Lorrie moore s ability to blend quick wit and hilarious observations of current trends with moving portraits of people struggling with loneliness, confusion, and the desire for love has made her one of the most admired writers of our time. Moore tackles american class, race, consumerism and the post911 landscape against the backdrop of americas midwest middle america in every sense, moving between. Like practically everything else in lorrie moore s novel, the title a gate at the stairs is a metaphor. Self help lorrie moore pdf download self help lorrie moore read online. The story opens with an unnamed woman and her lover, pete. She is a professor of english at the university of wisconsin in madison. Contemporary fiction has produced few noticers with a better eye and more engaging voice than tassie keltjin, the narrator of lorrie moores deceptively powerful a gate at the stairs. Buy a cheap copy of a gate at the stairs book by lorrie moore. For much of moores first novel in 15 yearsher short stories have established her as something of a stateside alice munrotassies eye and ear are. But some obstacles like race, or past mistakes, or ignorance, or preconceived notions are harder to climb over than others. Lorrie moores ability to blend quick wit and hilarious observations of current trends with moving portraits of people struggling with loneliness, confusion, and the desire for love has made her one of the most admired writers of our time.
Lorrie moore, after many years as a professor of creative writing at the university of wisconsinmadison, is now the gertrude conaway vanderbilt professor of english at vanderbilt university. Maureen corrigan, fresh air, npr tassie is achingly real and, thanks to moores nimble prose, an unbeatable guide through the thicket of early adulthood. This book, almost 10 years in the making, should establish her as a. Publication date 2009 topics families, nannies, college students publisher. A gate at the stairs by lorrie moore lorrie moores literary talent has always seemed exquisitely adapted to brevity. Apr 10, 2010 with her new novel, a gate at the stairs, high in the us charts and longlisted for the orange prize, lorrie moore talks to robert mccrum about black humour, middle age and rooneys chances in. Id liken lorrie moore to a cross between zoe heller and lionel shriver. They hold the world, and the language used to describe it, a little off. A gate at the stairs by lorrie moore with america quietly gearing up for war in the middle east, twentyyearold tassie keltjin, a halfjewish farmers daughter from the plains of the midwest, has come to university escaping her provincial home to encounter the complex world of culture and politics. The questions, discussion topics, and suggestions for further reading that follow are designed to enhance your groups discussion of a gate at the stairs, the powerful, poignant, and laughoutloud story of a young womans coming of age in the midwest in the unsettling aftermath of the terrorist attacks of september 2001 and americas buildup. This acclaimed book by lorrie moore is available at in several formats for your ereader. Lorrie moores ability to blend quick wit and hilarious observations of current trends with moving portraits of people struggling with loneliness. A gate at the stairs is a novel by american fiction writer lorrie moore.
Aug 24, 2010 a gate at the stairs is vintage lorrie moore. Selfhelp incoporated as a formal strategy the conventions of. Lorrie moore talks about a gate at the stairs interview. Aug 30, 2009 lorrie moores new novel, about a midwestern college student who hires on as a nanny for a brainy couple, brandishes its big material about war and racism in a resolutely insouciant key. Sep 26, 2009 a gate at the stairs by lorrie moore lorrie moore s literary talent has always seemed exquisitely adapted to brevity.
When it comes to me, a blank page and a blinking cursor, i prefer to hate something or want to roll naked in a meadow with it, rather than just thinking it is pretty good. In this novel, the protagonist, tassie keltjin, learns about how to handle the emotional pain that comes with love, loss. This is greek tragedy cloaked in a comingofage cape. While not incorrect, branding a gate at the stairs a comingofage novel, at the very least, does not do it full justice. Tassie is from a small town in rural wisconsin, and her world is expanded exponentially over the course of the novel, first by her experience in the college town of troy, then by her employment as the nanny for a young adopted mixed race. A gate at the stairs is a 2009 novel by american author lorie. Lorrie moore is the author of the story collections like life, selfhelp, and birds of america, and the novels who will run the frog hospital.
