We Loved the World But Could Not Stay - by Gary Lippman (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

"I write stories that are only one sentence long," I explain to you as I plant this book like a time-bomb in your public library, "because imperfection is easier to tolerate in small doses."

With unparalleled wit and wisdom, Gary Lippman's We Loved the World But Could Not Stay is a collection of intricately constructed single-sentence stories that chronicles the outrageous and the everyday with insight and empathy, all while reimagining and reorganizing the very concept of the story and the basic building blocks of our language.

Review Quotes

"We Loved the World But Could Not Stay: Gary Lippman's
title alone feeds a reader with twenty-three times more intrigue than most of the recent
novels in a big city bookstore combined.
And just wait until you pilot your brain boat into these uncharted
literary waters. Inflate your life vest,
say a little prayer, and enjoy the ride."

-Tom Robbins, Even Cowgirls Get the Blues

"A thing of beauty, this book. The concern might be that in setting
such a
rigid and economic boundary, a limiting might occur. The opposite is
true for Gary Lippman. In his constraint he has found an explosive
creativity and a greater imagination that certainly doesn't disappoint.
Wondrous stuff."

-Matthew Rhys, actor, The Americans and Perry Mason

"I love short stories and these are the shortest ones I've
ever read. And yet they have all the
elements of my favorite shorts-amazing characters, compelling situations and
beautiful cliffhangers."

--Laurie Anderson, multi-media artist

About the Author

Born and raised in New Jersey, Gary Lippman received a law degree from Northwestern University and has worked with New York's Innocence Project. Lippman's play Paradox Lost ran off Broadway for a month in 2001 and his writing has been published in The New York Times, The Paris Review, VICE, Fodors, and more. Having lived in Illinois, Florida, California, and France, Lippman can now be found in what used to be called "Fun City" with his imaginary French bulldog, his very real Hungarian wife, and a whenever-he's-inclined-to-visit adult son.