Love of a Good Woman, The

Munro, Alice

  1 Reviews

Munro's ninth collection of short fiction, set in western Canada. The subject matter is classic Munro: secrets, love, betrayal, and the stuff of ordinary lives. But, as is usual, the path she takes, is anything but ordinary.

Comments from Groups

This wonderful book prompted a lot of discussion. It is such a beautifully written book; all the stories are so varied and deep. We feel it needs to be read twice and slowly savoured. Motueka 001

This book got better the further into it we read. Alice Munro's writing takes the reader right into the situations she describes. The short stories end just when we wish to know more about the characters and plots. Queenstown 003

Very well crafted stories. Somewhat introspective and gloomy though at times. A very satisfying read. Taupo 006

The group unanimously agreed that the book was most enjoyable. The setting and the characters were well presented, and the style of writing was evocative but concise as befits a short story. The subject matter was tantalising in that each story dealt with what could be identified as ordinary people in an ordinary situation, more often than not in a family relationship, but, as the story developed, extraordinary events, feelings and facts would be revealed, taking the reader in unexpected directions. All of this was achieved in a very low-key narrative which gave nothing away before time. The outcome is not revealed until the very last sentence and even then, in some stories there is an ambiguity that makes the reader continue thinking about the matter long after finishing the book.... Auckland 199

We had very mixed feelings about this collection of short stories. Some loved it, others didn't enjoy it, or even finish it. We all admired her carefully crafted writing style. The non-conclusion endings were a little baffling. Were we supposed to supply the endings ourselves? The men were all so weak, and the women so strong. What, we wondered, is a 'good woman'? Upper Hutt 007

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