CanLit Challenge discussion

I think this is, technically, the most recent book of the Challenge so far (as of October, 2010), but that's slightly misleading as this book includes all the stories from Alistair MacLeod's two other collections: The Lost Salt Gift of Blood (1976) and As Birds Bring Forth the Sun and Other Stories (1986). For this reason, I won’t be including either of those as separate books in the CanLit Challenge (though have added both to the group bookshelf).

I agree with those who say MacLeod’s short stories are among the best ever written in English. Beautiful, lyrical, poignant. His talent with language is phenomenal. I could read these short stories over and over again. Each one is like a miniature novel or even a miniature epic. Reading MacLeod’s stories have a similar impression as reading something aloud in Latin. Even if the content or subject matter is mundane, ordinary, everyday, somehow it sounds weighty, poetic, sacred.

I’m constantly amazed at how much MacLeod manages to ‘stuff’ into a story. It’s really no wonder that it takes him so long to write them. Each one is truly a little masterpiece.

This was a great book--one of those that everyone should read. I see no reason why MacLeod can't be as well known and as well respected a short story writer (though having an entirely unique style) as Ernest Hemingway or Katherine Mansfield.

If you want to read my thoughts on the individual stories, check out my blog post on Reader of the Stack.