Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Dear Life
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro
WINNER OF THE NOBEL PRIZE IN LITERATURE 2013 A New York Times Notable Book A Washington Post Notable Work of Fiction A Best Book of the Year: The Atlantic, NPR, San Francisco Chronicle, Vogue, AV Club In story after story in this brilliant new collection, Alice Munro pinpoints the moment a person is forever altered by a chance encounter, an action not taken, or a simple twist of fate. Her characters are flawed and fully human: a soldier returning from war and avoiding his fiance, a wealthy woman deciding whether to confront a blackmailer, an adulterous mother and her neglected children, a guilt-ridden father, a young teacher jilted by her employer. Illumined by Munros unflinching insight, these lives draw us in with their quiet depth and surprise us with unexpected turns. And while most are set in her signature territory around Lake Huron, some strike even closer to home: an astonishing suite of four autobiographical tales offers an unprecedented glimpse into Munros own childhood. Exalted by her clarity of vision and her unparalleled gift for storytelling, Dear Life shows how strange, perilous, and extraordinary ordinary life can be.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
quote
Pinta
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro
post image

Just the matter-of-fact statement of devastating events: u-boat sinking passenger ferry, gas chambers, death of parent. And the emotional investment in smaller, seemingly inconsequential events later on—this contrast is so disconcerting and effective.

3 likes1 stack add
review
Pinta
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro
post image
Pickpick

Wrote a short story last week and went back to remember how it really should be done. The uncompromising tone, the surprises, readjustments. The detail. The placid surface and all the roiling beneath. Choices to be made or abandoned. The construction & cadence and the passage of time. Clinical, yet full of mystery. All the suppression is frustrating sometimes, but beautiful. “Gravel” still a fave. “Corrie” — is the New Yorker ending better? 2012.

review
foxy_frain
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro
post image
Pickpick

🥞📅

blurb
TheEllieMo
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro
post image

I‘m not very well acquainted with many Canadian authors, but a bit of research tells me that Alice Munro often sets her stories in Huron, where she lives. My great-great-great grandparents emigrated from Buckinghamshire, England to Huron, Ontario and are buried in the area.

#Canada #LetsTravelJuly
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @OriginalCyn620

OriginalCyn620 😊🇨🇦❤️ 5y
26 likes1 comment
review
alisonrose
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro
Pickpick

First 5-star read of 2019! And it‘s short stories, which I rarely read. But this collection just floored me. Don‘t know how I‘ve waited so long to read her work, but so glad I finally did & will def be picking up more! These stories aren‘t plot heavy, they don‘t always have a “point”, but the characters are so real & the way she writes emotion, scenery, life...just beautiful. & thank God there are no BS 3 pg “stories” — all a good length 😜 5/5 ⭐️

Kammbia1 I just read “Haven“ in this collection and enjoyed it. I had not read Alice Munro before. I will be reading more! 5y
37 likes1 stack add1 comment
quote
alisonrose
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro

We say of some things that they can‘t be forgiven, or that we will never forgive ourselves. But we do—we do it all the time.

31 likes1 stack add
quote
alisonrose
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro

Highman [...] Population 1,553.
Why do they bother to put the 3 on?
Every soul counts.

quote
alisonrose
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro

There‘s always one morning when you realize that the birds have all gone.

wordzie 5y
31 likes1 comment
quote
alisonrose
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro

And before long he found himself outside, pretending that he had as ordinary and good a reason as anybody else to put one foot ahead of the other.

What he carried with him, all he carried with him, was a lack, something like a lack of air, of proper behavior in his lungs, a difficulty that he supposed would go on forever.

rachelk She‘s such a great writer! 5y
alisonrose @rachelk This is my first time reading her and I totally agree! 5y
27 likes2 comments
quote
alisonrose
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro

The dream was in fact a lot like the Vancouver weather—a dismal sort of longing, a rainy dreamy sadness, a weight that shifted round the heart.

blurb
alisonrose
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro
post image

I‘m not super into short stories but I know Alice Munro is quite widely beloved, and I mean, look at the award stuff on this cover. Nobel and Man Booker? Not bad, not bad. 😜 #nowreading

41 likes3 stack adds
review
BethMcQ
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro
post image
Pickpick

I‘m still basking in the afterglow of these stories and have nothing intelligible to say except they‘re breathtaking and I need to read a lot more #AliceMunro, especially if these aren‘t her best, as I‘ve heard. 💗 #DearLife #shortstories #nobelprize

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Welcome to Litsy 📖💙 5y
Eggbeater Welcome to Litsy! 🐙 5y
TheBookgeekFrau Welcome to Litsy📚 5y
See All 6 Comments
CoffeeNBooks Welcome to Litsy! 📚 5y
Eggs Welcome to Litsy 🌺 5y
Kammbia1 I don't read a lot of short stories. But I came across this collection in my local library and started reading “Haven“. I really liked it and will be reading more of Alice Munro. 5y
10 likes6 comments
quote
BethMcQ
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro
post image

