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Sunday 13 March 2016

The Short of It

One of my favorite teachers, Sister Matthew Byrne, from my Grade 10 year, taught history and literature. She was an actor in her own way as well, one who could make a short story or an historical event come to life with her performance in front of the classroom.

My favourite memory of Sister involves the short story The Sniper by Liam O'Flaherty. Set in Ireland during the Civil War or the front of the classroom, the sniper, or a middle aged nun, was perched with a rifle, or yardstick, on a roof top in Dublin, or behind a desk. The nun's veil, lifted forward over her head, mimicked the cap worn by the sniper. How could any student forget that presentation?

Over the years, I have tried numerous times to embrace the short story genre, each time without success. Some fellow book club members feel the same about short stories, finding them unfulfilling, wanting the development of characters and plot which come with a novel. 

Then there is Alice Munro. Alice takes the short story to a whole other dimension in a rural Canadian setting. She is similar in age to my mother and writes of a time I know through my own life and my mother's. However, she has an economy of words, each one crafted to the story and explores life in a way which is universal. Her last collection of stories, Dear Life, has made me a fan of the genre.



Munro's Nobel Prize in Literature in 2013 was well deserved. Her work is accessible to every reader, but challenges us to look beyond the story for the learning of a lifetime. After reading dear Munro, I will approach short stories differently. However, when you know the best, others may pale in comparison.

14 comments:

DJan said...

I just went to my library website and put a hold on this book. I've read some Alice Munroe but I haven't read this one. Thank you! :-)

ADRIAN said...

I am not a Short Story lover but do remember The Sniper. If I remember he shot his brother which was about as bad as war can get.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Oh yes, isn't Alice Munro SUBLIME? She deserved that Nobel. She can say more in one short story than most writers can say in ten novels.

Marie Smith said...

You are welcome. Love this book!

Marie Smith said...

That's the story. Imagine a nun acting it out, with her veil pulled forward over her head, crouched behind the desk with a yardstick for a rifle. Priceless.

Marie Smith said...

Totally agree. Love her work. Watched an interview with her when she won the Nobel prize. She's wonderful!

Anvilcloud said...

I think short stories get short shrift because when we sit down to read, we want to get more deeply involved. As an art form, they are probably often a cut above.

Shammickite said...

I have never been a fan of short stories. They seem too short... surprisingly! Maybe I sould try Alice Munroe. Currently reading Lawrence Hill, The Illegal.

Anonymous said...

Oh I loved Alice Munro. One of my favorite authors for a long time.

Marie Smith said...

I agree. They take real skill as a writer I think.

Marie Smith said...

I have learned that with Alice's stories, you must look beyond the plot to what lies underneath. There is so much to find when you do that. I love Lawrence

Marie Smith said...

She is wonderful. Did you see the interview on youtube that the Nobel Committee did with her after she'd won? It explains a lot about her and her writing. It's great.

Barbara said...

I kind of like short stories which is unusual I know. I'm not familiar with this Munro book but I'm going to give it a look see at the library.

Marie Smith said...

Enjoy. They are short but layered.