Lisa Koger

Major Works

Books:

• Farlanburg Stories. New York: Norton, 1990.
• "Writing in the Smokehouse." The Confidence Woman. Atlanta: Longstreet Press, 1991

Periodicals:

• "Baby Luv." Kennesaw Review 1:1 (Fall 1987).
• "Bypass." Kennesaw Review 1:1 (Fall 1987).
• Charleston Gazette, August 26, 1990.
• "The Druther Stage." South Carolina Review (1992).
• "A Heritage of Faith." Vista 80:16 (20 April 1986).
• "I Lived to Die." Sunday Digest (27 August 1989).
• Journal and Constitution (Atlanta), July 15, 1990.
• "The June Woman." Seventeen (June 1985).
• Knoxville News Sentinel, June 17, 1979.
• Lexington Herald-Leader, October 7, 1990.
• "Monster Fur." Highlights for Children 44:2 (February 1989).
• Newsday, August 12, 1990.
• New York Times Book Review, August 19, 1990.
• "Nursing Home Life Satisfaction and Activity Participation: Effect of a Resident-Written Magazine." Research on Aging: A Quarterly of Social Gerontology 2:1 (March 1980).
• "Ollie's Gate." Groundswell 4:1 (1990).
• Philadelphia Inquirer, July 22, 1990.
• "Rabbit in the Foot." Chattachoochee Review 10:3 (Spring 1990).
• "The Retirement Party." Ploughshares 16:1 (Spring/Summer 1990).
• "Structural Changes." New Myths/MSS 1:1 (Fall 1990).
• Tribune Books (Chicago), July 29, 1990.

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Biography of Lisa Koger

Lisa Jan Koger was born in Elyria, Ohio, on September 6, 1953.  Koger is the  daughter of Eldred and Anne Vannoy Jones. The family  moved to West Virginia where  Koger was raised.   Lisa Koger  received a B.S. W. degree  from West Virginia University, graduating magna cum laude,  in 1974.   While attending West Virginia University, Koger met her soon-to-be husband, Jerry L. Koger.  They were married  on December 28, 1974, and now  have two sons, Saxon Elias and Silas Winfield.  Koger also received degrees from the University of Tennessee (M. S. ) in 1979 and the University of Iowa (M. F. A.) in 1989.

In 1990 Lisa Koger's book of short stories called Farlanburg Stories was published by Norton.  Koger moved to  Starkville, Mississippi, where in 1990 she was a visiting lecturer in fiction and poetry writing.  Lisa Koger, her husband and their two children are currently living in Somerset, Kentucky, where Jerry  Koger is an engineer in Kentucky, and Lisa Koger is a free-lance writer.

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A Review of Farlanburg Stories
by Heather (SHS)

Farlanburg Stories consists of ten short stories which all take place in a little town called Farlanburg.  Lisa Koger has a quite unique way of writing.  She writes with such detail that  the stories  come to life.  There are specifically two stories that stand out to me: "Baby Luv" and "Extended Learning."    "Baby Luv" is a rather interesting story.  It is set in Farlanburg, as I mentioned earlier.  This particular story is about a baby that is very sick throughout its whole life. The doctors can not seem to figure out what is wrong with the small child.  There is only one thing the mother and father can do and that is to stay by their baby's side and wait for the best or worst that could happen.  This story is a rather chilling and sad story; it will send chills up your spine.

"Extended Learning" has a completely different feeling to it.  This story is about a son that is going home to see his mother.  The mother, Della, is very much excited about her son coming home, for this visit will give her a chance to visit with her grandson, T. Barry.  T. Barry is the reason Della cancels her plans to teach Vacation Bible School.  Della wants to be able to spend time with her grandson.  Della becomes disappointed when T. Barry does not seem interested in outdoor activities.  T. Barry's parents are successful and highly educated adults; they are molding T.Barry into a child who is mindful of his own education and success. T. Barry's mother, Marjorie, comments on T. Barry: "At home, he'd much rather be inside reading or fooling with his computer than outside with other kids playing in the street."(7)  Koger's point is  that T. Barry does not have a normal childhood and he lacks social interaction with other children.  Della finally uses money to bribe T. Barry into going on a nature hike..  Della quickly realizes how empty and superficial her son's and grandson's lives are.

According to Stollger, Lisa Koger "writes fiction which gives a voice to a long-neglected group: the Appalachian middle class."  Koger's stories use classic themes in which the  characters may be funny or sympathetic.  Her stories often deal with a sense of restriction or imprisonment which the characters feel and which has been imposed upon them by the American society.  Unfulfilled dreams are dealt with by Koger sympathically yet often humorously.  I thoroughly enjoyed Farlanburg Stories.

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Related Websites

A brief biography of Lisa Koger and a  review of  Structural Changes  from  Farlanburg Stories.

The Gale Literary Database provides information about Lisa Koger.

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Bibliography

Koger, Lisa. Farlanburg Stories. New York. W.W. Norton and Company, 1990.

Stollger, Kristina. " Lisa Koger."  KYLIT-A site devoted to Kentucky Writers.  Ed. University of Kentucky English Department.  30 September 1997. 2 December 2002. <http://www.english.eku.edu/SERVICES/KYLIT/KOGER.HTM>

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