11 QUESTIONS
with Lorrie Moore
Margaret Ayer Barnes won the 1931 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for her novel, Years of Grace. How does that make you feel?
Ignorant.
Where does wisdom come from?
The back molars. Coursing blood and donated blood. Full-throated singing. Sometimes simple chat done while sipping strong coffee will offer pearls. Horizontal positions at dawn.
Have you ever met anybody you would describe as a fine fellow in the grass?
Now we are really in Stephen Sondheim country. Shall I say "bet your ass"?
Would you rather have more enemies than friends, or vice versa?
I would rather have much less vice but more versa. The category of "enemies" overwhelms my thinking.
Is the heart really a lonely hunter?
Yes. And not a great shot either.
Is there a reason why you might be buried sitting up?
Better for shouting "help" in case a mistake has been made.
There is a hummingbird named after Sappho. What do you think it looks like?
Her. Sort of. From a certain angle.
Why do we welcome strange and terrible events, but despise comforts?
I have no idea. I welcome little and despise little. These questions are making me feel like a stranger in a strange land. I love comforts. And want them for everyone so my own can be experienced with a minimum of guilt. I suppose there are others who know precisely what to do during strange and terrible events, whether it is making money from chaos, or performing heroically and self-sacrificially. But this is not the norm.
Is there a substitute for hard work?
Unfortunately, almost always.
Does your body have to use the words as well as you vocally use the words?
It's good to get technical assistance from all sources.
Do you believe that somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be discovered?
Yes! I do! This is a beautiful thought.