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Lydia Davis

Lydia Davis Quotes

Writer

Lydia Davis is an American writer born on July 15, 1947. Known for her concise and refined style, Davis is renowned for her short story writing. Her works have won numerous literary awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry and the MacArthur Genius Grant.

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Famous Lydia Davis Quotes

“I don't believe a good poet is very often deliberately obscure. A poet writes in a way necessary to him or her; the reader may then find the poem difficult.”

Way Writing Believe May Difficult Poet Reader Don't Believe Obscure

Author:Lydia Davis

“As the writer, I may choose to ignore the emotional heart of the matter, and focus on details, and trust that the heart of the matter will be conveyed nevertheless.”

Heart May Matter Focus Emotional Details Nevertheless

Author:Lydia Davis

“I often pose questions to myself and want the answers. The questions may be psychological or emotional. Or they may involve botany or [...] physiology. [...] I am very curious about strangers I observe - as in a bus line. I am very attached to finding out answers.”

Want May Lines Answers Emotional Findings Stranger Psychological Curious Bus Physiology Botany

Author:Lydia Davis

“Like a tropical storm, I, too, may one day become ‘better organized.”

May One Day Storm Organized Tropical

Book:Varieties of Disturbance: Stories

Source: Varieties of Disturbance: Stories

“No one is calling me. I can’t check the answering machine because I have been here all this time. If I go out, someone may call while I’m out. Then I can check the answering machine when I come back in.”

Ifs May Has Beens I Can Calling Machines Checks Answering Machines

Book:Varieties of Disturbance: Stories

Source: Varieties of Disturbance: Stories

About the Author

Born: July 15, 1947
Known for: Writer
Quotes: 67

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Books & Sources

Break It Down: StoriesRelated source material

Can't and Won'tRelated source material

Varieties of Disturbance: StoriesRelated source material

Almost No Memory: StoriesRelated source material

Almost No MemoryRelated source material

Break It DownRelated source material

Essays OneRelated source material

Samuel Johnson Is IndignantRelated source material

Samuel Johnson Is Indignant: StoriesRelated source material

The Collected Stories of Lydia Davis Vol.IRelated source material

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