A gate at the stairs by lorrie moore in djvu, rtf, txt download ebook. As an admirer of lorrie moores short stories, ive long looked forward to the publication of the gate at the stairs, her first novel in fourteen years. With her new novel, a gate at the stairs, high in the us charts and longlisted for the orange prize, lorrie moore talks to robert mccrum about black humour, middle age and rooneys chances in. A gate at the stairs was published in 2009 and written by lorrie moore. Shes swept into a thrilling world of books and films and riveting lectures, highflying discussions about bach, balkanization, and.
Maureen corrigan, fresh air, npr tassie is achingly real and, thanks to moore s nimble prose, an unbeatable guide through the thicket of early adulthood. The novel won s best of the month designation and was a finalist for the penfaulkner award and the orange prize for fiction. A gate at the stairs by lorrie moore about the book tassie keltjin has come from a small farming town to attend college in troy, the athens of the midwest. Lorrie moores new novel, about a midwestern college student who hires on as a nanny for a brainy couple, brandishes its big material about war and racism in a resolutely insouciant key.
Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Now she has finally proved herself over the long haul, says geoff dyer. Click to read more about a gate at the stairs by lorrie moore. Houston chronicle lorrie moore inspires fierce loyalty, for good reason. A gate at the stairs, the authors third novel, is solidly and delightfully lorrie moore territory. Lorrie moores dazzling collection of stories is remarkable for its range, emotional force and dark humour, and for the sheer beauty and power of its language. Reading guide for a gate at the stairs by lorrie moore. About this guide the questions, discussion topics, and suggestions for further reading that follow are designed to enhance your groups discussion of a gate at the stairs, the powerful, poignant, and laughoutloud story of a young womans coming of age in the midwest in the unsettling aftermath of the terrorist attacks of september 2001 and americas buildup to war. Lorrie moores first two books, the story collection selfhelp 1985 and the novel anagrams 1986, introduced a writer possessing an appealing comic touch, lightly applied but not reducible to mere humor, and a modest if still palpable impulse to formal experiment. A gate at the stairs by lorrie moore reading group guide. A gate at the stairs by lorrie moore lorrie moore s literary talent has always seemed exquisitely adapted to brevity.
Pages are intact and are not marred by notes or highlighting, but may contain a neat previous owner name. San francisco chronicle moores penetrating and singular voice as a writer is one i could listen to for years and years. Fortunately, her latest offering proves well worth the wait. Shes the sheriff of a wild and lonely territory, in which empathetic. Lorrie moores a gate at the stairs follows a year in the life of tassie, a 20 year old college student. The jacket copy of lorrie moore s new novel, a gate at the stairs, declares that the story is about a young woman coming of age. A gate at the stairs is a piercing novel of race, class, love, and war in america. San francisco chronicle moore s penetrating and singular voice as a writer is one i could listen to for years and years. A gate at the stairs isbn 9780571249459 pdf epub lorrie. A gate at the stairs is not a novel anyone will want to put down. It unfolds a startlingly brilliant series of portraits of the young, the hip, the lost, the unsettled and the unhinged of modernday america. A gate at the stairs by lorrie moore lorrie moore the.
Meditations of a midwesterner arts the harvard crimson. Selfhelp incoporated as a formal strategy the conventions of direct address found in the genre of nonfiction named in the title. Lorrie moore s a gate at the stairs falls into that tricky category of justnorthofgood a gray area that i struggle to write reasonable sentences about. A gate at the stairs by lorrie moore, paperback barnes. No one who is a fan of lorrie moore, or of comingofage novels rich in wit and specificity, should resist reading a gate at the stairs.
