written by Harriet Klausner on 08/11/2006
The View from Castle Rock
Alice Munro
Knopf, November 29 2006, $17.95
ISBN: 0307266028
These twelve new short stories are broken into three sections. Part One/No Advantages contains five tales from the author's ancestry as her family sails from Scotland to America. Part Two/Home includes six stories mostly occurring in the Lake Huron area, that will be much more familiar to fans of Alice Munro. Finally, a one tale Epilogue/Messenger that ties to two segments together. Each contribution is terrific, and will enhance Ms. Munro's reputation as one of the best modern day short story writers. This reviewers personal favorite is the "Roots" like first entry "No Advantages", though the others, like the title story are well written, filled with depth so that the audience feels they are either in Scotland or near Lake Huron, past and present. Once again Ms. Munro vividly brings to life the seemingly ennui everyday people, but makes each person seems so alive and vibrant with this superb anthology.