A Gate at the Stairs

Though she mostly writes short fiction, Lorrie Moore is one of the greatest living writers I've come across. This might be her best work, though I'm also partial to “Anagrams.”

Like the rest of Moore's work, you'll find quirky characters, a sharp wit, and excellent prose. Tassie is an endearing character even though she is awkward, introverted, and often says the wrong thing. Actually, that's part of her charm.

The novel hits on a number of hot-button topics, including racism, mortality, government bureaucracy, and adoption, but because Tassie is so innocent and charming, seeing these issues through her eyes allows the novel to explore those topics without getting too dark or pedantic.

Some people find Moore's writing a bit pretentious, but this is way more grounded than something like “Anagrams.” Moore's strength is in creating characters we want to spend time with and describing the mundane in ways that instill a sense of beauty. At times heartbreaking, at other times hilarious, I recommend this to anyone who is into character-based fiction or appreciates artistic prose.