Comments on: Is Alice Munro Stupid?

By: Mary Fizzet

Mary Fizzet — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 12:40:14 +0000

Good for her!
Alice Munro Alice Munro is my favorite writer and a generous person too. I admire her decision and I do not think this is insulting to the other contesters.

By: Felice Piggott

Felice Piggott — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:00:52 +0000

Alice Munro is the Queen of Short Story writing, and all her loyal readers know it.
Prize or no prize.
Long live the Queen!

By: Kaite Stover

Kaite Stover — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:33:34 +0000

I’m with Mark Kohut on this one and the blog post author. Although I’m certain Ms. Munro meant it in the best, most honorable way, it’s a little rude to turn down a nomination, using the unspoken reason that Ms. Munro is the obvious favorite. That’s a little insulting to the other writers whose work was good enough to nominate. Sure, Alice Munro is probably the Meryl Streep of Canadian writing awards. But Meryl didn’t win every time she was nominated and she never took herself out of the running, either.

I admire gracious winning. I admire gracious losing even more.

By: Mel Neet

Mel Neet — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:42:57 +0000

I have to also agree with thelittlefluffycat on this unprecedented display of generosity. And by one of my favorite fiction writers at that.

Bravo, Ms. Munro.

By: cheryl larosa

cheryl larosa — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:59:13 +0000

I could not say this any more succinctly so I will just say I totally agree with:

thelittlefluffycat Says:
September 2nd, 2009 at 10:37 am
I truly hope, should I ever be blessed enough to be in a similar position, that I would be confident enough and kind enough to do the same. Good for you, Ms. Munro – you’ve made me want to read your work and become acquainted with a heart that would produce this kind of decision

By: Mark Kohut

Mark Kohut — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:43:35 +0000

Dear Sir,

I was fortunate to be at the Award ceremony for Ms. Munro at the Arts Club in NY a few years ago.
(perhaps the occasion for which the portrait was commissioned…done from photographs, you know)

Anyway, the problem as I see it is being allowed to opt out in advance. It now taints the Prize.
As with such a different writer as Thomas Pynchon, she has every right to refuse any prizes she wants. She could NOT SHOW and prepare a statement offering the money to a New Writers’ Award Fund or anything. Or nothing.

She could not show and not take the award if she won. But now, no matter who “wins”, they lose.

By: thelittlefluffycat

thelittlefluffycat — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:37:49 +0000

I truly hope, should I ever be blessed enough to be in a similar position, that I would be confident enough and kind enough to do the same. Good for you, Ms. Munro – you’ve made me want to read your work and become acquainted with a heart that would produce this kind of decision.