As I write this post early on Friday morning, I am still brimming with pride.
Yesterday, beloved and brilliant Canadian writer Alice Munro was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.
The Swedish Academy described her as the "Master of the Contemporary Short Story" and at 82, she becomes the first Canadian Woman to win the prize.
Alice did not begin her career until 37 - she gives all of us wanna-be middle aged writers hope. Her short story collections are considered masterpieces and prior to this award, she had won just about every award that could be given in Canada, along with many prestigious prizes from other countries.
Alice announced earlier this year that she has written her last book. Perhaps this award will make her rethink this - one can only hope. Yesterday morning, immediately after the announcement, I listened as CBC news woke Alice up at 4 am (she was in British Columbia) to ask her thoughts on winning the Nobel. She was humble, shocked and almost speechless. She was wonderful.
If you haven't read any of her work, get yourself to your local bookshop or the library - you will be glad you did!
Canada loves its writers and I can tell you that Alice's prize has everyone quite giddy here!
In honour of Alice and this new and exciting level of attention she is suddenly receiving, the recipe below seemed quite apropos:
Have you read any of Alice's books?
We are going to have a couple of busy days - this is the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend - lots of cooking in my future!
Have a great Friday and stay safe out there!
Yesterday, beloved and brilliant Canadian writer Alice Munro was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.
The Swedish Academy described her as the "Master of the Contemporary Short Story" and at 82, she becomes the first Canadian Woman to win the prize.
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Alice announced earlier this year that she has written her last book. Perhaps this award will make her rethink this - one can only hope. Yesterday morning, immediately after the announcement, I listened as CBC news woke Alice up at 4 am (she was in British Columbia) to ask her thoughts on winning the Nobel. She was humble, shocked and almost speechless. She was wonderful.
If you haven't read any of her work, get yourself to your local bookshop or the library - you will be glad you did!
Canada loves its writers and I can tell you that Alice's prize has everyone quite giddy here!
In honour of Alice and this new and exciting level of attention she is suddenly receiving, the recipe below seemed quite apropos:
Alice in Wonderland recipe
Scale ingredients to servings
1 shot amaretto almond liqueur
1 shot Grand Marnier® orange liqueur
1 shot Southern Comfort® peach liqueur
1 shot Grand Marnier® orange liqueur
1 shot Southern Comfort® peach liqueur
Combine all three ingredients in equal parts in an old-fashioned glass.
Have you read any of Alice's books?
We are going to have a couple of busy days - this is the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend - lots of cooking in my future!
Have a great Friday and stay safe out there!
You Canadians are a talented lot. Margaret Atwood is a favorite but sadly had not read Alice's work. Got to address that oversight soon. Did not even know she is Canadian. Someday, WMM, you will be officially part of that group. In my list, though, you're already in.
ReplyDeleteAw thanks Marie, but trust me - I am not! But there is a time, and a lot of writing - to be done.....
DeleteALICEOUS DAY (Borrowing from Anne Enright, Booker winner on that one.) I love that the Nobel committee had to leave her voicemail. Going to try and watch the Polley "Away From Her" adaptation that has been on my list for a while this weekend. Will definitely browse Indigo for collections I haven't read. Happy Thanksgiving prep day WMM. And Alice, thank you for The Turkey Season, telling the stories of us.
ReplyDeleteYou will love it GF. I bought it, I enjoyed it so much! But sad...
ReplyDeleteShe is something else!
I read one or too of her books in my youth but I didn't get her. The characters are so sad but also kind of small-minded, I coildn't relate. I also got a bit bored with the stories (I will always prefer "minimalists" over "realists" and she is in the second camp, I think). But maybe I was too young and it was like she was telling me "This is what like is all about" and I couldn't take it at that time. I should probably read her again now.
ReplyDeleteA great accomplishment though and I am happy the price went to a woman.
Hi Ema - when I first read when I was younger I had the same feeling. But aging and trying again changed my mind! And it is so great it went to a woman - I think only 14 out of 110 recipients have been women!
