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A review by tani
The Love of a Good Woman by Alice Munro
3.0
I liked these well enough to say that objectively, this is a very good collection. Even though neither literary fiction nor short stories are usually my thing, these stories were often successful at drawing me in. Even when I started a story with about zero interest, by the end I found that I was intrigued and wondering what would happen to the characters. Characters, by the way, are definitely a strong point for Alice Munro. She does a wonderful job of creating them and then making them sympathetic. I also liked her focus on issues that are often central to a woman's life, like marriage, relationships, and babies.
Subjectively, I just didn't care enough. I enjoyed the stories while I was reading them, but I could put the book down for months at a time and not feel the slightest inclination to pick it back up again. There's just something about literary fiction that I find innately unappealing, almost depressing, and this was no exception. I somehow failed to connect with most of the characters in this book, even when I was interested in their story, and for me, that's really crucial to my enjoyment.
Subjectively, I just didn't care enough. I enjoyed the stories while I was reading them, but I could put the book down for months at a time and not feel the slightest inclination to pick it back up again. There's just something about literary fiction that I find innately unappealing, almost depressing, and this was no exception. I somehow failed to connect with most of the characters in this book, even when I was interested in their story, and for me, that's really crucial to my enjoyment.