Return to Book Page Praise for When I Was Young and In My Prime Read the Globe and Mail review Excerpt When I Was Young and In My Prime By Alayna Munce AVAILABLE 0-88971-209-3 Nightwood Editions 5.5 x 8.5 · 256 pages Paperback · $18.95 September 2005 A moving, fictional account of a young woman’s journey through the lives of her grandparents, her own very different urban reality, and the search for something ageless. "Munce explores this story by examining it from all angles. A published poet herself, she inserts short poems here and there, often in the form of lists with titles like “things buried with us,” “things that still have not left her,” or “things that might survive a lifetime.” Never merely superfluous or showy, these poems always contain an important detail about the characters’ lives, or at the very least, a nugget of truth about the protagonist herself. Like many first novels, this one seems autobiographical, but Munce never lets the story meander or stumble. She possesses surprising poise, transitioning from character to character without warning, confidently demanding her readers keep up with her wherever she takes them. These narrative risks pay great dividends, adding a fresh authenticity to what could otherwise become a maudlin story." —Joe Wiebe Read the full review at joewiebe.com