Reviews

Dear Life by Alice Munro

adsoares's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

zmoats's review against another edition

4.0

Alice Munro's collection of short stories weaves a small thread through each from start to finish. Characters are not carried over from story to story, but themes are. Those themes and Munro's musings on them are what I walked away from the book with. There are a few stories in the collection that I didn't care too much for (one being the very first one, so tough that out if you don't enjoy it), but I did take something from each. There are three or four stories in the middle section of the book that I found myself wanting to reread as soon as I finished them. One of the most interesting aspects of Munro's writing was her knack for ending a story with almost no resolution (to be clear, this is not every story, I just noticed it in a few). In a sense, she does mimic life in these instances, it is not always clean and tidy, sometimes its just ugly and rough. Yet within that ugliness, there is something. Something that all makes it worth it. I think that Munro explores that well within the confines of these short stories.

ruthlemon08's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

savaging's review against another edition

4.0

This is another book from a list of Elena Ferrante's recommendations. In true Ferrante style, it's a book about quiet moments in women's lives. Some are a little dull. Many are powerful. A gentle, emotional book that made me think a lot about rural Canada.

The full Ferrante list is here:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/nov/21/elena-ferrante-names-her-40-favourite-books-by-female-authors

heresbea's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

2.0

annabelms's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

4.5

she gets it

tildahlia's review against another edition

3.0

Probably not the best of Munro's work, although there are some definite standouts (I particularly enjoyed 'Haven' and 'Gravel') but many of the others were so-so. I found the four autobiographical stories at the end particularly weak (interestingly). I love Munro, but wouldn't start here if you were exploring her work.

alicebme's review against another edition

4.0

Finished on plane to Maui. 1st Munro book. Love.

nurinuri's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

mcearl12's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0