These are stories about the 1970’s or earlier,, usually written with twenty or more years hindsight. They all seem sad, or wistful, so that their cumulative impact lessens, so you should probably space out reading them more than I did.
Read after learning of Munro’s death, having previously read a couple of other collections of her short stories.
The first story, Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage was not at all how I expected, with surprising turns of the plot and, as expected, good concise characterisation. I liked its ending:
It was the whole twist of consequence that dismayed her—it seemed fantastical, but dull. Also insulting, like some sort of joke or inept warning, trying to get its hooks into her. For where, on the list of things she planned to achieve in her life, was there any mention of her being responsible for the existence on earth of a person named Omar? Ignoring her mother, she wrote, “You must not ask, it is forbidden for us to know—”
She paused, chewing her pencil, then finished off with a chill of satisfaction, “—what fate has in store for me, or for you—”

I had previously read Queenie in 2013, when it was published as a separate booklet (by Waterstones in the UK) following Munro winning the Nobel prize. ( )

Munro is a master of the short story. ( )

Beautifully detailed vignettes. A lot of similar themes and situations come up again, so maybe a good one to dip into rather than read straight off. Very convincing characters and situations, and lots of mid-life regrets (with the occasional bit of redemption). Generally not the most uplifting stories, although their clarity somehow alleviates that.

It struck me while reading them that they are the type of stories that don't get told very often in comics. ( )

Just gorgeous. ( )

Though well written, I didn't really like these short stories. The characters didn't engage me & I was often left with a feeling that the story didn't have any purpose. ( )