Alice Munro recommendations?

November 2, 2014 7:03 AM

I'm mildly embarrassed to say I've read zero, zilch and nil A.M., but I'm ready to rectify that, welcome suggestions for what to read first. Thank you for taking a moment to help me.
posted by ambient2 to Media & Arts (6 answers total)

I know this sounds a bit like Alan Partridge praising "Best of the Beatles," but Selected Stories is actually a pretty good introduction.
posted by Perodicticus potto at 7:14 AM on November 2, 2014

For some reason, I didn't really like the first Alice Munro books I read (several years ago). But when I read Dear Life, I loved it. Then I read some others. I would start with Dear Life, personally.
posted by three_red_balloons at 7:30 AM on November 2, 2014

A lot of her stories are at the New Yorker website, and many of them don't require a subscription to read.
posted by Cash4Lead at 7:47 AM on November 2, 2014

I loved Runaway and Hateship, Friendship, Loveship, Courtship, Marriage. Those two collections were my introductions to the gloriousness of Ms. Munro. (Plus there are a few stories in these collections that have since been adapted for film, like the recent Kristen Wiig vehicle Hateship, Loveship and the wonderful Away From Her.)
posted by bookgirl18 at 8:26 AM on November 2, 2014

Best answer: I read Alice Munro for the first time a couple months ago. I chose The Beggar Maid (aka Who Do You Think You Are?) and really, really enjoyed it. I sometimes struggle with short story collections because I prefer longer stories and not have to keep jumping around from one new character to the next, but I liked that collection because it followed one character throughout her life.
posted by mixedmetaphors at 12:12 PM on November 2, 2014 [1 favorite]

I'd recommend "Open Secrets". The story "A Real Life" has one of the best opening paragraphs I've ever read:

A man came along and fell in love with Dorrie Beck. At least, he wanted to marry her. It was true.

"The Moons of Jupiter" is also a great collection.

Or, heck, just read any of them! Munro is unfailingly awesome.
posted by Life at Boulton Wynfevers at 4:37 AM on November 3, 2014