The review praises Alice Munro's collection of stories, highlighting her ability to capture the complexities of human relationships and emotions. The reviewer appreciates Munro's precise language and her talent for storytelling, noting that the collection is both moody and moving.
Alice Munro's 'Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage' is a collection of nine stories that delve into the intricacies of human relationships and emotions. The reviewer commends Munro's precise language and her ability to describe particular places with a natural poetic touch. Each story in the collection offers a unique perspective on life's temporary victories and the adjustments people make to the facts they encounter. The reviewer particularly appreciates the title story, which involves deception and the consequences of mischievous actions. Another standout story, 'Floating Bridge,' explores a woman's ambivalence about her health and the dynamics within her family. The collection alternates between simple and complex stories, each offering a deep dive into the human experience. Overall, the reviewer finds the collection to be both moody and moving, with Munro's delicate reporting of the darker sides of family and community life.
Quick quotes
Munro is sure about her people, precise in her words and with a genius for the description of particular places.
The first, the title, story concerns deception.
The pattern of the collection is roughly alternation of simple with complex story.