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alixgb 's review for:
A Gate at the Stairs
by Lorrie Moore
I really liked this book. A lot of the other reviews said that the book was a unfocused, but I thought it was a very nice snapshot of the first time someone leaves their family home and goes out into the world. The narrator, Tassie, is a young college student looking for her first job.
The entire book had a very strong culture clash theme going throughout. It starts off with the shock of moving from a small agricultural town to a more liberal college city. Tassie mostly acts as an observer as she moves through her new city. The difference between the lifestyle of Tassie's family and her new employer emphasises the class differences, and are repeated in Tassie's employer's actions. The strongest theme, almost to the point of being another character in the book, is the casual and overt racism Tassie witnesses. The book is really interesting in addressing racism around the characters, but really showing the privilege that allows them to only engage it when they want to.
The end of the book is a little meandering, but meaningful and important in Tassie's life. I really enjoyed the book and I would highly recommend it.
The entire book had a very strong culture clash theme going throughout. It starts off with the shock of moving from a small agricultural town to a more liberal college city. Tassie mostly acts as an observer as she moves through her new city. The difference between the lifestyle of Tassie's family and her new employer emphasises the class differences, and are repeated in Tassie's employer's actions. The strongest theme, almost to the point of being another character in the book, is the casual and overt racism Tassie witnesses. The book is really interesting in addressing racism around the characters, but really showing the privilege that allows them to only engage it when they want to.
The end of the book is a little meandering, but meaningful and important in Tassie's life. I really enjoyed the book and I would highly recommend it.