See What Can Be Done, by Lorrie Moore
It feels a bit meta, reading a book filled with book reviews. Even more so, writing a book review about a book filled with book reviews. It occurred to me while reading Lorrie Moore's latest that perhaps it's better not read it all in one go, but alas, I'm one of those readers who simply cannot read more than one book at a time, so I forged ahead. And what a treat it turned into!
Moore is best known for her short stories, though she's written novels as well. Since the 1980s, she's also been a prolific contributor of book reviews to The New York Review of Books, The New York Times, Harper's, The Atlantic, and The New Yorker, among others. She's even written reviews of movies and TV shows, as well as the odd play, and some political commentary. Moore is throughout insightful, intelligent, and funny. I thought at first I wouldn't make it through these 66 reviews and essays, but quickly became immersed in Moore's clear voice.
I learned about Eudora Welty, John Updike, and Barack Obama, alongside pieces on Friday Night Lights, The Wire, and the state of the Republican party during the 2016 primaries. Moore is so smart but in an approachable way, acknowledging that intellectual value can be found nearly anywhere, but also that sometimes the value of a thing isn't intellectual at all. This is a wonderful collection from one of our most accomplished writers, a pleasure to read straight through or dip into whenever the mood strikes.
Shop indie!
Moore is best known for her short stories, though she's written novels as well. Since the 1980s, she's also been a prolific contributor of book reviews to The New York Review of Books, The New York Times, Harper's, The Atlantic, and The New Yorker, among others. She's even written reviews of movies and TV shows, as well as the odd play, and some political commentary. Moore is throughout insightful, intelligent, and funny. I thought at first I wouldn't make it through these 66 reviews and essays, but quickly became immersed in Moore's clear voice.
I learned about Eudora Welty, John Updike, and Barack Obama, alongside pieces on Friday Night Lights, The Wire, and the state of the Republican party during the 2016 primaries. Moore is so smart but in an approachable way, acknowledging that intellectual value can be found nearly anywhere, but also that sometimes the value of a thing isn't intellectual at all. This is a wonderful collection from one of our most accomplished writers, a pleasure to read straight through or dip into whenever the mood strikes.
Shop indie!
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