Moores reputation is for mastery of the short story. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. In addition to her sense of humor and intelligence, what are tassies strengths. A novel on the anxiety and disconnection of post911 ameri. In her newest novel, a gate at the stairs, moore enters completely into the mind, heart and skin of a dynamic and perceptive college student, and in doing so, has created an incisive. Mar 16, 2020 lorrie moore a gate at the stairs a novel on the anxiety and disconnection of post911 america, on the insidiousness of racism, the blindsidedness of war, and the recklessness thrust on others in the name of love. A gate at the stairs quotes showing of 72 it was like the classic scene in the movies where one lover is on the train and one is on the platform and the train starts to pull away, and the lover on the platform begins to trot along and then jog and then sprint and then gives up altogether as the train speeds irrevocably off. Interested in finding a parttime job, tassie applies for a nanny position and is interviewed by sarah brink, a woman who, along with her husband edward, is trying to adopt a child. Lorrie moore is the author of the story collections birds of america, like life, and selfhelp and the novels who will run the frog hospital. Apr 22, 2010 lorrie moore s a gate at the stairs follows a year in the life of tassie, a 20 year old college student.
Her work has won honors from the lannan foundation and the american academy of arts and let. Capturing the mood of post911 america with astonishing deftness and precision, a gate at the stairs showcases moore at the height of her powers. A gate at the stairs is a coming of age story about tassie keltjin, a 20yearold college student. A gate at the stairs by lorrie moore christopher guerin. A gate at the stairs, by lorrie moore the new york times. A gate at the stairs is the new york times one of the best books of the year winners as well as various other literary awards and nominations. A gate at the stairs, her first novel in ten years, has all these qualities. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of a gate at the stairs by lorrie moore. A gate at the stairs by lorrie moore lorrie moore the guardian.
When she takes a job as a parttime nanny to a couple who seem at once mysterious and. Sep 27, 2015 a gate at the stairs by lorrie moore in djvu, rtf, txt download ebook. No matter your station in life, there are always obstacles. A conversation with lorrie moore the new york times. Tassie keltjin, a naive student at a university in the midwest, takes a job as a babysitter for a couple in the process of adopting a child. Finalist for the penfaulkner award finalist for the orange prize for fiction chosen as a best book of the year by the new york times book.
Lorrie moore s dazzling collection of stories is remarkable for its range, emotional force and dark humour, and for the sheer beauty and power of its language. Shes the sheriff of a wild and lonely territory, in which empathetic people fight despair with charming words. The story takes place a few months after the september 11th attacks. The jacket copy of lorrie moores new novel, a gate at the stairs, declares that the story is about a young woman coming of age. A gate at the stairs by lorrie moore a copy that has been read, but remains in excellent condition. Moores books are anagrams in 1986, who will run the frog hospital. Around the whiteness was a low wood qualline fence, and when i pushed open its gate it slipped a little. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. Sep 08, 2009 contemporary fiction has produced few noticers with a better eye and more engaging voice than tassie keltjin, the narrator of lorrie moores deceptively powerful a gate at the stairs. The cold came late that fall and the songbirds were caught off guard. Its been more than 10 years since her most recent short story collection, and nearly 15 since her last fulllength work of fiction, who will run the frog hospital.
First of all, this is the first book by moore in ten years. Pdf who will run the frog hospital download ebook for free. Lorrie moores a gate at the stairs is a novel about female maturation and familial bonds that can also be read as a complex response to the patriotic discourses. The following version of this story was used to create this study guide. Lorrie moore biography, age, family, husband, books, net. Lorrie moore s first two books, the story collection selfhelp 1985 and the novel anagrams 1986, introduced a writer possessing an appealing comic touch, lightly applied but not reducible to mere humor, and a modest if still palpable impulse to formal experiment. A gate at the stairs book club questions principles of marketing 16th edition pdf free download, discussion questions. The lowdown on the authors life, loves, and first new book in 11 years. September 2009 amy hanridge fiction a gate at the stairs by lorrie moore. An assignment for first and second year college students, this exercise asks students to draw a specific connection between some of the topical elements of lorrie moores novel a gate at the.
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