Reviews

Read this book for the descriptions. There's some truly lovely passages in here. The plot is a little odd. The first half concentrates on a couple who is in the process of adopting and Tassie, the college student who will look after their daughter. There's some strange happenings with this couple that I found a little hard to believe. The second half of the book is more about Tassie and life after Sept. 11. In a way, it feels like two very separate books, with the second half (particularly the end) seeming a bit rushed through. Yet, I really enjoyed this book.

alittlediamond's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny sad slow-paced

3.5

I read this book after a NYT writer said they would read a grocery list if it was written by Lorrie Moore. Not sure I would do so, but she is a good writer. The story meandered too much to really keep my attention. The secret revealed by the adoptive parents of the child Tassie nannies for was horrible. The look at racism is middle class white America was interesting. There was a lot to relate to but I would recommend this to others who aren't literary types, and I'm on the fence as to whether I'd recommend it to my literary-type friends.
Also, the cover art is weird. The book references a gate at the end of the stairs many times, but in context to the gate to the yard, and the baby gate at the top of the stairs, so the jetway stairs to nowhere seemed weird other than that this book didn't really go anywhere either.

sonia_reppe's review against another edition

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5.0

This is one of the best literary novels of 2009, but I think I like Brooklyn better. Both are about a college-aged girl working, studying, falling in love. As far as writing goes, this one, A Gate At The Stairs, was more intellectual, with touches of sardonic wit, strong voice, symbolism and themes tying it all together. High-level writing (but the kind you can follow). I didn't like the offensive changing of the Lord's prayer at the end—I didn't get it; irreverencies like this, but mainly the ending's run out of steam knocked this out of consideration for Sonia's pick of best novel of the year.

I tried not to think about my life. I did not have any good solid plans for it long-term--no bad plans either, no plans at all--and the lostness of that, compared with the clear ambitions of my friends (marriage, children, law school), sometimes shamed me. Other times in my mind I defended such a condition as morally and intellectually superior--my life was open and ready and free--but that did not make it any less lonely.

jefecarpenter's review against another edition

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5.0

At first I was beguiled by her insouciant tone and the marvelous whimsy of her philosophy, so I was truly surprised when I realized I was caught in the quicksand of a profound dilemma, echoed in other dilemmas, in a wrenching coming-of-age odyssey.

illymally's review against another edition

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2.0

The female hero character was a bit confusing. She is 20 years old, a clever pessimist with a wicked sense of humor. But it seems like each of the main characters is equally clever and has a similar humor… disorienting for a realistic setting. It may have worked in the third person, but written from the hero's perspective it was a bit odd. She never drank wine but conjured up "chablis" when describing a pale yellow, for example.
I couldn't shake the feeling that her character was like a "deep" Charlotte Simmons, or perhaps a Holden Caulfield wannabe.

agalles's review against another edition

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2.0

I can't really say i liked this book ... it wasn't quite what i was expecting when i picked it up but then again didn't do much research other than it had shown up in some list at some point of decent books released recently. It is an odd read that doesn't go anywhere in particular, rambles a bit and touches on many different themes and subjects. But perhaps that is why it's still interesting and brought me through to the end - where the author brings the reader in the beginning, the middle and the end of the book are completely separate places and stories and i would never have guessed the last third of the book would tell the story it did.

xtinevs's review against another edition

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4.0

This book definitely wanders a bit but I don’t care! I’ll read anything Lorrie Moore wants to write. Beautifully written, captures being a lost college student perfectly.

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