The Life Stories Collection Audiobook

" If you like desolate, Canadian short stories, I've got a book for you... "

" I like Alice Munro as a general rule, but I found this book lacked the clever writing I had anticapated, and the stories I got through were humdrum at best, and lacked value (and values). "

" I'm a big fan of internationally renowned Canadian writer Alice Munro. This is her 14th collection of short stories. As always, her characters are mysterious, often act surprisingly. General themes include betrayal, abandonment, changes in fortune, resignation. Most of the main characters are women but often the story is about their interaction with men. The last four stories are autobiographical in nature and offer a rare glimpse into her childhood. Munro observes her characters without judgement and "shows without telling." Everything she writes seems to be understated; she is often said "to offer and to withhold". "

" Deceptively simple, great short stories! "

" It is astounding how Alice Munro can talk about how we humans live our lives in so few words. We are drawn into her stories; they are outstandingly compelling yet she releases us gently at the end of each one. Her storytelling is brilliant. I am not overly fond of short story collections but will read those by Alice Munro anywhere at anytime. "

" This is my second book of short stories by Alice Munro. I have enjoyed them so much, and some rattle around in my head for days. She captures the mood of her characters very well, and many of the stories are left without an official conclusion, leaving the reader to ponder the outcome. "Corrie"was my favorite with a surprise in the final pages. "

" I am generally not a fan of short stories, but I mostly enjoyed this collection. Instead of reading it in one go, I paced myself and read a story a day, which worked well for me. Munro's writing is spare; there is a lot that is not written, gaps left so the reader has to infer the missing parts. The stories often have a twist, a bite to them at the end and are generally unsettling. "

" Couldn't get through it, but perhaps because I am not a short story fan. "

" Engaging. Like all short stories leaves you wanting more. "

" Her writing is wonderful but I have difficulty reading short stories! I don't like to have to keep getting acquainted with new characters. "

" I really enjoyed this collection of Munro's short stories. The last sixty or so pages are devoted to the author's memories of her early life. This was one of those books that I couldn't wait to return to each evening. "

" Each story unfolds with a slow meditative quality that draws you into a character's longing and sense of regret. The deliberate craft of sentences, setting, and relationships make this collection of stories a read of life set in a perspective of aging reflection. "

" Nothing really remarkable. A nice, relaxing book. "

" Not my favorite Alice Munro book. Engaging, but nothing stuck with me. "

" I am a tremendous Munro fan, and loved the 4 autobiographical stories at the end of this book. I still remember the joy at discovering Lives of Girls and Women many years ago, and this book doesn't reach that level of surprise and delight for me, but I still gobbled up these stories. "

" This collection of stories might get a five rating if held up against other short story collections. But after reading two of Alice Munro's other books, this one just didn't have the perfection. My favorite story was the first one, which was brilliant, and after that the stories seemed flat. "

" Although Alice Munro can create a world in a few pages, I found this book somewhat disappointing. It didn't have the depth of characters that previous collections have had. Also, I was hoping that it would be more current. "

" Some downright spooky, mean moments. And what seems like an anger about the limitations of fiction at the end? Maybe? Lots of "if this were fiction..." moments that seem a little strange. "

" So much about Munro's work to love, but I especially like how she isn't afraid to take the kind of situation that is made for tabloid television and write about it in a way that avoids all the obvious sensation, melodrama, cheap emotion, etc. "

" Have always thought the short story form must be a difficult genre for writers, but Alice Munro is a master. "

" Reading a collection of short stories by Alice Munro is like reading an entire shelf of wonderful full length novels. Like Tobias Wolfe, she is a master of compression who can distill a person's entire history with broad strokes, but manages to make each one memorable and haunting. "

" A nice collection of short stories, many of which are set during or near the end of World War II. A number of the stories felt a bit too long. I thought the most interesting stories were the 4 semi-autobiographical stories at the end. "

" A terrific collection of essays from a diverse group of people. I often found myself itching to underline phrases to remember and reflect on later. Lucky for me, it was a birthday gift rather than a library book, so mark it up I will! "

" Excellent so far. Will use in classroom. "

" Although I certainly didn't agree with all the philosophies, there was remarkable diversity, and the writing was actually very good. "

" I'm listening to this on my iPod as I work out. I like the short, quick excerpts. "

" Good collection of short, thought provoking essays drawn from the current NPR series and the original 1950s version. "

" Interesting as it is essays by. various people, famous and everyday folks. The essays are 300-600 words expressing their philosophy about life. Quick read "

" Excellent collection of short, meaningful and sometimes witty essays. A great book for a dear friend. "

" i liked this and was often inspired, but a lot of the essays were also trite and boring. my favorites were the more random ones about barbecue or going to funerals. i do have to say that my "this i believe" essay would probably be trite and boring too. "

" Collection of essays. Some I liked and some I didn't. "

" I didn't find all the essays equally compelling, but as a whole they were very moving. I want to get students to write one of these. I want to write one. . . to two. Really good writing. I'm reading the second volume now. "

" An inspiring book full of stimulating anecdotes and excellent quotes. "