Munro's short stories in this volume often revolve with either an event or a person that changes the protagonist's life. The first story is by far the best, with its honest portrayal of a woman on the cusp of spinsterhood who is the butt of a mean prank by some teen girls, a prank which does not go as expected. Other stories concern a larger-than-life female family member that appeared so dynamic when the story's protagonist was a child, but lost that appeal when the protagonist entered womanhood. Only the last story, "The Bear Came Over the Mountain" uses a male protagonist, but the center of the story is his wife Fiona, who suffers from Alzheimer's.

A strange staple of Munro's stories is the female protagonists' comfort in a taboo connection with another man. These women are married, yet any life crisis can send them to whichever man happens to be around. Sometimes it's just a kiss, other times an affair, or perhaps just an emotional affair. I feel like Munro too often uses the emotional connection like a crutch in her stories; as if the kiss or affair is all that is needed to make the protagonist accept her situation. In some stories, the taboo connection felt natural, as in the story of the woman who ran into her childhood love, but in some other stories it felt forced. Perhaps this is why the first story shines even after all the other tales have been read. The emotional connection between two characters feels very right, like it ought to happen, and it's interesting how such a fatalistic theme works with no-nonsense prose and such a no-nonsense protagonist. ( )

The first Munro I read, and I'll definitely seek out more of her work. I loved all of the stories. Especially the first one (Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage) gripped me completely and I had to hurry through because I was afraid for the heroine. Have to reread it now that I know the ending.

The translation is really good, since I didn't notice it at all - which is a rarity for me. I confess: I only bought this edition because I love the format - small hardcover that fits in any pocket. I'm glad I found this author this way! ( )

Like any collection of short stories some are good and some are not. ( )

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