Lorrie Moore
Biography
Lorrie Moore (born Marie Lorena Moore) is an acclaimed American short story writer and novelist, known for her distinctive blend of humor and melancholy. Born in Glens Falls, New York, in 1957, she graduated from St. Lawrence University and later earned an MFA from Cornell University. Moore began publishing in her early twenties, quickly gaining recognition for her sharp wit, poignant observations on human relationships, and frequently a sense of quiet despair. Her career spans several collections of short stories, including 'Self-Help,' 'Like Life,' 'Birds of America,' and 'Bark,' as well as novels like 'Anagrams' and 'A Gate at the Stairs.' She has taught creative writing at the University of Wisconsin–Madison for many years and currently teaches at Vanderbilt University. Her work often explores the lives of women navigating complex personal and professional landscapes, marked by failed romances, domestic struggles, and the search for meaning.
Selected Thoughts
«A story is not a thing. A story is an act.»
«You have to be a person of a certain type of mind to be a writer. It's an affliction. You're always listening to people. You're always experiencing yourself through others. You're never really alone. Even when you're alone, you're listening to the story of the quiet in the room.»
«The brain is a organ that lives in a sea of pain.»
Writing Style
Lorrie Moore's writing style is characterized by its sharp, deadpan wit, often infused with dark humor and wordplay, juxtaposed with profound melancholy and vulnerability. She employs a conversational, intimate tone, frequent first-person narration, and a keen eye for mundane yet telling details. Her prose is precise, economical, and lyrical, often using fragmented sentences and unexpected metaphors to capture the emotional complexities and absurdities of everyday life. She masterfully blends tragedy and comedy, creating stories that are both heartbreaking and laugh-out-loud funny.