Terrific Mother by Lorrie Moore
Published by Faber & Faber, 2019
Rating: ⭐ ⭐
There are huge emotional stakes in the setup, as we purportedly follow a woman’s attempts to re-assimilate into society following the accidental killing of her friend’s baby. Despite this, Moore makes a deliberate – though odd – choice to effectively gloss over the central incident and its immediate fallout, making it hard to connect. Though I liked what the book seemed to be trying to say about grief and self-forgiveness, it was all so cold, vague, and surface level that it felt unearned.
Spring Garden by Tomoka Shibasaki, translated from the Japanese by Polly Barton
Published by Pushkin Press, 2017
Rating: ⭐ ⭐
Another example of a book I liked more in concept than in execution, this follows the final few residents of an apartment block marked for demolition. They form an unlikely bond over their shared fascination with the neighbouring “sky-blue” house, which was once the subject of a photography book, and determine to befriend the new owners so they can see it from the inside for themselves.
This has several of the qualities increasingly associated with contemporary Japanese fiction, in that it’s simply written, subtly quirky, and not much really happens. While in some instances, the themes and atmosphere are enough to sustain interest, here I found it all too aimless, unfortunately. The stakes were simply too low and the pace too meandering to feel any kind of investment. While I like the idea of a book that comments on loneliness and nostalgia against the backdrop of a rapidly modernizing city, I found this particular offering anaemic and forgettable.
The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman
Published by Chatto & Windus, 2021
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Gorman’s charisma, eloquence, and performance skill clearly enhanced the impact of this poem when she recited it at the Presidential inauguration. That said, it was still a pleasure to revisit it on the page; its resonance heightened by the deceptive simplicity of its craft. I’m excited to see what she can offer with a full collection.
Callum McLaughlin 
I’ve just read Lorrie Moore’s collection Like Life and I loved it, but Terrific Mother does sound unsatisfying.
There was enough promise that I’d be open to trying more of her work, so that’s good to hear!
At least you liked one. 😉
Indeed! 😂
I really liked Lorrie Moore’s novels A Gate At The Stairs and Who Will Run The Frog Hospital?, but have yet to try her short stories.
That’s good to hear! Maybe I’d have better luck with her longer fiction as well.
I’ve really liked some of Moore’s short stories in the past so I’m sorry to hear this one missed the mark. I’m always excited when a poet gets attention and when it’s a young woman like Gorman it’s even more exciting!
Absolutely! I’m excited to see where she goes from here
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