Minot's writing has been described as minimalist, and has to some degree become a common stylistic pattern in modern American short fiction. Minot's style tends to bring the reader closer to the story while simultaneously making the reader feel extremely disconnected to its characters. Important acts are described as generalities, and even the most important events of life— such as death—are related in a detached manner. Thus Minot may in some manner be relating an initial sexual detachment to a subsequent detachment from all potentially emotional events.