“If you live long enough as a parent nowadays, you discover that you have made mistakes you didn‘t bother to know about along with the ones you do know about all too well. You are somewhat humbled at heart, sometimes disgusted with yourself.” - #AliceMunro, #DearLife #parenting

blurb
BethMcQ
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro
post image

Alice Munro and this sunny, simple reading spot are giving me life right now. #AliceMunro #shortstories #whereiread #rooibos

review
mreads
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro
post image
Mehso-so

Collection of short stories by Noble prize winner, my first Munro and her latest book so I'm not sure if this is representative of her work or not. However I just couldn't connect with the stories, they seem to be going somewhere and then just nothing and mostly about sad little lives. I generally don't mind sad stories or ones about small/simple lives but this just didn't work for me.
#readingwomenchallenge

blurb
abbreviatedAndy
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro
post image

My travel stack... bookworm problem: over packing books because I just can't decide or predict my future moods... But library book is a no brainer.

RaimeyGallant Looks like a nice stack. And welcome to Litsy! #LitsyWelcomeWagon Some of us put together Litsy tips to help new Littens navigate the site. It's the link in my bio on my page in case you need it. Or if you prefer how-to videos, @chelleo put some together at the link in her bio. @LitsyWelcomeWagon 6y
Eggs Welcome to Litsy 👋🏻😊 6y
See All 8 Comments
ephemeralwaltz I always overpack books! Welcome to Litsy!! 🤗🤗🌟 6y
Chelleo Hi and welcome! 6y
jmofo Welcome! I pack in advance and do not pack books or journals until the night before, trying to keep to one of each, as I always seek out book shops on my trips. 😬 6y
abbreviatedAndy Thank you everyone, I finished Persepolis, which I absolutely loved and need to get book 2...I read Dear Life and my current ebook. I didn't get to Flights yet. I did go to local indie bookstore during my travels and purchased two new books...I should post a pic soon. Thanks for the welcome and validation. 6y
8 likes8 comments
review
LitandLeisure
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro
post image
Pickpick

Day 2: Dear Life by Alice Munro; short story collection by one of the masters; review includes a list of topics / themes for #bookclub discussion

#31Books #BooksIrecommend @LitandLeisure

ow.ly/jLBl30laFtg

review
Lcsmcat
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro
post image
Pickpick

I loved this book! There are some that are (loosely) connected, and some stand alone, but Munro does not disappoint.

46 likes1 stack add
blurb
Amiable
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro
post image

On vacation in Victoria, Canada. Of course we stopped at Munro's Books, which was owned by author Alice Munro's husband until his death last year. He left the store to four long-time employees on the condition that they continue to operate it as an independent bookstore.

LeahBergen It‘s such a pretty shop. 😍 6y
15 likes1 comment
blurb
TheBookstorePodcast
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro
post image

So, I know that Litsy was acquired by Library Thing a little bit ago, but I cataloged my personal library with it this morning. I made the mistake of buying a couple of used books that I already owned more than once in the last few months. Here‘s to hoping having everything I own in my phone keeps me from over purchasing!
How do you keep track of your books?

CoffeeNBooks 🤣 Same. I use Libib because it lets me keep more than 1 list- I have a list of books in my home library, and a list of books in my classroom library. I'm not sure it's necessarily the best app, but it seems to work for me. 6y
TheBookstorePodcast @CoffeeNBooks that‘s a good reason to use it though! I‘m not 100% sold on LT, just because it seems difficult to add tags or to even mark books as read/unread, but I plan on testing out the desktop version, too. I have high hopes! (edited) 6y
ElenaBaer I have no trouble remembering which books I have in my personal library. (Especially if I can read a synopsis) I‘ve never actually thought of that before. I also do a lot of eReading so I can always look them up. The books I buy as a teacher.... well it‘s never a bad thing to own more than one copy of those books. 6y
Coleen I‘ve been a long time LT user and it‘s my preference for cataloguing. However, I do use the desktop version almost exclusively. Not crazy about the app. 6y
CareBear I also use Libib like @CoffeeNBooks I mostly use it during book sales so I don‘t make duplicate purchases, since I have so many TBR‘s. It‘s easy to add and to search. 6y
45 likes5 comments
blurb
yoyo1331
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro
post image

Almost caught up with #riotgrams Day 8, spine poetry. Mine didn't come out too well, but poetry has never been my strong suit

blurb
Laughterhp
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro
post image

I‘m not a huge fan of most short stories. There are some that I‘ve read and enjoyed, but more often than I end up bailing.

This is on my #TBR list for this year! I really hope I enjoy it.

#RiotGrams - Short Stories

blurb
Augustdana
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro
post image

Similar to Woolf, I read some Munro, but abruptly stopped even though I enjoyed what I read. Hopefully that changes this year!

