tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post2411867229998100521..comments2024-03-28T05:53:48.696-07:00Comments on Bitter Tea and Mystery: Short Story Wednesday: Dear Life by Alice MunroTracyKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-83744545206214679772022-11-15T22:30:44.551-08:002022-11-15T22:30:44.551-08:00That is funny, Constance. I went to college from 1...That is funny, Constance. I went to college from 1966-67, then left for one and a half years and worked, then returned in 1969, returning to the same dorm. By 1969, a lot of restrictions had been lifted, included not being able to wear pants outside of the dorm. You could get a key to get back in the dorm after 12:00 p.m. and I think you could even stay out overnight. Amazing! Fun memories.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-33960144367810385782022-11-15T22:17:11.791-08:002022-11-15T22:17:11.791-08:00My mother's college friends also complained ab...My mother's college friends also complained about not being allowed to wear pants when they were cycling to class (they were allowed in the dorm but not outside it). The women's dorms were farther away from the classrooms and libraries than the men's dorms so many had bicycles. In the early 70s, when everything went coed they put in a shuttle bus so the men didn't have to walk! Although it was often faster to walk than to wait for the bus.<br />CLMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03595294217111602231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-21470654124886376572022-11-11T13:39:46.011-08:002022-11-11T13:39:46.011-08:00Constance, reading Christmas stories in December i...Constance, reading Christmas stories in December is very appealing. I usually try to read at least one mystery novel set at Christmas every year, but if I do that this year it will be Jane Haddam's first Gregor Demarkian mystery, Not a Creature Was Stirring, which I have already read 2 or 3 times.<br /><br />I like this cover too, but I have no idea which story it might illustrate. I do still have 6 stories to read though. The original cover was very different and very striking, although I don't know what it was illustrating either.<br /><br />I was a child in the 50s, and I definitely would have been wearing shorts or pants outside, but wasn't much of a climber. Wearing pants were an issue for me in the late 60s when I was in college and women could not walk on campus in pants. If we were walking to the post office or such, we would wear shorts underneath a raincoat, weather permitting.<br /><br />Very interesting about the junior hockey team in Kitchener. In the 90s when I was watching basketball games, I would also sometimes watch hockey games (and I collected trading cards for both sports).<br />TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-14210311375296848812022-11-11T06:16:18.201-08:002022-11-11T06:16:18.201-08:00Christmas short stories sound like a great idea. ...Christmas short stories sound like a great idea. Someone gave me a Christmas mystery and I need to put it somewhere I'll remember next month. Oh yes, on my TBR cart which I have neglected lately.<br /><br />I have never read Alice Munro but I like the sound of these stories. I don't remember hearing about the editorial process of short stories but I assume if the author is alive there is discussion with the editor about the order of the stories. <br /><br />With regard to the cover, the editor would likely look for something that can be illustrated. I like this cover and was thinking that in the 50s, many (but not all?) girls climbing a tree would indeed be wearing a dress. I did not wear pants all that often in the 60s and recall not being happy on the days when I wore my Girl Scout uniform to school (which we did because we walked to meetings after school) and gym required us to do something that would have showed our underwear. In the 70s, I think they came up with a Girl School uniform that was pants and a shirt, but I will have to ask my friend Deb who is a scouting expert and still takes a troop camping at 70.<br /><br />Kitchener is also known for its junior hockey team with many young players going on to careers in the NHL. One of my favorites was Larry Robinson who starred for the Montreal Canadiens.CLMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03595294217111602231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-1508541480592806582022-11-10T10:19:02.476-08:002022-11-10T10:19:02.476-08:00Cath, that is a great idea. I had forgotten that I...Cath, that is a great idea. I had forgotten that I bought one huge book of Christmas stories earlier in the year, and have a couple of unfinished books of Christmas stories on the shelves. I will check out some of those too.