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whatulysses's review against another edition
4.0
The characters are so good. Well-told stories. Enjoyable read but terrible escapism. Will fuck you up if you are the least bit depressed already.
germancho's review against another edition
5.0
In this most canadian of books (a gift from @bluelephant), Munro wields her somber, solemn prose as if she were slowly swinging a heavy lead pipe: sometimes she misses, but when she connects you'll be knocked out for good. I very much appreciate that Munro opens a door to woman's mind in a way that I've never seen before, even if men are made of straw and friends are empty sprites. Something else that I liked about this book is that sex is this unfortunate happenstance which life pokes you with every now and again. In this case this might be a contrivance of the story... I certainly hope so!
Favorite stories: "Half a Grapefruit", "The Beggar Maid", "Mischief", "Simon's Luck", and "Spelling", if only for its schadenfreunde value.
Favorite stories: "Half a Grapefruit", "The Beggar Maid", "Mischief", "Simon's Luck", and "Spelling", if only for its schadenfreunde value.
foggy_rosamund's review against another edition
3.0
Rose grows up in a very poor suburb on the outskirts of a small town in Canada. The interlinked short stories follow her as she leaves behind her oppressive home, goes to university, suffers a disastrous marriage, and struggles to have satisfying relationships with men. Munro's prose is clear, easy-to-read, and subtle. I found the stories about Rose's early life particularly satisfying: the struggles with her step-mother and the horrors of surviving a brutal school are memorable and engaging. Each story works on its own merits, but this does not quite hold together as a novel. It's hard not to consider this a novel when the stories build up a picture of one person's life, but the picture often feels fragmentary and unsatisfying. I also felt that Munro could have edited the stories before she published them in one book to avoid repetition between them. This is the first full collection of Munro I have read, and I was impressed by her skilled narrative voice: I am certainly interested in reading more, even if this did not completely win me over.
alizamiriam's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
juniperusxx's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Olen lukenut tarinan näköjään jo kymmenisen vuotta sitten englanninkielisenä ja silloin tykännyt kovasti. Nyt uusintaluettuna en ihan täysillä päässyt Rosen ja Flon elämään sisään, taidokkaasta kuvauksesta huolimatta luin tätä jotenkin ulkopuolisin silmin. Rose ei ihmisenä ollut kovinkaan miellyttävä tai kiinnostavakaan, mutta Munro kuvaa hienosti ihmisen sosiaalisen taustan merkitystä - sitä kuljetamme mukanamme, vaikka pintapuolisesti siirtyisimme sosiaalisesta luokasta toiseen.
megan_prairierose's review against another edition
3.0
This is the first book by Munro that I have read. Shame on me. I am an avid reader of Canadian fiction, so why it took me so long to read one of her's, is beyond me. A great work of fiction. I look forward to more.
sydn3y3's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
go girl boss!
not my favorite Munro, but still very good. love Rose but wish there would been more Flo like it seemed there would be in the description
short stories but in the form of a book basically
not my favorite Munro, but still very good. love Rose but wish there would been more Flo like it seemed there would be in the description
short stories but in the form of a book basically
roypetter's review against another edition
2.0
I've been looking forward to this for the longest time: my first Munro. Sadly, though, I'm seriously underwhelmed. Not one story felt interesting at the time of reading, and not one story proved memorable in the weeks after. I'm sure there must be more to Munro than this, so I will definitely try more titles.
grgrhnt's review against another edition
4.0
The way Munro rallies around past and present with such sleek and simple stream is the best aspect of this book. We hear the life of Rose, whose character is strengthened by the simple moments of past which in retrospect seem critical to her attitude towards life. She is human, she is one of the most human characters I've come across. While there are gaps in the life, the reader still feels a connectivity. The stories flow, despite their disjointed beginnings. That's not to say that Rose is bland as people are in real life. She is brave, but also consciously timid. She is human with a tint of rebellion that makes for great characters.