I have read something by Alice Munro before, and when I came across a very cheap copy of Dear Life, I had to buy it. I wasn't disappointed. Munro has a great way of storytelling: simple, subtle, realistic and slightly unsettling. (By the way, one point of criticism: she is does not go into much detail about the characters, so sometimes you need to be a very attentive reader to understand what's going on.)

If you would tell a friend the plot of each of the stories in a couple of sentences, it would sound like nothing happens in them. In a way, that is true. But with every story you get the feeling you know a little bit more about life. They are alien and recognisable at the same time. I can't really explain what makes Munro great - you will just have to see for yourself.