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Can't and Won't

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( 5,308 ratings, 747 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Can't and Won't by Lydia Davis is a collection of short stories that blend wit and insight into the mundane details of daily life. The narratives explore human emotions and experiences with brevity and sharpness, showcasing Davis's unique ability to find the extraordinary in the ordinary. Her stories often touch on themes of communication, perception, and the intricacies of the human condition.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate short stories that are rich in wit and linguistic precision. The collection offers a unique blend of vignettes, philosophical musings, and everyday observations, appealing to readers who enjoy exploring the complexities of life through concise and thoughtful prose. Davis's style is perfect for those who find beauty in the ordinary and enjoy the subtleties of human experience.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

With titles like 'A Story of Stolen Salamis', 'Letters to a Frozen Pea Manufacturer', 'A Small Story About a Small Box of Chocolates', and 'Can't and Won't', this title features stories that illuminate particular moments in ordinary lives and find in them the humorous, the ironic and the surprising.

'Bloomington- Now that I have been here a while, I can say with confidence that I have never been here before.'

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A sparkling collection of pithy wit and formal inventiveness from one of the greatest short-story writers alive.

With titles like A Story of Stolen Salamis, Letters to a Frozen Pea Manufacturer, A Small Story About a Small Box of Chocolates, and Can't and Won't, the stories in this collection illuminate particular moments in ordinary lives and find in them the humorous, the ironic, and the surprising.

Above all, the stories revel in and grapple with the joys and constraints of languageβ€”achieving always the extraordinary, unmatched precision which makes Lydia Davis one of the greatest contemporary writers on the international stage.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Lydia Davis's collection, Can't and Won't, is celebrated for its revolutionary nature, offering a profound and moving assembly of stories. The brief yet impactful narratives are described as evocative gems, revealing new beauty and meaning with each reading. Critics commend Davis for her precise language and her ability to illuminate the often-overlooked abundance of seemingly insignificant details.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780241968086

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 26 March 2015

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Books Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 19.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 212g

Pages: 304

About the Author

Lydia Davis is the author of Collected Stories, one novel and six short story collections, the most recent of which was a finalist for the 2007 National Book Award. She is the recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship and was named a Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government for her fiction and her translations of modern writers, including Gustave Flaubert and Marcel Proust. She won the Man Booker International Prize in 2013.

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