I feel a bit exposed recommending Alice Munro, because I've only read one book of her short stories ( there are fourteen original collections). I was really delighted and surprised, as were most interested parties, when she won the Nobel Prize for Literature last year, but it only further validated my shame at not having read enough of her writing. If ever there were proof that you missed the boat on a writer, it's when they are awarded a prize that is notoriously slow to validate women who write in English.

But! I did read Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage and really enjoyed it. I had to read it slowly to savor each and every story, but also to mitigate how much her stories made me feel. The titular story is my personal favorite, but each one is a small treasure full of impact.

I was especially excited to write about her this week as I travel to Montreal, QC for a long birthday weekend. She's from Ontario, but close enough.