Lorrie Moore
Full Name and Common Aliases
Lorrie Moore, born Marie Lorena Moore, is an acclaimed American writer known for her sharp wit and poignant storytelling. While she is widely recognized by her pen name, Lorrie Moore, she has become a significant voice in contemporary literature.
Birth and Death Dates
Lorrie Moore was born on January 13, 1957. As of the latest available information, she is alive and continues to contribute to the literary world.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Lorrie Moore is an American author and professor. Her primary professions include being a novelist, short story writer, and essayist. She has also served as a professor of English, sharing her expertise and passion for literature with students.
Early Life and Background
Lorrie Moore was born in Glens Falls, New York, and grew up in a family that valued education and creativity. Her father was an insurance executive, and her mother was a nurse. Moore's early exposure to literature and storytelling came from her parents, who encouraged her to read and explore the world of books. She attended St. Lawrence University, where she began to hone her writing skills, and later earned her Master of Fine Arts from Cornell University. It was during her time at Cornell that she adopted the pen name "Lorrie," a nickname derived from her middle name, Lorena.
Major Accomplishments
Lorrie Moore's career is marked by numerous accolades and achievements. She has received several prestigious awards, including the O. Henry Award and the Rea Award for the Short Story. Her work has been featured in prominent publications such as The New Yorker, and she has been a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. Moore's ability to capture the complexities of human relationships and emotions has earned her a dedicated readership and critical acclaim.
Notable Works or Actions
Lorrie Moore is best known for her short story collections, which include "Self-Help" (1985), "Like Life" (1990), and "Birds of America" (1998). "Birds of America" is particularly celebrated for its insightful and often humorous exploration of life's challenges. Her novel "A Gate at the Stairs" (2009) was a finalist for the Orange Prize for Fiction and further solidified her reputation as a masterful storyteller. Moore's writing is characterized by its wit, irony, and keen observation of the human condition, making her works both entertaining and thought-provoking.
Impact and Legacy
Lorrie Moore's impact on literature is profound, particularly in the realm of short stories. Her unique voice and style have influenced a generation of writers, and her works are frequently studied in academic settings. Moore's ability to blend humor with pathos has set her apart as a distinctive and influential figure in contemporary fiction. Her stories often delve into themes of love, loss, and the absurdities of everyday life, resonating with readers across diverse backgrounds.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Lorrie Moore is widely quoted and remembered for her incisive and often humorous observations about life and relationships. Her writing captures the nuances of human experience with a clarity and wit that make her quotes memorable and impactful. Moore's ability to articulate complex emotions in a relatable and engaging manner has endeared her to readers and critics alike. Her quotes often reflect her deep understanding of the human psyche, offering insights that are both profound and accessible. As a result, Lorrie Moore's words continue to inspire and resonate with audiences, ensuring her place as a cherished and quoted author in the literary world.
Quotes by Lorrie Moore
Lorrie Moore's insights on:
The only really good piece of advice I have for my students is, 'Write something you'd never show your mother or father.' And you know what they say? 'I could never do that!'
To me, writing is much freer than dancing. With writing, you could do it whenever you wanted. You didn't have to do little exercises and stay in shape. You could have great moments of inspiration that advanced the story. In dance, unless you're going to choreograph things yourself, you're at the service of someone else.
That I might never have an occasion to wear such a thing or that I might look like the worst sort of Republican doing so probably never occurred to her.
At work you will be lachrymose and distracted. You will shuffle through the hall like a legume with feet. People will notice.
Then, when it didn’t crash, when you succeeded in keeping it aloft with your own worthlessness, all you had to do was stagger off, locate your luggage, and, by the time a cab arrived, come up with a persuasive reason to go on living.
Those are the love killers. They love you and then they kill you. They’re from another planet. Supposedly.
Tell him not to smoke in your apartment. Tell him to get out. At first he protests. But slowly, slowly, he leaves, pulling up the collar on his expensive beige raincoat, like an old and haggard Robert Culp. Slam the door like Bette Davis. Love drains from you, takes with it much of your blood sugar and water weight. You are like a house slowly losing its electricity, the fans slowing, the lights dimming and flickering; the clocks stop and go and stop.
She knew there were only small joys in life – the big ones were too complicated to be joys when you got all through – and once you realized that, it took a lot of the pressure off.
I did think reviewers were supposed to be polite about story collections – collections are rather delicate creatures in the literary environment – but not everybody got this memo, I guess.