No one diagrams the dissolution of a relationship like Lorrie Moore, and "Amahl and the Night Visitors: A Guide to the Tenor of Love" is no exception. (My, what a clunky title. You can see why I shortened it above.)
Self Help, the collection in which "Amahl" appears, is devoted to tales of love and loss. When listing authors I admire, I somehow always forget about Moore. This is terrible of me because she's really quite wonderful. With an eagle-eye for details that ring devastatingly true and wit for days, Moore seems able to capture the right word, feeling, and movement at the exact right moment. Oh, she's a sharp one....
Plus, Moore devotes the perfect amount of story space to interactions between the main character, Trudy, and her newly acquired cat. Win-win!
If you like
Self Help, you might also want to check out books by
Aimee Bender,
George Saunders,
Miranda July,
Jim Shepard, and my ever favorite:
Shirley Jackson. Moore has a new book of stories,
Bark, coming out on 25 February. What perfect timing!
1.
Girl with cat, by
P.H. Fitzgerald on Flickr; 2.
Winter street, via
Orion Falls; 3.
Train, by
Hiraku Pan on Flickr; 4.
Christmas lights, via
Sphoenix Girl; 5.
Records, via
Oton Sailor; 6.
Shower, by
Megan Lloyd on Flickr; 7.
Toast 2009-2010 collection, via
Frivole Aime; 8.
Jacket and jeans, via
The Glossier Nerd; 9.
Boots, via
LA Cool & Chic; 10.
Dinner party, by
Whole Larder Love; 11.
Cat on the bed, via
A Cup of Tea in Bed; 12.
Lee lookbook 2013, via
Duke & Sons Leather.