From the back cover:

"Whether Alice Munro's The Beggar Maid is a collection of stories or a new kind of novel I'm not quite sure, but whatever it is, it's wonderful. The psychological precision...is a delight, and the startling twists -- the unexpected leaps in time, the transformation of familiar characters -- they make the book what books ought to be, a little wild, a little mysterious." -- John Gardner

In this exhilarating series of interweaving stories, Alice Munro re-creates the evolving bond -- one that is both constricting and empowering -- between two women in the coupe of almost forty years. One is Flo, practical, suspicious of other people's airs, at times dismayingly vulgar. The other is Rose, Flo's stepdaughter, a clumsy, shy girl who somehow-in spite of Flo's ridicule and ghastly warnings -- leaves the small town she grew up in to achieve her own equivocal success in the larger world.

"The stories are absolutely wonderful-every word she writes is interesting." -- Alice Adams

"The best stories of the year." -- The Nation

This was meant to be a Christmas present, but arrived now on New Year's Eve - a gift from my husband :)

I was happy enough to receive a Finnish translation of this book so this one will travel as a wishlist book to klaradyn. Enjoy!

Arrived today. Thanks so much for tagging me with this, I love Alice Munro's work!

Finished this one near the end of last year. I thought I had made a journal entry!

I loved, loved, loved this book. It's my favourite of the Munro books I've read so far. The stories are connected and follow the same main character throughout her life, but they can be read on their own as well.

Reserved for bloedengel for the wishlist tag game.

Now travelling to bloedengel in Belgium, along with The Namesake. Had to use surface mail, so it will take a little while to get there.

I've never read anything by her before, and I'm told I should (also because this book is on the 1001-books you have to read before you die-list.
Let's see what happens ...

Finally came round to reading the longest residing book on my shelf. Very nice. Should have done it sooner !

Goeie reis !

In transit!

Farewell, book!
Go and make some new friends...