Runaway: Stories

I liked the author's novel, The View from Castle Rock, and I was very pleasantly surprised by this new collection of stories. Several of the stories are really short novels, like Ian McEwan's Atonement, and are well developed without filler. Ms. Munro shows a great talent for characterization in these stories and a great understanding of those characters, both female and male. A great treat!

"Runaway" is a collection of short stories written by Alice Monroe- sharing a common theme.
Some of the stories in this collection are better than others, some are more matriculant and ripe than others, but i found it difficult to stay indifferent to Monroe's ability to authentically portray human weakness.
She displayes (with talent) feminine circumstances which were typical to in the mid 20th century but are still relevant today.

This is a beautiful book. Munro is an incredible observer of people. Kind, honest and with a subtle sense of humor. The reader was excellent and allowed the stories themselves to take first place.

This collection of short stories, more like short novels, is fascinating and gripping. I really could not stop listening. The stories are simply told, elegantly plotted, and have surprising twists that hold your attention.

Unfortunately the audio quality on this recording varies. Sometimes it's fine but other times it's poor. I found it hard to hear clearly and consistently in a car. If you listen to audiobooks while driving, this probably isn't the best choice.

I honestly think it may have been the narrator who destroyed this read for me. Even though she has a pleasant voice, a pleasant voice does not a narrator make! The story drolled on and on and on and got absolutely nowhere! I tried to get into it several times and finally realized, I had just wasted my money. The writing is superficial, predictable and just plain boring. Maybe it would have been better if a different narrator had verbalized one of the three stories, anything to break up the monotony. I had hoped after the first story, the second might be better and it was actually worse. Again though, I think it was the narrator. I was so annoyed with her tone that did not change, I would forward to another audible book until I felt I could go back and try again. I Hope the next book will be better and/or a more talented narrator is used.