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clairelorraine's review against another edition
4.0
I had no idea what was happening in this book at first(!), but when I got a handle on the experimental storytelling, I was like ah yes! Also, it was fun to finally get what was going on...maybe! This is the kind of book I'd like to talk to someone about because while I have theories about theme etc., I'm still maybe a little kinda sorta confused. When Moore settled into poetry teacher Benna, I could relax a little until I kept not believing Benna's child and friend were imaginary even when she said it. That section was like a very literary episode of "thirtysomething" and I mean that in the best way possible.
miss_tricia's review against another edition
2.0
"All the world's a stage we're going through."
It took me a couple of chapters to realize that, although you read the same three names in each chapter, each chapter is populated by three different characters. You know that from the fact that their jobs are different and sometimes they have different relationships with each other (i.e. in one chapter two are lovers, and in another they are ex-lovers, yay!). On the other hand, that’s about all that distinguishes the characters. They all might as well be the same character: every Benna is the same as every other Benna is the same as every Eleanor. They all speak in the same literary puns and jokes. They are all supremely discontent. They are all in stupid and terrible relationships. The device is more confusing than illuminating, and the jokes aren’t that funny. Unless you're a hopeless literary nerd, you can probably give this one a pass.
It took me a couple of chapters to realize that, although you read the same three names in each chapter, each chapter is populated by three different characters. You know that from the fact that their jobs are different and sometimes they have different relationships with each other (i.e. in one chapter two are lovers, and in another they are ex-lovers, yay!). On the other hand, that’s about all that distinguishes the characters. They all might as well be the same character: every Benna is the same as every other Benna is the same as every Eleanor. They all speak in the same literary puns and jokes. They are all supremely discontent. They are all in stupid and terrible relationships. The device is more confusing than illuminating, and the jokes aren’t that funny. Unless you're a hopeless literary nerd, you can probably give this one a pass.
micaelabrody's review against another edition
4.0
It took me about 5 pages to fall in love with this book, when the incomparable Lorrie Moore put these two passages on the exact same page:
I've loved Lorrie Moore's stories since I first read Self-Help in nerd camp the summer after 7th grade (when I was probably a little too young to read it). This was a novel (the only other one of hers I've read since A Gate at the Stairs, which I didn't love), but retained some of that short-story tradition, presenting us with a few scenarios for Benna and Gerard, rearranging their lives, until finally arriving at the most ordinary one: two lonely people, living lives touched by their own fantasies.
This book felt in many ways like how I finally felt about Duplex - it's confusing at first, but once you let it wash over you, the whole thing just works. Her prose is great and her characters are sharp. Lorrie Moore knew, as always, knows what she's doing.
"It was important to dizzy yourself with stars, he thought. Too often you forgot they were even there...."
""I watched my friend Eleanor give birth," she said. “Once you’ve seen a child born you realize a baby is not much more than a reconstituted ham and cheese sandwich. Just a little anagram of you and what you’ve been eating for nine months.""
I've loved Lorrie Moore's stories since I first read Self-Help in nerd camp the summer after 7th grade (when I was probably a little too young to read it). This was a novel (the only other one of hers I've read since A Gate at the Stairs, which I didn't love), but retained some of that short-story tradition, presenting us with a few scenarios for Benna and Gerard, rearranging their lives, until finally arriving at the most ordinary one: two lonely people, living lives touched by their own fantasies.
This book felt in many ways like how I finally felt about Duplex - it's confusing at first, but once you let it wash over you, the whole thing just works. Her prose is great and her characters are sharp. Lorrie Moore knew, as always, knows what she's doing.
zarazuck's review against another edition
4.0
I'm kind of in love with Lorrie Moore. She is so funny and devastating and her women are weird as hell... which is why they're so wonderful. This is one of those books that makes me hate taking things out of the library because I can't underline all of my favorite lines. I feel kind of wrecked now that it's all over, which I wasn't expecting at all.
coralrose's review against another edition
3.0
I thought that this was a book with a wonderful premise that was somewhat unevenly executed. I thought that the characters were heart-breaking and engaging, but barring the last (story? vignette?) they lacked a lot of development. The stories start short and get progressivelly longer, with the natural result that the last, longest story is the one that we feel the most invested in, although some of the earlier ones are just as intriging. I think that it was obvious that Lorrie Moore deals primarily in short stories, and I'm not sure I would have classified this as a novel, but more as a highly integrated selection of short stories. Perhaps it is called a novel to draw our attention more strongly to the "anagram" nature implied in the title, but...I find that hard to justify.
xaviershay's review against another edition
3.0
Was enjoyable enough. Enough ironic bad wordplay to last a life-time, if you're into that sort of thing. Which I am.
thebobsphere's review against another edition
5.0
Reading Anagrams reminded me of watching a Woody Allen film ; clever plot , witty one liners and lots of laughs.
Benna Carpenter is a person who depends entirely on words. In fact she makes up characters and invents imaginary conversations with them. In the process she invents certain aspects of her life.
However in reality she teaches a poetry class , falls in love with a student and has a close relationship with her one her best friend Gerard. Unfortunately certain events take place and Benna has to face reality, ditch the anagrams and live life as it should.
With the exception of its heartfelt last section, Anagrams made me laugh out loud constantly. I’m a huge fan of puns and jokes so I found the book an extremely enjoyable read. Plus it’s much better than the short story collection I read last year. On the surface this may seem like chick lit but trust me it’s much deeper than that.
Benna Carpenter is a person who depends entirely on words. In fact she makes up characters and invents imaginary conversations with them. In the process she invents certain aspects of her life.
However in reality she teaches a poetry class , falls in love with a student and has a close relationship with her one her best friend Gerard. Unfortunately certain events take place and Benna has to face reality, ditch the anagrams and live life as it should.
With the exception of its heartfelt last section, Anagrams made me laugh out loud constantly. I’m a huge fan of puns and jokes so I found the book an extremely enjoyable read. Plus it’s much better than the short story collection I read last year. On the surface this may seem like chick lit but trust me it’s much deeper than that.
joannawnyc's review against another edition
4.0
Lorrie Moore's writing is purely feminine without being the least bit girly. Plus, she's extremely funny. Honestly, my love for her writing knows no bounds.
morganhenley's review against another edition
5.0
I present this book as a piece of evidence to the docket that Lorrie Moore is genius and one of the most hilarious writers of our lifetime. Thin but mighty, it’s form is fun, as it parades itself as a novel but is really more short story-esque (which is the form where Moore really shines). Plus, who else can be so simultaneously funny and heartbreaking? Loved it.
bowierowie's review against another edition
5.0
Hilarious, sad, beautiful, insightful, and memorable as usual. Read, read, read!