Word Painting: Birds of America Reflection

As I read through Lorrie Moore’s Birds of America, the element of writing that struck me the most strongly was her use of details and imagery. Though her stories, for the most part, involve rather ordinary people in ordinary settings, Moore incorporates details in an unusual, often surprising, way, making her descriptions seem fresh and vivid and adding even more depth and realism to the everyday world she portrays.

Throughout the novel, Moore uses very specific, concrete words that leave strong images in the reader’s mind. Moore’s use of imagery includes descriptions of a baby’s abdomen being “stitched all the way across like a baseball” (240), a “tennis-in-Bermuda tan” (214), and a man’s face being “poppy-seeded with whiskers” (286). With these vivid images, Moore is able to convey a much stronger picture than abstract, general words would allow.

Moore also uses images in a fresh way that makes her comparisons even more striking. In one story, she talks about a “daughter’s frustrated artistic temperament bleeding daily on the carpet of their brains” (188). In another story, she compares Ireland to “a trip into the past of America,” reminiscing about “cow-country car trips through New England of Virginia – in those days before there were interstates, or plastic cups, or a populace depressed by asphalt and french fries” (30). With just a few well-placed, precise words, Moore is able to capture the essences of America’s past and present culture. Her images appeal to the reader’s senses, suggesting the sounds of cars speeding down the interstate and the crinkle of plastic cups, the salty smell and taste of french fries, and the sight of asphalt covering the ground, crowding out the dirt and the grass.  

Moore’s stories have reinforced in my mind the need for concrete imagery and details. Moore’s work has shown me examples of how one specific word can paint a vivid picture in the reader’s mind. Whenever I write, whether I’m writing fiction, nonfiction, or poetry, I need to remember the old adage that “a picture is worth a thousand words.” As Birds of America has shown me, one well-placed image can leave a more lasting impression on the reader’s mind than a thousand abstract words ever could.