Bark: Stories for Dog Owners

In the realm of American literature, the work of Lorrie Moore may well emerge as a defining voice in capturing the essence of our time, a sentiment echoed in the words of Harper's: "Fifty years from now, it may well turn out that the work of very few American writers has as much to say about what it means to be alive in our time as that of Lorrie Moore." This literary event, marked by the release of a new collection of stories by one of America's most beloved and admired short story writers, her first in fifteen years, promises to be a captivating exploration of the human experience.

In these eight masterful stories, Lorrie Moore showcases her remarkable blend of craft and bewitched spirit, delving into the passage of time and summoning up its inevitable sorrows and hilarious pitfalls to reveal her own exquisite, singular wisdom. "Debarking," a poignant tale, follows a newly divorced man as he navigates the turbulent waters of his personal life against the backdrop of the United States' impending invasion of Iraq, a juxtaposition that captures the irresistible hilarity and darkness of the aftermath of divorce.

The story "Foes" takes a sharp turn as a political argument goes grotesquely awry, with the unexpected manifestation of the events of 9/11 at a fundraising dinner in Georgetown. "The Juniper Tree" presents a haunting scenario, where a teacher, visited by the ghost of her recently deceased friend, is compelled to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" in a nightmarish reunion.

In "Wings," Moore deftly depicts the intricacies of dead ends and the workings of regret as she follows the unraveling of two once-hopeful musicians who neither held fast to their dreams nor struck out along other paths. Throughout these narratives, Lorrie Moore's signature style shines through, blending gimlet-eyed social observation, the public and private absurdities of American life, dramatic irony, and enduring half-cracked love, creating a heartrending mash-up of the tragic and the laugh-out-loud.

This new collection from Lorrie Moore promises to captivate readers with its profound exploration of the human condition, offering a singular perspective on the complexities and contradictions that define our time. As one of America's most revered short story writers, Moore's work has consistently challenged and delighted audiences, and this latest offering is poised to solidify her legacy as a literary force to be reckoned with.

product information: