There is a rather disconcerting sameness running through this collection of Lorrie Moore’s stories. In a preface she explains that they are ordered in reverse chronological order of their publication, and also in descending order of quality. This, disappointingly, turns out to be true: there is a noticeable drop-off in quality as the collection progresses.
That said, there are some very fine stories here. Obviously, they were not designed to be read as if they were a novel, all at a stretch. But the effect of reading them end-to-end is somewhat deadening, as the parade of young, sensitive, melancholy, broken women continues story after story.
Moore is never flashy, and her style is somewhat spare, although entirely familiar from any number of other American short story writers. There seems to be much less stylistic freedom in short story writing than there is in longer fiction. Moore’s new novel, A Gate at the Stairs was published in the UK recently, so it will be interesting to see how her style expands to fill the larger form.
The Collected Stories is a fine collection, but one that I wish I had read at a more leisurely pace, perhaps reading just one story a week or so. As it is, the homogeneity of subject matter, setting and characterisation becomes too repetitive, and one’s attention begins to wane, which is a pity because there are many little details that make the stories telling, real and whole.
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