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Our Strangers

Stories

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

Only available at independent bookstores and libraries, by request of the author.

From one of the most accomplished writers of our time comes another brilliant collection of short fiction. Artful, deft, and inventive; Lydia Davis' newest collection of stories delves into topics ranging from marriage to tiny insects. These stories are a celebration of language and careful observation that once again confirms Davis' sincere love and mastery of the form.

Reviews

"An overflowing treasure chest of jewel-like stories... A collection that you'll want to keep on your bedside table by one of America's most original short story writers." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"This lovely collection, which will be available only in libraries and independent bookstores... invites readers to revel in the magic of the mundane... Throughout, Davis revels in the glory of well-wrought details. These spot-on depictions of life's low-key moments are best savored in small bursts." —Publishers Weekly

"In Our Strangers, Davis—the reigning queen of flash fiction—does what Davis does best, compiling another collection of sweet, short, punch-to-the-heart pieces of writing. Often only one paragraph in length, or a couple lines of dialogue, these stories tell of mundanity with a poet's eye for meaning." —Julia Hass, Literary Hub

"Davis returns with a story collection written with her characteristic wit and dazzling prose. In an extremely badass move against the corporate monopoly on bookselling, Davis will not be selling the book via Amazon, releasing it only in physical bookshops and select online outlets such as Bookshop.org." —The Millions

"Our Strangers is an embarrassment of riches... It mines everyday life for its humor and pathos, thrilling to the use of language and taking pleasure in the ridiculous and arbitrary." —Rebecca Foster, Shelf Awareness

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    • Publisher's Weekly

      July 10, 2023
      Translator and essayist Davis (Essays One and Two) returns to fiction with this lovely collection, which will be available only in libraries and independent bookstores. It combines super-short pieces—some could be jokes, or poems, even haiku; some have titles nearly as long as the stories themselves—with longer stories, and invites readers to revel in the magic of the mundane. The narrator of the devastating yet hilarious “A Mother’s Devotion” considers the conceit implied in the title: “I’d sacrifice my right arm to see him well and happy. Well, maybe not my right arm, but certainly my left.” A series titled “Claim to Fame” identifies the narrator’s connections to various historical figures (“Karl Marx and my father both had daughters. Both daughters grew up to become translators. Both translated Gustave Flaubert’s Madame Bovary,” reads the entirety of one). In the wonderful “Winter Letter,” a woman writes to her grown children about a trip she and her husband took to Texas, where she encounters old friends, books, and wildlife. Throughout, Davis revels in the glory of well-wrought details. These spot-on depictions of life’s low-key moments are best savored in small bursts.

Formats

  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

Languages

  • English

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