Too Much Happiness

{{Infobox book |

| name = Too Much Happiness

| image = Too Much Happiness cover.jpg

| caption = First edition cover design

| author = Alice Munro

| country = Canada

| language = English

| genre = Short story collection

| publisher = Douglas Gibson Books

| release_date = 25 August 2009

| pages = 320 pp

| media_type = Print (hardcover)

| isbn = 978-0-7710-6529-3

| dewey=

| congress=

| oclc= 317743569

}}

Too Much Happiness is a short story collection by Canadian writer Alice Munro, published on August 25, 2009 by McClelland and Stewart's Douglas Gibson Books imprint.[http://www.mcclelland.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781551993058 Books: Too Much Happiness by Alice Munro] at McClelland and Stewart. The title story is a fictional retelling of the life of the 19th century Russian mathematician and writer Sofia Kovalevskaya. The book contains ten short stories.{{Cite web |title=Table of Contents (PDF) |url=http://scans.hebis.de/21/50/93/21509319_toc.pdf |access-date=2020-12-31 |website=scans.hebis.de}} Each story outlines the core of its protagonist by narrating selected scenes of that character's life.

Synopsis

There are 10 stories in total: Dimensions, Fiction, Wenlock Edge, Deep-Holes, Free Radicals, Face, Some Women, Child's Play, Wood, and the titular story.

Dimensions focuses on a young girl, Doree, and her relationship with an abusive older man, Lloyd.

Fiction focuses on a woman, Joyce, and her grappling with changing relationships.

Wenlock Edge focuses on an unnamed protagonist, who is sexually abused.

Deep-Holes focuses on Sally, whose son lives a monastic lifestyle after a traumatic experience.

Free Radicals focuses on Nita, an elderly woman who has to deal with a home intruder.

Face focuses on a boy with a birthmark across his face.

Some Women focuses on the carer of an ill man.

Child's Play focuses on two girls at their summer camp.

Wood focuses on Roy, who obsesses over wood-cutting.

Reception

Too Much Happiness received an 88% from The Lit Review based on 38 critic reviews. The consensus says: “Too Much Happiness” is a bit darker than the typical Alice Munro collection, but it doesn’t stray too far from her model. Remarkable as always, this should definitely be on your to-read list".{{Cite web |title=“Too Much Happiness” by Alice Munro|url=http://www.thelitreview.com/too-much-happiness-by-alice-munro.html|access-date=12 July 2024|website=The Lit Review|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209224227/http://www.thelitreview.com/too-much-happiness-by-alice-munro.html|archive-date=9 Feb 2012}} Culture Critic assessed British and American critical response as an aggregated score of 87%.{{Cite web |title=Alice Munro - Too Much Happiness|url=http://www.culturecritic.co.uk/books/alice-munro-too-much-happiness/|access-date=12 July 2024|website=Culture Critic|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091030150417/http://www.culturecritic.co.uk:80/books/alice-munro-too-much-happiness/|archive-date=30 Oct 2009}}{{Cite web |title=Too Much Happiness|url=http://theomnivore.co.uk/Book/Classification/Fiction/Genre/Short_Stories/default.aspx|access-date=12 July 2024|website=The Omnivore|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100128220456/http://theomnivore.co.uk/Book/Classification/Fiction/Genre/Short_Stories/default.aspx|archive-date=28 Jan 2010}} In the March/April 2010 issue Bookmarks, the book was scored 4.5 out of 5. The magazine's critical summary reads: "Too Much Happiness is compelling, brilliant fiction that showcases a master at the very top of her game".{{Cite web |title=Too Much Happiness: Stories By Alice Munro|url=http://www.bookmarksmagazine.com/book-review/too-much-happiness-stories/alice-munro|access-date=14 January 2023 |website=Bookmarks|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905113950/http://www.bookmarksmagazine.com/book-review/too-much-happiness-stories/alice-munro|archive-date=5 Sep 2015}}

References

Category:2009 short story collections

Category:Short story collections by Alice Munro