‘I’m probably not going to write anymore.”
A few months ago I read an article about Alice Munro’s retirement and decided I should read more of her short stories. One of my favorite books of all time is Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage, and was given to me by a dear friend. As is usual with me, I got distracted by other books sitting on the shelf at the library.
Then another article popped into my news feed, this time about Munro winning the Nobel prize in literature. Did you know
-she is only the 13th woman to win the award?
-her first short story was published when she was 37?
-her writing was squeezed in during the time her children were napping?
“In twenty years I’ve never had a day when I didn’t have to think about someone else’s needs. And this means the writing has to be fitted around it.”
Munro the person is as interesting as her characters. This time I’ve pulled her book from my shelf to reread. I’ve also put a few books on hold at the library. I wonder if winning this prize will tempt her out of retirement?
Are you a Munro fan? Which of her stories are your favorite?
Three articles that may convince you to pick up one of her books, as well:
— Alice Munro Puts Down Her Pen to Let the World In
— Alice Munro, ‘Master’ Of The Short Story, Wins Literature Nobel
— Alice Munro, Cinderella Story
