Book Review: "Can’t and Won’t" by Lydia Davis

Lydia Davis is not an author I am overly familiar with though I have read some of her funny vignettes on the internet from time to time. When I saw this book for some reason, I became drawn in. I thought that perhaps I had read too many upsetting books all at once and needed something light-hearted to fix me especially given the fact I had previously in the last four months spent an entire week of one crying over a Franz Kafka novel whilst on the phone to my mother. This was much to the humour of my brother who often finds my emotional instability when reading absolutely hilarious. However, I am glad to say, I have moved away from the darkness for a while though I do not know for how long. This book definitely helped...

The collection opens with stories that introduce the dual focus of Davis's work: the close examination of the mundane and the forays into surreal or dreamlike experiences. The title Can’t and Won’t encapsulates themes of resistance, passivity, and defiance—an inability or unwillingness to change, act, or adapt. Many stories depict characters trapped in small frustrations or repetitive patterns, showing how these seemingly minor struggles can reflect larger existential dilemmas. It took me some time to figure out why the book is called Can't and Won't but it does seem like a fitting title for the anthology. Also, the fact that minor struggles reflect existential dilemmas is something that my life is all about - why would I not enjoy this book?

Several stories are based on or inspired by dreams, such as The Seals, where the narrator recounts an unsettling dream that blurs the boundary between reality and the subconscious. These pieces often feel fragmented or open-ended, encouraging readers to interpret their meaning. Dreams serve as a metaphor for unresolved fears, desires, and the randomness of life, adding a surreal quality to the collection. If I started writing about my dreams it would be a book of nightmares, but in this collection we get a mix of the unsettling stuff and the very surreal and funny stuff so I am contented. Normally, when dreams are written about the author tries to go into this deep and faux-profound rubbish. But Lydia Davis writes these weird dreams with such ease and brilliance that the reader can piece the rest together for themselves. She definitely leaves things open to interpretation and it might not be for everyone.

Davis's humor is often subtle and dark, emerging from seemingly banal scenarios. For instance, in Letter to a Frozen Peas Manufacturer, a complaint about uneven peas evolves into a poignant reflection on personal grief. Similarly, The Dog Hair captures the absurdity of an argument over dog hair as a symbol of deeper tensions in relationships. Davis’s wry observations highlight how everyday life can be both ridiculous and absurdly human. Letter to a Frozen Peas Manufacturer was one of my favourites in the anthology because it was so bizarre. The sheer absurdity of existence is explored through snapshots of life which may seem mundane but are expanded to include a whole host of different emotions.

Animals frequently appear in the collection as mirrors of human behaviour. For instance, The Dog Hair focuses on a dog’s shed fur as the catalyst for human conflict, while other stories depict animals as silent witnesses to the characters’ lives. The author uses animals to explore themes of connection, alienation, and the natural world’s indifference to human concerns. I like this symbolism of animals as it is not the usual thing that we see (for example: doves representing peace is a cliché that I understand but I wish was not used as often as it is). Animals being the 'silent witnesses' is something that I don't think a lot of other writers think of when using animals of any kind, especially the domesticated ones.

Beneath its surface simplicity, Can’t and Won’t grapples with profound questions about existence, time, and the human condition. The stories invite readers to reflect on the fleeting nature of life, the challenges of communication, and the meaning we assign to our actions. The author offers no easy answers, instead leaving her stories open-ended, prompting readers to confront their own uncertainties and contradictions. I honestly had to spend a while thinking about it afterwards. It is perhaps why this review took so long to release.