Runaway readers cannot run away from the book after turning the final page. Instead, they have to burrow in. Much like "Vandals" in 1994's Open Secrets and the title story in 2012's Dear Life, "Powers" is one of those closing stories that sends readers rushing back to the beginning.
McClelland & Stewart, 2004 This story has long been my favourite in this collection, although I could not recall which of them it was, when I first approached my reread of Runaway. When Stratford appeared in the first story, I thought maybe my favourite was coming. But, no,
McClelland & Stewart, 2004 ‘Trespass’ is a word that I associate with childhood more than most. It slipped off my tongue every morning in school, after we sang “O Canada”, in a dutiful recitation of “The Lord’s Prayer”. And there was always a sign warning against it when
Like Alva in "Sunday Afternoons" and Edie in "How I Met My Husband", Grace is a young woman with a summer job. But even within the context of this transitory existence and experience, she settles into a routine, steadfast and predictable. McClelland & Stewart, 2004 Soon, Grace is
In the story, it is Joan who prolongs the name "with a certain tone of celebration". Penelope. But it's easy to imagine that it is actually Alice Munro who is savouring every syllable as she draws it out in ink. Pen-ell-oh-pee. You can imagine her there, à la Winslet and DiCaprio, at the
