Title: Self-Help
Author: Lorrie Moore
First published March 12, 1985
163 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780307277299 (ISBN10: 0307277291)
Rating: 4.15
Overview
“Sharp, witty… a collection of stories that will make you laugh, cry, and think.
Lorrie Moore’s Self-Help delves into the complexities of love, family, and life itself. With tales of forbidden affairs, fractured relationships, and the bittersweet acceptance of mortality, these stories will resonate with readers from all walks of life.
Moore’s signature blend of humor and heart shines through in this masterful collection, showcasing her talent as one of the most gifted writers of our time.”
About the Author
Meet Lorrie Moore: a talented writer who holds the impressive title of Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Professor of English at Vanderbilt University. Her writing has earned her numerous awards and honors, including a Lannan Foundation fellowship, the PEN/Malamud Award, and the Rea Award.
She is also a member of the prestigious American Academy of Arts and Letters. When she’s not busy writing, Lorrie calls Nashville, Tennessee home.
Editoral Review
Self-Help by Lorrie Moore, first published on March 12, 1985, is a collection of short stories that explores the complexities of human relationships and the challenges of navigating life in modern society. Lorrie Moore is a renowned American author who has been recognized for her contributions to the literary world with numerous awards and accolades, including the Rea Award for the Short Story and the PEN/Malamud Award for Excellence in the Short Story.
Self-Help consists of eight stories that are linked by their themes of love, loss, and self-discovery. The stories are written in a conversational style that is witty, insightful, and at times, poignant.
The characters are ordinary people who struggle with the daily trials and tribulations of life, from the monotony of office work to the complexities of romantic relationships.
One of the standout stories in the collection is “How to Become a Writer.” In this story, the protagonist, a young woman, is determined to become a writer, but struggles to find her voice amidst the chaos of her life. The story is a poignant meditation on the challenges of pursuing a creative career, and the sacrifices that must be made in order to achieve one’s dreams.
Another notable story in the collection is “Agnes of Iowa,” which tells the story of a young woman who is struggling to come to terms with the loss of her husband. The story is a powerful exploration of grief and the ways in which we cope with loss, as well as a poignant meditation on the nature of love and the complexities of human relationships.
Throughout the collection, Moore displays a remarkable ability to capture the nuances of human emotion and the complexities of interpersonal relationships. Her writing is sharp, insightful, and often humorous, and she is able to create characters that are both relatable and deeply flawed.
While the stories in Self-Help are undeniably well-crafted, the collection is not without its flaws. Some of the stories feel a bit slight, and the overall tone of the collection can be a bit melancholic at times.
Additionally, the collection is somewhat dated, with many of the stories taking place in the 1980s and reflecting the cultural and social mores of that era.
Overall, however, Self-Help is a remarkable collection of stories that showcases Moore’s exceptional talent as a writer. The stories are poignant, insightful, and often humorous, and they offer a powerful meditation on the complexities of human relationships and the challenges of navigating life in modern society.
For readers who enjoy literary fiction and are interested in exploring the complexities of the human condition, Self-Help is a must-read.
Rating: 4/5
