Can't and Won't: Stories

Can't and Won't: Stories by Lydia Davis

This collection of short stories includes some that last just a page and others that go on. Some are based on spam email. Others arose out of the obituaries. There are a few that deal with the paralysis of making decisions. There is a very long one about receiving a grant. Will that allow the recipient to leave teaching? Well, maybe not. How will it change how the author interacts with people? There are various diversions to discuss how a teacher interacts with her class and the fear of writing on the blackboard. Then it punches forward to the thank you note to the foundation - that is overly analyzed and never sent. The style of the stories is excellent with skill taken to turn even the most mundane into a well-hewed message.