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-84330737691997071922022-11-10T02:00:33.502-08:002022-11-10T02:00:33.502-08:00I will do that thing happily. I was thinking I mig...I will do that thing happily. I was thinking I might have a sort of Christmas 'short story' December. Rather than trying to read a whole volume by one author or editor, just pick odd stories that appeal from the various Christmas collections I have, the ones that appeal etc. It just sounds like fun somehow. Cathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06371069000185280668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-53761699618488579392022-11-09T15:49:35.499-08:002022-11-09T15:49:35.499-08:00Cath, These short stories are very different from ...Cath, These short stories are very different from most I have read, and at first I was a bit daunted by them, but as you can tell I changed my mind. Let me know what you think of The Turkey Season.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-83149793573071653702022-11-09T15:26:28.668-08:002022-11-09T15:26:28.668-08:00I thought I'd read something by Alice Munro an...I thought I'd read something by Alice Munro and checked my blog, but no I haven't. Thinking of something or someone else clearly. I do own one one short story in a Christmas collection, the story is called The Turkey Season so I'll make sure I read that to sample her writing.Cathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06371069000185280668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-83394996369866765902022-11-09T13:23:10.519-08:002022-11-09T13:23:10.519-08:00Diane, thanks for commenting. I am glad I finally ...Diane, thanks for commenting. I am glad I finally read some stories by Munro. I have two more collections to read, then I will have to look for more.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-74656960732701578752022-11-09T13:16:30.850-08:002022-11-09T13:16:30.850-08:00Patti, What I wanted to say in my post (and did no...Patti, What I wanted to say in my post (and did not do very well) was that I liked reading all the stories, no matter how unusual they were, and even if I could not get them. I am sure several of them would improve over multiple readings.<br /><br />I envy you living so close to Canada but I would not like the weather up there. Very interesting about the movie Away From Her, based on one of Munro's stories. I can easily see that her stories could inspire movies.<br />TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-54142993316331220602022-11-09T12:51:31.390-08:002022-11-09T12:51:31.390-08:00Margot, I was looking Alice Munro on Wikipedia tod...Margot, I was looking Alice Munro on Wikipedia today and there are so many collections of her stories. That will keep me busy for a while.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-54623784376047786532022-11-09T12:06:40.599-08:002022-11-09T12:06:40.599-08:00Nancy, "Corrie" was a very good story. I...Nancy, "Corrie" was a very good story. I only have two stories plus the 4 autobiographical stories left to read. I found two other books of her short stories at the annual book sale this year. I will look for more of them next year.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-86765109457913554402022-11-09T08:06:20.512-08:002022-11-09T08:06:20.512-08:00I've read Alice Munro's stories for years....I've read Alice Munro's stories for years. Great writer!Diane Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04827934769386682220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-7981934317958996292022-11-09T05:19:44.403-08:002022-11-09T05:19:44.403-08:00I love all of her stories--even though as you foun...I love all of her stories--even though as you found, it's sometimes hard to find her point. But she creates a world. I live a couple of hours from Kitchener and where many of her stories are set. Later, she moves from Ontario to the west coast of Canada. My favorite story is The Bear Came Over the Mountain' which was made into a movie Away From Her, starring Julie Christie. pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-90313100130273180352022-11-09T04:11:55.609-08:002022-11-09T04:11:55.609-08:00Alice Munro is such a talented writer, Tracy. I ha...Alice Munro is such a talented writer, Tracy. I have to admit, I've not read this collection, but I'm so glad you enjoyed it, even if some stories appealed to you more than others did. Margot Kinberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08599589137890528065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-30944606643273873372022-11-09T03:12:58.094-08:002022-11-09T03:12:58.094-08:00Oh...I read this book 5 years ago...I knew it sou...Oh...I read this book 5 years ago...I knew it sounded <br />familiar when I was reading your review!<br />The first 3 stories were the best reads.<br />My favorite was 'Corrie'.<br />The last 4 stories were autobiographical.....<br />I liked her fictional stories better.NancyElinhttps://nancyelin.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com