The Collected Stories of Lydia Davis

by Lydia Davis
The Collected Stories of Lydia Davis cover
Good Books rating 4.33
Short Story Collections
Technical:
  • ID: 685
  • Added: 2025-09-19
  • Updated: 2025-09-20
  • ISBN: 9780241145043
  • Publisher: Penguin UK
  • Published: 2010-08-05
  • Formats: 24
  • Reviews: 3
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Waterstones
Paperback • £12.99

Lydia Davis is renowned for her ability to capture the human mind in overdrive with her emotionally acute and formally inventive short stories. This landmark collection spans three decades of her work, showcasing her distinctive voice and style. /n/n Celebrated by authors like Ali Smith, Dave Eggers, and Jonathan Franzen, Davis's stories have been described as 'one of the great, strange American literary contributions' by James Wood in the New Yorker. This collection offers a comprehensive look at her body of work, which is unique in American writing.

Reviews
Greene & Heaton · 2010-08-30
Loved 4.50

The reviewer loves these stories, describing the volume as rich and extraordinary. Davis is praised as a high priestess of minimalist fiction.

The reviewer from Greene & Heaton expresses a deep appreciation for Davis' stories, describing the collection as a rich and extraordinary volume. They highlight Davis' mastery of minimalist fiction, praising her ability to convey profound ideas with simplicity and elegance. The reviewer loves the collection, finding it deeply involving and emotionally resonant. They particularly admire Davis' unique voice and her ability to capture the nuances of human experience in concise yet powerful narratives.

Quick quotes

    A rich volume, more than 700 pages long and a deeply involving, extraordinary book.

    I loved these stories.

    Davis is a high priestess of the minimalist fiction.

PopMatters · 2010-01-13
Engaging 4.00

The collection offers a comprehensive look at Davis' career, showcasing her unique wit and wordplay. The stories are engaging and thought-provoking, though some may find the minimalist style challenging.

PopMatters highlights how this collection provides a unique survey of Lydia Davis' entire career, allowing readers to appreciate her distinctive blend of wit and wordplay. The reviewer finds the stories deeply engaging and thought-provoking, praising Davis' ability to capture complex emotions and ideas in concise forms. However, they acknowledge that the minimalist style might not appeal to everyone, as some stories can feel sparse or absurdist. Overall, the collection is seen as a rich and rewarding read for those willing to engage with its unique approach.

Quick quotes

    It offers a unique survey of the writer's entire career, allowing readers to become acquainted with Davis' blend of wit and wordplay.

    The stories are deeply engaging and thought-provoking.

    Davis' ability to capture complex emotions and ideas in concise forms is praiseworthy.

Oprah.com · 2009-09-23
Haunting 4.50

The collection is haunting and beautiful, focusing on the less pretty parts of love. It is described as a superb slice of writing.

Oprah.com describes the collection as haunting and beautiful, highlighting Davis' ability to explore the less pretty parts of love with sensitivity and depth. The reviewer praises the collection as a superb slice of writing, noting its haunting quality and emotional resonance. They appreciate Davis' unique perspective and her ability to capture the complexities of human relationships in her stories. Overall, the collection is seen as a deeply moving and thought-provoking read.

Quick quotes

    Haunting fiction, a beautiful book about the less pretty parts of love.

    Oprah's book-club pick and more superb slices of writing.

    A deeply moving and thought-provoking read.

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