13 likes4 stack adds
blurb
BookishTrish
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro
post image

Today the #mothership called me home #VictoriaBC #indiebookstore

BookishMarginalia 😍😍😍 6y
Cathythoughts Wow 😱❤️❤️❤️ 6y
94 likes2 comments
blurb
erzascarletbookgasm
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro
post image

We‘re repainting the walls in the living room, so I need to empty my bookshelves and store the books temporarily in boxes. These are just four of the boxes, and I‘m adding more shelves once the walls are done, hehehe!
#booksfromboxes #tuneintonovember @Robothugs @Cinfhen

batsy Yay, more shelves! 😀 6y
Cinfhen Then it's TOTALLY worth the effort 💚 6y
Smarkies More shelves! 😍😍 6y
laurieluna 🙌 Think of all the space you'll have to fill... 6y
89 likes4 comments
blurb
DrSabrinaMoldenReads
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro
post image

I usually do not read two books at once. Well, my other book is nonfiction. This is my first short story collection which I am loving already. Plus, you all know I don't want to run out of time to read all the books. 🤣

chapter_fifty2017 I loved this book by Alice Munro but my favorite collection of hers is Runaway , but all books are excellent 😊 7y
DrSabrinaMoldenReads Thank you @chapter_fifty2017 ! I have not gotten back into it yet but I will certainly add Runaway to my stack. 7y
22 likes2 comments
blurb
erinreads
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro
post image

Thrift store #bookhaul! So many of these I've been wanting to buy for awhile, too. 👌🏻 My husband also hit the jackpot in Star Trek novels, so together we got 21 books for around $30! Great day for buying books!

the_alternate_ending_library Agatha 🙋🏼 7y
LauraBrook Wow, that's an excellent haul! 7y
79 likes2 comments
blurb
Christinak
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro
post image

Today's #riotgram is #spinepoetry! This is hard!!!

blurb
ephemeralwaltz
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro
post image

Happy Birthday to @thereadingwomen ! Very well-deserved!
They have an awesome photo challenge going on for this month, do join in Littens!!

blurb
MommyWantsToReadHerBook
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro
post image

Remembered to put together a list of everything I read for the month. As always at this time in my life, a lot of Cat Who books read while nursing baby to sleep at night. And three other books that were definite highlights in the year so far - the beautiful Dear Life, the excellently helpful Whole-Brain Child, and Gone Girl, which I know my twin sister didn't like but I rather enjoyed.

blurb
AnneCecilie
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro
post image
review
MommyWantsToReadHerBook
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro
post image
Pickpick

So beautiful. I've only read one other collection of stories by Alice Munro, but once again I was immediately transported into the atmosphere of each story, the feelings of each character. The last four "memories" of her own life are especially poignant because one obviously develops a curiosity about a great writer's life. I highly recommend it.

blurb
MommyWantsToReadHerBook
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro
post image

I have so much work to do this week, so I'm making really slow progress, but enjoying the beautiful writing.

3 likes1 stack add
quote
badnorthern
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro
post image

"We say of some things that they can't be forgiven, or that we will never forgive ourselves. But we do - we do it all the time." - From Dear Life by Alice Munro

Sigh. This is such a fantastic last line for a book. Who else loves Alice Munro?

LeahBergen 👍🏼👍🏼 7y
Lindy I do. ❤️❤️❤️ 7y
badnorthern @lindy @LeahBergen of course you do! She's amazing! 😀 7y
shawnmooney Let me join the Alice Munro parade! ❤️❤️❤️❤️ 7y
28 likes4 comments
blurb
ephemeralwaltz
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro
post image

some mornings you just gotta stay in bed and be like..😴😴 #readinginbed for #photoadaynov16 😍📚
@RealLifeReading

LeahBergen Yep!! 👍🏼👍🏼 7y
BarbaraTheBibliophage The best kind of morning! 7y
63 likes1 stack add3 comments
blurb
kspenmoll
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro
post image
RealLifeReading She is such a beautiful writer! 7y
kspenmoll @RealLifeReading That she is. 👍🏻 7y
26 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
KVanRead
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro
post image
Pickpick

When I think of #shortstories, I always think of Alice Munro first because, really, nobody does them better. This is a fabulous collection. I was gripped right away time and again. She's a master at fitting so much into so small a space. This is also my belated #recommendsday and #www pick. 😍😍😍 @RealLifeReading #somethingforsept

LeahBergen Woo hoo! I love Alice Munro. 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 7y
KVanRead @LeahBergen Just saw she was your pick too😊 Yes she's one of our greatest Canadians 🇨🇦❤️ 7y
RealLifeReading Her stories are always kinda mesmerizing 7y
KVanRead @RealLifeReading Yes, exactly! 7y
46 likes4 stack adds4 comments
blurb
RobinGustafson
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro
post image

Two hardly touched books from The Friends of the Library book sale. Score!

blurb
shawnmooney
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro
post image

laurenm I'm reading my first Munro book now. Beautiful writing. I find myself re-reading so many sentences. 8y
KateTheBookworm 85 years of perfection. 8y
51 likes4 stack adds3 comments
review
Eiketske
Dear Life: Stories | Alice Munro
Pickpick

I am not a lover of short stories, but for the stories of Alice Munro I gladly make an exception. Wonderful, atmospheric stories.