According to the NY Sun, the Literary Committee of The National Arts Club recently honored writer Alice Munro "with its gold medal." Silver and bronze winners do not exist or were not named.

Attendees included Russell Banks, Dan Menaker, and Margaret Atwood -- who reminded the audience that, despite the universality of Munro's stories, Canadians are weird and strange.

Ms. Atwood said that she struck up a friendship with Ms. Munro by just 'calling her up' in 1969, after reading her work. Ms. Munro invited Ms. Atwood to sleep on her floor. She did.

Ms. Atwood said she couldn't use words like "exceptional" or a "sacred treasure of Canada" to describe Ms. Munro, who dislikes the "highfaultin." Ms. Atwood instead created an imaginary conversation from Ms. Munro's hometown:

First speaker: "Maybe she is the greatest writer in the world, you hear that a lot [...] but I wouldn't know 'bout that."

Second speaker: "She tells the truth, ya know, and people don't always like that, eh?"

First speaker: "But she never puts on airs ... if you ask her to bring a pie to the bake sale and she agrees, she will bring that pie."