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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I teeter a little with Alice Munro--I generally don't dislike any of her stories, but I think many of them are merely good compared to her best, which are among the greatest things I've ever read. And it feels unfair to fault her for setting such high expectations. This collection, probably my 2nd favorite of hers after "Runaway", helped me decisively nudge her once and for all into the "favorite writer" tier. I strongly preferred the West Hanratty/Flo stories to the middle-aged-marriage sequence, but they were all good.
For a while this felt like a solid 4 stars for me, but I loved the final story so much, and I know I'm going to reread some of these, maybe soon. Also more committed than ever to seeking out some of her old collections to read rather than "getting around to reading a different one" every few years which is how I've read her until now.
Favorites:
Royal Beating
Privilege
Half a Grapefruit
Who Do You Think You Are?
Hon. Mention
Simon's Luck
Spelling
For a while this felt like a solid 4 stars for me, but I loved the final story so much, and I know I'm going to reread some of these, maybe soon. Also more committed than ever to seeking out some of her old collections to read rather than "getting around to reading a different one" every few years which is how I've read her until now.
Favorites:
Royal Beating
Privilege
Half a Grapefruit
Who Do You Think You Are?
Hon. Mention
Simon's Luck
Spelling
The narrative confused me a bit but I did enjoy the plot about the Beggar Maid.