Keywords Born in 1964 Writers, Fiction

Alligator, Moore's first novel, was published in 2005 and was also nominated for the Giller Prize. In 2006, the novel won the Commonwealth Writers Prize for the Caribbean and Canada region. Once again, Moore combines the seemingly arbitrary with physical and emotional extremes to produce a compelling and complete rendering of contemporary St John's and its inhabitants. The multiple plot-lines tell the stories of a rebellious teenager, a young hotdog vendor, a Russian castaway, a dying filmmaker, and several others. Although Alligator is often described as a collection of interconnected tales, what is so remarkable about this novel is the lack of connection between these characters, despite countless opportunities for meaningful relationships. The title reflects the predatory nature, fierce territoriality, and cold reptilian indifference of characters who take advantage of each other through violence and theft or heartlessly dismiss one another. Alligator is perhaps the first presentation of St John's as a metropolis rather than the quirky capital of a quaint province. Though attempts are made by several of its characters to foster the legendary Newfoundland neighbourliness, Alligator proves that the isolation and alienation that plague so many city dwellers can also be found in "Canada's friendliest province."

Author PAUL CHAFE

Links to Other Sites
Lisa Moore
Check out this interview with novelist and Giller nominee Lisa Moore. A CBC website.

Lisa Moore
A profile of Canadian author Lisa Moore. From the Canada Council for the Arts.