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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
I'm a huge Lydia Davis fan, but this volume didn't impress me quite as much as the three other short story collections from her that I've read. Among the best stories here are the two mock case studies, in which she allows incongruity, sententiousness, and the one-liner, all of which she's shown to brilliant effect in previous collections of short shorts, to develop into deceptively simple but richer long narratives. Now, having said that, I also have to say that I don't support the presumption that a longer story must necessarily be better/richer/whatever than a short one, and I hate the kind of stylistic conservatism that that kind of presumption shows: Davis has written plenty of one-sentence stories that can blow away other writers' 6K-10K-word masterpieces. But those stories are in her other collections. Still, I love her more than turtles.
funny
reflective
fast-paced
slow-paced
this was fine. an interesting experiment in language, but less than satisfying in story to me.
funny
informative
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Not all of it landed with me, but when it did it was like an electrical current.
Favorite stories:
Kafka Cooks Dinner
Grammar Questions
We Miss You: A Study of Get-Well Letters from a Class of Fourth-Graders
Favorite stories:
Kafka Cooks Dinner
Grammar Questions
We Miss You: A Study of Get-Well Letters from a Class of Fourth-Graders
I'm really just not one for post modern and this collection just totally blew my mind - and not in a good way. I couldn't follow anything :/
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Sometimes I am terribly sad when I think of all of the wonderful authors I will never get to experience. On the other hand, sometimes I do:) I am absolutely blown away by this author who is billed as "telling rule-breaking stories" and she actually delivers. Fabulous.