Bark

Bark is Lorrie Moore's first short story collection in 16 years, containing eight stories that examine relationships, divorce, and middle age in contemporary America. The stories take place against the backdrop of post-9/11 political tensions and economic uncertainty. The characters navigate personal upheavals while attempting to maintain connections with others - divorced parents trying to date again, couples facing the end of their marriages, friends confronting illness and mortality. Moore's signature wit remains present throughout these narratives of life's difficulties. The collection centers on characters at crucial turning points in their lives, often focusing on the specific moments when relationships begin to crack or when understanding shifts. Each story functions as a self-contained piece while contributing to the book's larger exploration of human disconnection. This meditation on love and loss reveals how humor and pain often intertwine in modern American life. Through its varied perspectives on relationships, the collection examines how people cope with personal and social change in an increasingly complex world.

Readers found the short story collection uneven, with many noting it didn't match the quality of Moore's earlier works. Several reviews mentioned the stories felt rushed or incomplete. Positive reviews highlighted Moore's wordplay and dark humor, especially in "Debarking" and "Thank You For Having Me." Multiple readers praised her observations about aging and relationships. A Goodreads reviewer noted "she captures modern American anxiety perfectly." Common criticisms included forced political references, dated cultural touchstones, and overuse of puns. Several readers felt the stories lacked emotional resonance. One Amazon reviewer wrote "cleverness overtakes storytelling." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.3/5 (5,800+ ratings) Amazon: 3.4/5 (180+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.5/5 (300+ ratings) The New York Times reader comments were split, with frequent mentions that the collection feels transitional rather than fully realized. Book club discussions often focused on whether Moore's signature style had become self-conscious.

Birds of America - Moore's earlier collection shares the same incisive examination of relationships and loss through interconnected stories about characters facing personal upheavals.

Bobcat and Other Stories by Rebecca Lee These stories explore modern relationships and social dynamics with a focus on educated professionals navigating personal crises.

Tenth of December by George Saunders The collection combines dark humor with social commentary while depicting characters at crucial life moments.

What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver These minimalist stories capture the quiet desperation of relationships breaking down and people struggling to connect.

You Think It, I'll Say It by Curtis Sittenfeld The stories examine contemporary American life through characters dealing with divorce, social status, and shifting relationships in middle age.

🔹 Moore pioneered a unique style of using second-person narration in short fiction, particularly notable in her earlier collection "Self-Help" (1985), which influenced a generation of writers. 🔹 "Bark" was released in 2014 after a 15-year gap following her previous short story collection, making it one of the most anticipated literary releases of that year. 🔹 The title "Bark" plays on multiple meanings - both the protective covering of trees and the sound dogs make - reflecting the book's themes of defensive layers and attempts at communication. 🔹 The book's Midwest setting draws from Moore's experiences as a long-time professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she taught creative writing for 30 years. 🔹 The story "Debarking" from this collection was first published in The New Yorker and was selected for "The Best American Short Stories 2004" before being included in "Bark."