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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
sometimes i think the 'literary' fiction authors like Lorrie Moore and others i've had to read in creative writing classes are partially responsible for some of my class consciousness. like i grew up middle class as possible, but i think i always thought we were more pmc, especially when the housing bubble bumped us up into a gated neighborhood. but there's this image of ideal pmc-hood writers like Lorrie Moore give off--this light sort of satire that's almost seeming to say, 'hey, don't worry about your foibles, you're still one of the good one, you benevolent middle-manager you'--that for a while i had me thinking, 'oh, i don't act like this, but i'm pmc, so i must be one of the bad one,' and made me wanna do some sort of cultural signifier social-climbing that didn't make any real sense, but which i've seen a lot of other people doing too
anyways, this parts not the indictment of Lorrie Moore. the next part is
into this mythic land of pmc self-forgiveness, Moore tries to inject the war on terror--not the actual warzones in the greater middle east, which i dont have to tell you were pretty bad, or even the people in the US who (in what i imagine her characters might think) had to stoop to the level of getting involved in the war, neither the government nor people whose family members (or even neighbors) shipped off. no, she has her pmc characters fret about what they see on television and place bumper stickers on their cars. theyre all good pmcs tho, dont worry, so none of these bumper stickers are pro-Bush
this seems like a great set-up for some satire, but it's not. the self-inflation is treated dead serious
so, in short, here's Bark, the only post-9/11 work of literature that dares to ask, 'how worried were the good ones?'
anyways, this parts not the indictment of Lorrie Moore. the next part is
into this mythic land of pmc self-forgiveness, Moore tries to inject the war on terror--not the actual warzones in the greater middle east, which i dont have to tell you were pretty bad, or even the people in the US who (in what i imagine her characters might think) had to stoop to the level of getting involved in the war, neither the government nor people whose family members (or even neighbors) shipped off. no, she has her pmc characters fret about what they see on television and place bumper stickers on their cars. theyre all good pmcs tho, dont worry, so none of these bumper stickers are pro-Bush
this seems like a great set-up for some satire, but it's not. the self-inflation is treated dead serious
so, in short, here's Bark, the only post-9/11 work of literature that dares to ask, 'how worried were the good ones?'
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Lorrie Moore’s collection of short stories is a series of tales that explore the messiness of relationships and melancholy of adult life. My favorite stories in this collection are “Wings” and “Thank You for Having Me.”
nowhere near as enjoyable as self help - LM attacks politics through the mundane and intimate relationships but i feel the way she writes about people and relationships is much more interesting than her writing about politics, some of which was overly written and convoluted. some blinders in here tho and some of the writing is gorg
2.5 stars rounding up. There are some beautiful sentences and some interesting insights on the human condition but this book is very depressing. Especially to read in winter during a global pandemic
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I had read high praise of Lorrie Moore as a writer of short stories in literary review sections of Sunday papers and picked this book up in a second-hand sale. This is a good, varied collection focussing on love, friendship and relationships and evoking different moods from comic to tragic as well as tuning into topical aspects of American life at the time it was written (2014). Moore's writing is sharp and her observation of human foibles and emotions is top notch. I will certainly seek out more of her work.
Well crafted short stories. They stand on their own and provide plenty of depth.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Amada Lorrie Moore. Me gustó mucho su humor, es muy ácida y me hizo reír en muchas partes. También me gustó su capacidad de poner hechos reales como telón de fondo, como paisaje de sus historias, como elementos que aportan y explican a sus personajes, con mucha crítica política y social. Quizás le daría 4.5 estrellas, pero lo pasé tan bien leyendo que promedié hacia arriba.
Listened to the first three on a car trip to Maine and finished the rest on the page. Always insightful, funny, and devastating.