Reading 1001 discussion

Shuva wrote: "This is the first book I've read by Lorrie Moore. While reading it the stories didn't do much for me, but after I put the book down sometime yesterday, some of the characters are playing through my..."

Do you want to give this a rating, Shuva?

Like Life - Lorie Moore - ***

I'm not a great fan of short stories, and "Like Life" did not change my mind. For me they fall short....sort of like asking an abstract painter how he/she knows when the painting is finished.....They so often don't reach any real conclusion. I don't fell that sense of satisfaction that I almost always get from a novel.

Moore's characters are quirky and rather self-destructive in this book though they do strike a note of realism. I give here credit for understanding the type of characters she writes about, and the humor adds a good deal.

I guess my overall recommendation for this book of short stories is a "go for it" IF you like modern short stories and rather odd and pessimistic scenarios.

Review by Diane (moved to make 1 review thread)

When I chose this book for a reading challenge I did not even know it was short stories. I am not usually drawn to short stories but this collection was a pleasant surprise. I very much enjoyed these tales of authentic characters, was quickly drawn into the story and usually felt satisfied at the end. I like Lorrie Moore's writing and I look forward to reading her other books.

My review:
This is another good collection of short stories about the many complications that can crop up in life, at all ages, but especially for older people. Many of the stories are about ageing and preparing for death, though death does not always come after such a long life, and it is not always possible for the characters in these stories to really prepare for their deaths beforehand. Relationships fall apart, children grow up to be more or less independent, and more or less successful than their parents hoped, and they too face the challenges of ageing and death, both for themselves and for their ageing parents. Always, though, life goes on and even when there are no good options, there are always options, and things always work out somehow, even if not to everyone's benefit or comfort.

This is the 4th book I've read by Lorrie Moore, and while I am less fond of short stories, I do generally enjoy hers. I tend to be annoyed when short story collections turn up on the 1001 List, but for a story collection this one is good. I gave it 5 stars on Goodreads.

Rating: 4 Stars

This was a pleasant surprise for me. I didn't care for A Gate at the Stairs, so I went into this one with low expectations. This is much better. I loved the quote she made about guns in the story "Jewish Hunter", but I won't post it since it may be considered inappropriate.

Overall, a quick read and an enjoyable collection of stories.

Like Life - Lorrie Moore - 3.5*

Although I read mostly novels I also like to read nonfiction and short stories occasionally for variety.
I had previously read Ms Moore's novel Anagrams, which I enjoyed. Like Anagrams, these stories all seem to be rather dark but sometimes funny in a black-humor style, and she does write many witty lines sprinkled in, such as the one the title comes from, which help to lighten it. The odd characters and situations in the stories reminded me somewhat of Elmore Leonard's writing which I enjoy.

I also preferred this to A Gate in the Stairs, although I found the stories bleak for the most part. Certainly there is a clever, humorous streak to them but that doesn't hold out much hope for the characters, only the reader. Still I enjoyed them (with a wry smile) and found many of the characters and situations memorable. I would certainly read another of her story collections if I came across one.

Reason read: TBR takedown, November 2025. This is a set of short stories that explore relationships, displacement, isolation, and emotional instability.
Two Boys: a story of a woman who is dating two men but finds this isn't a guarantee against loneliness.
Vissi d'Arte: Harry is a playwright who lives in New York City. He won a contest 4 years ago –
Joy: In 'Joy' we meet Jane, a woman who works in a cheese shop. Her cat has fleas, so much of the story involves her taking her cat back and forth to
You're ugly, too: Zoë Hendricks—a lonely, unmarried, woman who has only her wit to keep her company. The results of this biopsy reveal ...
Places to look for your mind: suburban New Jersey couple who host their daughter's college-age acquaintance, prompting them to confront their feelings about their own estranged son
The Jewish hunter: a dark romance that's by turns cynical and guileless
Starving again: short and pithy piece also about failed love
Like Life: takes place in a futuristic New York City of the 1990s, where pollutants have rendered the water undrinkable and citizens
Why was this included in 1001 books..... it is recognized as a significant work of literature that offers a powerful and unique look at life, love, and loss. Rated 3.6 stars

Read in 2016

When I chose this book for a reading challenge I did not even know it was short stories. I am not usually drawn to short stories but this collection was a pleasant surprise. I very much enjoyed these tales of authentic characters, was quickly drawn into the story and usually felt satisfied at the end. I like Lorrie Moore's writing and I look forward to reading her other books.