About this title: In her fourth collection, Davis extends her reach as never before in stories that take every form from sociological studies to concise poems. No two of these fictions are alike, yet Davis rearranges readers' view of the world by looking beyond preconceptions to reveal a bizarre truth.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Edition: 1st
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Date Published: 2007-05-15
ISBN-13:9780374281731ISBN:0374281734
Description: Like New. May be shiny, in some instances dust jackets are not included, no missing pages, no damage to binding, may have a remainder mark. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Date Published: 2007-05-15
ISBN-13:9780374281731ISBN:0374281734
Description: New. New-Fast shipping from trusted wholesaler with many exclusive publisher contracts. May have slight edge wear from being on the shelf. May have remainder mark. read more
Edition: First Edition; First Printing
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, New York
Date Published: 2007
ISBN-13:9780374281731ISBN:0374281734
Description: Near Fine. 9780374281731. A few very small/tiny bumps and taps.; Excellent, unread copy of the Uncorrected Proofs.; #AA219. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Date Published: 2007
ISBN-13:9780374281731ISBN:0374281734
Description: Good. Used Condition-GOOD can be a well cared for Book that is in great condition to a Book that may show some signs of wear. GOOD Books sometimes are permanently marked; have some spine or page creases; exibit signs of aging or an ExLibrary copy. ** Sometimes grease pencil or permanent marking on cover. May contain limited notes and or highlighting. 100% Satisfaction guaranteed on all purchases. ** SHIPS FROM USA-Domestic Delivery takes 5-14 days ** read more
Description: Satisfaction Guaranteed. Shipped quickly. 2007. Paperback. 1st Ed. Used, very good. Very good overall with light to moderate wear. No dust jacket. read more
"This was my first introduction to Davis, and I was entranced. She does post-modern short-short in a way that actually is innovative, not just "unique". The one or two line stories (more like poems, I suppose) were among my favorites, along with "Cape Cod Diary." The point, as I see it, has nothing to do with (lack of ) plot or character development, but with creating evocative renderings of moments, colors ("truths"). The language is clean and direct without being cold. Some of the longer stories, particularly "Helen and Vi," drag past the point of interest, but this collection is generally strong and refreshing."
"As far as irony goes, Lydia Davis really stretches the boundaries and makes us question what is a short story and what is...not. I really enjoyed the insights into human nature that she writes about in all her stories, even the shortest ones, but I'm particularly astounded at the way she bends genre conventions. Does a one-line short story really count as a short story ("Collaboration with Fly")? What about a story that's full of nonsense words, that doesn't have a story except in the footnotes ("Southward Bound, Reads Worstward Ho")?
"Southward Bound, Reads Worstward Ho" is particularly baffling to me because both the object in the contents of both stories in that story--the short story itself and the book the character reads--are utter nonsense, and it's actually the sub-story told within the footnotes that's actually a story. Similarly, "We Miss You: A Study of Get-Well Letters from a Class of Fourth Graders" is absolutely hilarious because of the coldly clinical and academic approach it takes to kids. They're just a bunch of kids! It's moments like these in Davis' stories--when she brings to light a common human absurdity--that make me enjoy her stories. Davis is actively aware of the components of a short story and seems to approach stories with the awareness that she's writing a story in mind, instead of trying to blend character with narration so that its verisimilitude shines through."
"I never write in books, never did in college, but I wrote in this one. I annotated the table of contents. Some of the stories in the collection were excellent, and halfway through the book I was ready to tear through the rest. But my attention flagged when the second half of the work didn't contain anything different from the first, anything improving upon the first portion. I will definitely come back to the half dozen I check-marked, but I'm not rushing out to buy the rest of the Lydia Davis catalog."
"I locked myself out of my new place for a few hours and while I waited I finished this (she's a weird writer so some stories/pages are only a few sentences long) - there's this one about all these letters by 4th graders that is just about the greatest thing I've ever read. Great, great stuff and highly recommended (even though her older stuff is even better, but most of this is alot funner I think...)"
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