A Gate at the Stairs

In her first novel in over a decade, Lorrie Moore explores the themes of anxiety, disconnection, and love in post-9/11 America. The story follows 20-year-old Tassie Keltjin, a college student from a Midwestern farming family, who takes a part-time nanny position that leads her into a complex relationship with a glamorous family and their newly adopted daughter. As she becomes embroiled in their lives, Tassie grapples with the changes at home and her own evolving sense of self amidst the backdrop of impending war and personal upheaval. This lyrical and poignant novel captures the intricacies of human vulnerability and transformation.