Madison, the Midwest and Lorrie Moore

Elise,

There is nothing wrong with readers who critique books or authors. The situation is just a little out of control now due to the lack of manners on the Internet, which sometimes results in unwarranted slashing.

As far as Lorrie Moore's sex is concerned, I am disappointed with her only because she hasn't lived up to her potential. There is no question about her talent, but I think she's become formulaic and has not grown much as an artist. The consensus on A Gate at the Stairs is that it contains serious flaws. She has no legitimate excuse as she took 11 years to write it and could have worked on it for another 11 years to get it right as far as I'm concerned. Actually, I tend to prefer female writers and will like Moore again if she can get her act together.

I am reading Lorrie Moore's short stories. I like them. I am glad she wrote them. I never understand why people always want writers to write something different than what they wrote. Or writers who put down Dairy Queen who put on night time face cream that has the same ingredients as Dairy Queen. I think some of the people who smite-write about Lorrie Moore would like her more if she were a male. I like to read Lorrie Moore's books.

Her newer short stories published since Birds of America are more male-neutral. "Misandry" is probably a stronger term than should be used, but some of her earliest writing seems to seethe with the the sort on anti-male feminism that was the hallmark of her generation of women who are now in their early fifties to mid-sixties. Times have changed, and we're living in a completely different, post-feminist world. Kate Millett and Gloria Steinem are ancient history.

Though it's been a few years, I've also read all of Moore's fiction other than this novel. So I'll accept your rough charecterization of the male characters in her work. Even so, none of what you say amounts to "Misandry" or "male-bashing".

Sorry, Richard, but I think Hugh is correct. I’ve read all of her work other than this novel, and while most of her characters are not admirable people, the men are often implicitly responsible for the relative unhappiness of the women. The protagonists are usually females, with some elements of personality and feeling, and the males tend to be ciphers whose main significance is their bringing of grief to the women. What is missing from all of her work is the depiction of a functional adult relationship between a man and a woman. She has virtually nothing to say about how this is possible or worthwhile. One of the Amazon reviewers says “Perhaps at heart, Moore is a young adult writer,” which means to me that she favors female adolescents over males and adult relationships.

Regarding Lethem’s review, as I’ve said elsewhere, I think it’s a disgrace.

Regarding flyovers, Moore’s work had more of that attitude way back when she lived part of the year in Madison and part of the year in New York. I grew up in New York and have lived most of my life in the Midwest. There are differences, but TV and other media are constantly eroding them. On the other hand, NYC has had more money and power than any other city in the U.S., and for a longer time. That translates into a richer cultural life. You won’t find many sophisticates clambering to move to the Midwest.

"the strong undercurrent of Misandry in her stories"

no such undercurrent exists in her work; though it's nice to see such blatant hyper-sensitivity to alleged "male-bashing".

Lethem is awesome. In fact, I plan to read Moore based on his recommendation.

I'm from the midwest (Indiana), and I think you're making something out of nothing. Really splitting hairs. And guess what, I've never had Chinese food either (and that's including my 3 years living in New York!). Guess I'm just a big fat living stereotype huh.

I've read Lorrie Moore's short stories notably
"And Your Ugly Too". I liked her to a point, (a point that proved to be one of departure) due to the strong undercurrent of Misandry in her stories especially the above one.

This kind of male-bashing cant became a kind of
popular de rigueur (unfortunately acceptable by readers and critics)in the last two decades.
(It seems to be playing out now).

I think Lethem's estatic review in the NYT
was frankly silly and sophomoric (which I guess is why I don't read him much either).