nor any sloppiness toward the form she has so gracefully deployed for almost half a century.
1226 260 691 317 1361 1431 229 1575 1364 1392 1442 614 916 1032 534 120 881 790 1596 133 542 500 1231 1201 199 240 962 1207 878 234 1439