It was such a pleasure to hear on the radio this morning that Alice Munro had won the Nobel Prize for literature. I think Margaret Atwood should win it too but I am very happy for Canada and for Munro. And Atwood wrote a lovely article about Munro for the Guardian.
Now here is my confession. I have not read Munro. I know, I know! She is on my perpetual “author’s I have to read sometime” list but sometime has not arrived. My new reading plan came very close to being tipped into the garbage already because I briefly decided that I need to read Munro now.
While the temptation to scrap my plan remains waving at me from the fringes of my mind, the voices that tell me what to do scolded me enough that I am not going to throw out my plan. Munro will, however, be on my list of considerations when I am making November plans. I am determined now to read her sooner rather than later, though as you know, sooner in book talk is quite vague and could end up being this time next year which would actually be sooner than I would have otherwise.
Just a short post tonight. There have been some big changes at work and while I knew they were coming when they started today I found myself more worn out at the end of it than I expected. Plus my allergies are still raging. Hopefully things will settle down soon, a new normal will be reached and I won’t come home feeling low on energy.
yay indeed! 🙂 thrilled to have already have read some of her work!
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guiltlessreader, so wonderful you have read some of her work. Everyone I know who has read her says nothing but good things.
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Don’t tell anyone, but I haven’t read her either. And I’m Canadian. Still proud though. At least we now can be assured that she’ll remain in print until we do get around to her.
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Isabella, well than I don’t feel so very bad 😉 I hope she didn’t need a Nobel for her work to remain in print but I am sure it helps!
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Such a well deserved honour! Loved hearing her on CBC radio first thing this morning somewhat dazed and so humble. Such a well-timed honour as well considering her recent retirement!
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Lee-Anne, her reaction to it all warms my heart. I look forward to her prize speech!
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I said, “Yay” as well when I heard the news on the radio driving to work this morning. I’ve been wanting to read her for a long time, but just never got around to it. I’ll have to fix that.
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Grad, I suspect there will be quite a few of us who have been wanting to read her finally getting around to it!
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I am so pleased to see her win. I’ve read one collection of her stories and she is a good writer. Next up should be Atwood.
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Nish, I’ve only ever heard good things about her. Yes, next Atwood should win!
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As a Canadian, AND a big fan of her writings, I am so proud of her — and happy. I think I have gotten around to about hmmm… 3/4’s of her short stories and think she is just remarkable. And I agree that Margaret Atwood should be in the running also.
And Isabella,”SHAME ON YOU!” [Just kidding!]
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I hope you have a rested weekend and things soon adjust. Not much on the media here about Alice Munro’s very deserved prize which is sad. I am pleased that a writer primarily of short stories has won the award – can never understand how this marvellous form gets underestimated. Munro is a modern master of the short story – no question.
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Ian, thanks! I’m sure things will settle down soon. Too bad there hasn’t been much media attention there. I am afraid I am guilty of not being much of a short story reader which is weird really because when I do read them I enjoy them but they are not usually something I eagerly reach for.
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Cipriano, I think I first learned of Munro from you and when I heard the news I figured you’d be pretty happy.
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I am happy I’m in good company. I’ve been so far removed from the bookish life lately but I did hear that Munro was the recipient of the award. I plan to select one of her short stories and give her a try.
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Vanessa, I hope Munro turns out to be marvelous for you. I suspect she will suddenly gain quite a few new fans.
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Hope you are feeling better! I think many of us rejoice with Ms. Munro’s win – she writes so beautifully with such great wit of our everday lives!! She is awesome! P.S. I updated the exact same header on my BBM status when I heard the news – the exact words!!
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cirtnecce, thanks! Work will settle down soon and we will have a hard frost and everything will full speed ahead again. Glad to hear such praise about Munro. It seems everyone who has read her loves her. Too funny that your header status, great minds think alike? 🙂
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oh! great minds do think alike!!!!! 🙂
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Sorry to hear you’re doing poorly. Get well soon! My husband was totally excited about Munro winning the prize (isn’t it weird?). I want to reread some stories of hers.
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Smithereens, thanks! Work will settle down soon and a good frost will also come along shortly to kill all the pollen producing allergy makers and I will one again feel great. Is your husband a big Munro fan then? How fun that he is so excited.
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Thanks for the post. It’s great to be celebrated by our Southern Neighbor. 🙂 I’ve a few of Munro’s collections, but only read several stories here and there. However, if you want to start, you may want to check out Hateship, Friendship, Courship, Loveship, Marriage since the stories have just been adapted into a film, shown at TIFF, but I didn’t get the chance to see it. Heard it’s pretty good.
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Arti, I am always glad when things go well for my northern neighbors. You are such a quiet bunch up there it’s good to have you in the spotlight 🙂 Thanks for the tip about reading Munro as well as the movies!
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I hope things do settle down for you soon! I’m thrilled about Munro’s win as well. It’s shocking that she’s only the 13th woman to win (or maybe not shocking at all). She’s so deserving. I hope you like her stories when you do pick them up!
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Rebecca, starting to settle down and we’ve finally gotten cold enough that my allergies are going away. Yay! I was very surprised to hear she was only the 13th woman to win. Hopefully she will be just the start of a whole bunch of women writers to be recognized!
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I read one of Munro’s books years and years ago and can’t even remember which one it was, but I’ve always meant to read more. Yes, this announcement might have had me switching around some of my October plans, but I’m going to wait, too. I mean, October is for reading “dark and stormy night books”, and I’ve already got too many books in my plan (due to current obsessions) that don’t fit that category. I don’t need to add another. Fingers crossed that things settle down for you soon.
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Emily, yup, October is definitely for reading dark and stormy books. I think Munro will have to wait until January but I look forward to it! And things are starting to settle down, thanks!
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I’m another one who has to shamefacedly admit to not having read Munro, although in my case you have to add the fact that I am not a short story reader anyway. I seem to remember someone on the blogging circuit making a point of reading and blogging about a story once a week. Perhaps I should set that up for myself as a challenge. Although at the moment they would all have to have historical settings:) I hope things settle down soon at work. Anything that changes my routine always exhausts me and so I can sympathise with where you are. I’m sorry as well about the allergies. What sparks them off?
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Alex, it seems there are many of us who haven’t read Munro. I am not much of a short story reader either. I like them when I read them but I don’t actively seek them out very often. But I plan to make it a point to read Munro. Things are settling down, thanks, and my allergies, which are seasonal, are getting better because the weather has turned cold and damp and frost is in the air so no more pollen to make me suffer.
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Yay indeed! I saw this when I was on vacation and was very pleased to hear it! I’ve read a couple of her story collections–she is excellent! I think one of the recent New Yorkers reprinted one of her stories–it might be online if you want to give her a try sooner than later.
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Danielle, I know you teased me with with all the wonderful posts on the last collection you read. She will definitely be making into to the reading rotation!
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