by Alice Munro
These are classic short stories, the kind that end on a heavy ponderous note, without really have taught you anything or done anything other than get you really invested in a plot that then suddenly ends. And that is why I am not a fan of short stories – I read this for book club. I prefer the strong narrative arc of a novel. I was particularly invested when one of the stories was a continuation of the previous one, but then that streak ended at two. It also became tiresome to me that all the stories took place in the past, during a time when women wore dresses and had no worries other than who they would marry. If I’m going to read a book about a past era, I want it written in that era; then I guess I know I’m dealing with something authentic, and not an author who’s just guessing. There, I think that sums up all my negativity; at least I’ll say, I was interested in each story and character. Just vaguely annoyed each time a story ended and I was reminded, “Oh, that’s right, short story”.
Tytania 