Canadians are celebrating not only Thanksgiving this weekend (my favourite holiday!) but also this week’s exciting announcement that Alice Munro has been
named the winner of the 2013 Nobel Prize for literature. Bravo!
Perhaps Canada’s best known author at this time, she has kept the bar raised on the art of short-story writing for several decades. The Clinton, Ontario, based writer is the 110th Nobel Laureate in literature but only the 13th woman to win the distinction and the first woman from Canada. We are proud!
No stranger to winning awards, her long list of achievements include: the Man Booker International Prize (2009), two Scotiabank Giller Prizes (2004, 1998), three Governor General’s Literary Awards (1986,1978, 1968) The Commonwealth Writers’ Prize (2005), the Inaugural Marian Engel Award (1986), the American National Book Critics Circle Award (1998). Her last published collection, Dear Life in 2012, garnered her a third Trillium Book Award in June.
A strong role model and influence on many woman writers, this honour will only enhance that. If you haven’t read any of her work, I strongly urge you to do so.
Dance of the Happy Shades 1968
Lives of Girls and Women 1971
Something I’ve Been Meaning to Tell You 1974
Who Do You Think You Are? 1978
The Moons of Jupiter 1982
The Progress of Love 1986
Friend of my Youth 1990
Open Secrets: Stories 1994
The Love of a Good Woman 1998
Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage 2001
No Love Lost 2003
Runaway 2004
The View from Castle Rock 2006
Carried Away: A Selection of Stories 2006
Too Much Happiness 2009
Dear Life 2012
Source: Alice Munro’s Official Facebook page
Wishing all Canadians a happy Thanksgiving!
My DH and I will be in the air all day tomorrow returning from our month in France. We’re thankful for the wonderful opportunities we have had here and look forward to catching up with our family and friends. How will you spend this holiday weekend?
Even though I am not much of a book reader, I have been reading the New Yorker for almost 35 years and so I am very familiar with Alice Munro’s exquisitely crafted stories. I am so thrilled that she was awarded such prestigious recognition. I thought that your fellow Canadian, Sarah Polley, did a brilliant job adapting the Munro story, “The Bear Came Over the Mountain”, into the film, “Away From Her”.
The New Yorker was way ahead of its time (no surprise there) and was publishing Munro’s stories long before the rest of the world took notice. I agree with your comment about the Polley adaptation. Touching movie … scary too …
yay Alice and Happy Thanksgiving to you!
Thanks … somewhat belated … I hope your Thanksgiving was a fine one too!
it was except had to take my husband to emergency that night–does not say much for my cooking!
Bravo Alice Munro and bonne continuation to all those inspired by her to read and write short stories. And bonne voyage to you my friend, see you on the next visit! 🙂
Thanks, Claire. I am still mourning the loss of my day in Aix with you and Anne-Marie. À la prochaine!
I first heard the name Alice Munro when I became fast friends with Sherry Isaac and learned she won The Alice Munro Short Story Award. Since then, I’ve come to realize how distinguished the award is. I’ve read Sherry’s short stories and understand why she earned the honor.
It’s time I romped about in the works of Alice Munro’s own inspiring talent. KUDOS to Ms. Munro!
Safe travels, Patricia.
Thanksgiving? Already? Send turkey! Send stuffing!
Did the turkey/stuffing package arrive or did the US postal service claim it for their own? It’s SO cool that Sherry was the winner of the Munro award and, as you say, rightly so! She has the gift.
though I have to admit I have never read anything by her, I did think about you when hearing the news! Yeah to Canadian writers!
When you have some time (ha!), I hope you will read some of her work. I believe you will find it most impressive.
thanks, I do plan to
As a Canadian woman writer, I am so proud. I fell in love with Alice Munro’s work after reading Lives of Girls and Women. Wishing you a safe trip back home in time to celebrate Thanksgiving. I will be spending time with my lovely daughter on Gabriola Island. There is so much to be thankful for.
It was lovely to share in that good news, wasn’t it? I’m saddened her health is a problem and thankful she was here to be recognized. I imagine your Thanksgiving was lovely indeed. We are blessed.
Thank you. I’ll be sure to put some of these books on my ‘must-read’ list. Happy Thanksgiving Day to all Canadians.
On behalf of Canadians, thank you for your thoughtful good wishes. We need to make a moment of every day one of thanksgiving wherever we are, don’t you think?
Happy Thanksgiving,Patricia! And congratulations to Ms. Munro!
I have heard her name but knew nothing about her or her books. I’m going to rectify that and check out her stories.
Thanks, Marcia! Soon I will get to celebrate all over again in FL! When you have time to read one of Alice Munro’s stories, I think you will enjoy her work.
Congrats to this amazing writer. She is major league for sure! I have seen some of her writings in the New Yorker as we used to subscribe to it.
Alice Munro’s work is some of the best I’ve read. I believe I’ve covered her complete backlist but will need to do some checking. She’s always been in my top 50 authors that I automatically make time to read.