Each story should start on its own track

The substance (performance, writing, etc.) of this audiobook is great, but the tracks are sloppily organized. This is a volume of short stories, so each story should begin at 0:00 on a separate track. For some reason, it's not organized like that. The third story, for example, starts roughly 55 minutes into the second track. Why do that? I remember Runaway, another Alice Munro collection, having the same problem. Please fix this.

17 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Not Enough Happiness

The narrator does a fine job. She goes on my list of good narrators. I' ve read everything Munro has written, and it seems her plots are in an Arbus-like downward spiral. These stories are grim and depressing. I thought of Flannery O'Connor, but those bizarre stories are cloaked in an amusing demented atmosphere and southern sensibility, and Munro's are addressed as plain reality. Murder, cancer, depravity, on and down. Not fun.

13 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Starts well then disappoints

Alice Munro is a wonderful writer. Even though this is a collection of short stories the character development in each one is thorough. I read the first four of these stories. Each one was interesting to listen to - until the end. Each ending was such a disappointment (they just stop with no satisfying conclusion!) that I cannot bring myself to read the rest.

11 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Alice Munro is a must!!

I just loved all of the short stories featured in this book. Every single one of them was entrancing, interesting and plunged the reader in a different universe each time! I listen to audio books while I walk in the forest or in my neighborhood and Alice Munro kept me company for weeks on end!!

9 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Classic Alice Munro

Would you listen to Too Much Happiness again? Why?

I love Alice Munro but as usual some of the stories are better than others - I mean they are all well written but sometimes the plot or subject have more appeal to me than others. My favorite and the most mesmerizing was the last story "Too Much Happiness" and it was based on a real person - a Russian mathematician. Completely engrossing. I could definitely listen to that one again.

What other book might you compare Too Much Happiness to and why?

Other Alice Munro collections - I have read many of them.

Have you listened to any of Kimberly Farr and Arthur Morey ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I was not crazy about the readers - I like books to be read, not acted. No one (well almost no one) can keep changing voices successfully. The type of reader I like is like Colin Firth or Jeremy Irons - they are believeable when reading both male and female voices. I think that is because they don't try too hard to change the pitch.

4 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Strange collection, and one great story

I bought this one because the description (and the title story) is about a female mathematician's life - of great relevance to my own career. And, as it turns out, it is indeed a part biography of THE Sonia Kovalevskaya, who is well known in mathematics! Not a made-up story but a true story, that Alice Munro tells us, was inspired by her reading of "Little Sparrow".
I liked that part of the book and found it both engrossing, poignant, and moving. How times have changed (thank goodness!)
As for the rest of the collection in this book, I still have to think about what the author is trying to tell us. I "don't get it" yet. But it has gotten me thinking.
The performance is fine, but I don't like the distraction of switching between male and female voices. If the narrator is good enough, we should be carried along no matter what gender.

3 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Deep contemplations

This collection is overall fantastic although I detest several parts because of their break of rules. On the other hand, I stopped thinking about some dialogs and ideas. The story of child’s play was shocking and remained vivid in my mind for several days. The author’s description of feelings and thoughts is convincing and captures empathy.
The sound of the narrator can polish or disrupt the experience, and to me, it was good, unless when trying to mimic the sounds of different persons and accents.
I have already recommended the book to many friends.

1 personne a trouvé cela utile

Repeated Stories

If you're an Alice Munro like I am, be aware that many of the stories in this collection, including the title story--Too Much Happiness--are part of Family Furnishings. I wish there'd been a list of the stories included before I bought this.

1 personne a trouvé cela utile

Great breadth of stories with compelling character

A range of stories from heartwarming to disturbing, but all masterfully written and compellingly performed.

Tried to like it

After giving a go of almost five hours and going, I had to say it is not to my taste.
Alice Munro met the reputation of giving voices to people on the margins. It is abundantly clear in this collection. And she did well.

Narrator’s voice fits the roles with richness and layered differences.

I will finish this book eventually but probably the only book for me from Munro