DeleteNobel time is my favorite time of the year! Both universities I am an alum of, (my undergrad and grad) have received Nobel prizes this year, or rather a faculty member has. It makes me feel full of pride for these institutions and the research teams that made these professors' work possible. I always hear od profs getting a call in the wee hours of the morning, and have always wondered how they feel, and whether they go back to sleep or not :)
ReplyDeleteI bet they don't sleep for days! It must be "pinch" me time, and the prize money is not too shabby...
DeleteCan you imagine? "Pinch me"! You can tell us all about it when you win yours :)
DeleteWhen I saw this, I thought of you right away! I don't think I've read anything of hers. Is there something you would recommend? Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteI would suggest Runaway or Lives of Girls and Women a good place to start!
DeleteThanks Wendy!!
DeleteIt's thrilling! I'm a big fan of her writing and I have read all of her books... I found her last book very sad and unusually dark, even for her. A dim view of human nature... she is so talented and her style so singular.
ReplyDeleteYes, you do NOT want to read her if you are going through a bad time...
DeleteI don't know Alice Munro, Congratulations to her. Have a fantastic weekend Wendy!
ReplyDeleteYou too Steph!
DeleteIsn't it fantastic? What an accomplishment! The NY Times had a write-up about her too. I always preferred Alice Munro to Margaret Atwood.
ReplyDeleteMe too. Margaret is also a little scary! ;-)
DeleteIt's quite the honor and very well-deserved. The news story I read quoted her as saying she was delighted to retire on a high note. Bravo!
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing! and getting that money at that point in her life - I just love that she will be taken care of financially now for the rest of her life!
DeleteI am very pleased for her.
ReplyDeleteMy friend's writing style has been compared to hers, so maybe she will be next! :)
Have a great long weekend, WMM!
Rose - crossing my fingers for your friend!
DeleteTake that David Gilmour!. Imagine saying he doesn't teach women's author's works!! The CBC said she was visiting her daughter in Victoria and her daughter burst into the room to share the good news, Munro's book store popped the bubbly.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the weekend.
What a pompous ass he is! Love love love that book store!
DeleteIt's very exciting news! It gives much inspiration to women trying to start a new career at a later age! I tried reading her stories when I was a teenager but it was too gloomy for me at the time. I will have to give it another go now - I will probably have a different take on them now. Happy Friday!
ReplyDeleteRight back at you Louise!
DeleteExcellent cocktail tribute, she has always been seen as Canada's Chekhov and like him, her stories are mini masterpieces.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of her stuff, but will definitely check her out. Happy Friday, Wendy!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read anything of hers but it sounds like I really should put her on my to do list. Have a great weekend yourself!
ReplyDeleteI am a big fan of hers so I was very happy to hear the news. To those that tried readind her stories in your teens or twenties, do give them another try. I only read her in my late thirties for the first time but I think I would be bored if I was younger. I do think that she is very subtle and nuanced in her observations on human nature and when I was younger I was more into bold, clever and bigger than life. But in the end nothing is bigger that life and her writing brough me many of those bittersweet moments when you realize what your parents meant many years ago and resign yourself to the fact that it will take our children many years to arrive at the same truth about us.
ReplyDeleteSo wonderful- I am a little embarrassed as a bookseller and Canadian that I haven't read her at all, but does it make it better or worse in comparison that I haven't read many Canadian works, period? I have very specific tastes, and tend to focus on Brits of a particular era. I am a fan of the short story genre however, and I love that she has focused her talents on elevating our appreciation of them!
ReplyDeleteHi Wendy As soon as I read in the paper that she won the Nobel prize, I knew she would be the focus of one of your blog posts. I guess I am starting to know you too well! Hope you have a great thanksgiving. I kinda wish the US version was earlier so it didn't get caught up in the Christmas shuffle.
ReplyDeleteI am thrilled! Love her!! I have "Dear Life" on my bookstand, but I don't want to start it yet as I fear will be her last.
ReplyDelete