Today, I started reading Lorrie Moore's latest novel; I Am Homeless If This Is Not My Home. It's her first book since A Gate at the Stairs, and it's a bold and contemplative exploration of love, death, passion, and grief. Moore examines what it means to be haunted by the past in terms of history and the human heart.
Is Life a Baseball Game?
Lorrie Moore's Metaphor Explains Life as Baseball
Estimated reading time: 1 minute, 36 seconds
On Thursday, I began reading Lorrie Moore‘s “I Am Homeless If This Is Not My Home” book. While reading, I came across an interesting observation by one of the characters, Finn, about the connection between baseball and life.
“Yeah, baseball is really the game that tells you what life is going to be: fastballs, errors, wild pitching, clutch hits, strike-outs, not getting to first base, things coming in from left field. Near misses. And that’s just the romance part.”
Ms. Moore has a distinctive and enchanting writing style. She employs clever wordplay, humor, and wisdom to make the story captivating, and her use of a baseball metaphor is an outstanding illustration of this.
I never participated in any organized sports. One time in sixth grade, during an intramural game in Physical Education class, my classmates skipped over me when it was my turn to bat. They knew I couldn’t hit the ball. Despite this, Finn’s observation still resonated with me as a widow.
Baseball presents a unique perspective on life through its many metaphors. The game may end, but there is always another one to look forward to until the season concludes. Even when the season ends, there is always next year, offering us hope and a chance to move forward despite our team’s loss. I find comfort in knowing that Jan’s spirit will guide me into the future and that I can always look forward to tomorrow as a new opportunity.
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