I was beyond thrilled this morning when I woke to find that Alice Munro has won the Nobel Prize for Literature. She becomes the first Canadian to do so (if you don’t count Saul Bellow, who moved to the USA when he was nine and is considered a US winner). I believe she is also the first to be cited for contributions to the short story.
Of all the authors I’ve read over the years who’ve made a direct impact on my life, she’s right there at the top. We have quite an archive of posts for Munro (see here), and plans to keep going until we’ve gone through each story in each of her books.
Great news indeed. In fact you and Betsy ought to think about putting your Munro story reviews in a book format!
Anton
It’s been a thought, Anton, but still just a thought. But if that’s really something people would be interested in . . .
Strike while the irons hot (you are bent on reviewing them all in any case). I am no expert but I find your comments and Betty’s complement each other very well, while being eminently accessible and eminently perceptive. I do actually have a couple of books reviewing the author’s work (there are not that many, strangely enough and a couple I had to acquire second hand, I think, because they are out of print) and your reviews stand up well against these. Of course the logistics of getting something like this into print is something I have no idea about at all.
By the way, lots of my favourite writers were in the running this year: Attwood (who gave a splendid talk here in Brussels a couple of weeks ago), Roth, Murikami, Dylan and course Munro. What a splendid selection this time around
Anton
Great news … am a Munro fan too, though have not read anywhere near as many of her stories as you have, but she is a well-deserved winner.
Heyse, in 1910, had a comment about his short stories in his Nobel citation. They called them “world renowned”, although they mention his poetry, novels, and drama without adjectives.
Just started reading (and immediately rereading) the stories in Dance Of The Happy Shades. Second time’s certainly the charm. Only two in, but this stuff is good.
Stewart! It’s been ages! Thanks for popping by and leaving a comment. “Walker Brothers Cowboy” is exceptional, and quite a watershed for Munro.
Anyway, good to hear from you again.