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McSweeney's Issue 39 (McSweeney's Quarterly Concern #39)
by
Dave Eggers ,
Dave Eggers
Each issue of the quarterly is completely redesigned. There have been hardcovers and paperbacks, an issue with two spines, an issue with a magnetic binding, an issue that looked like a bundle of junk mail, and an issue that looked like a sweaty human head. McSweeney’s has won multiple literary awards, including two National Magazine Awards for fiction, and has had numerous
...moreHardcover, 300 pages
Published
December 27th 2011
by McSweeney's
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McSweeney's 39 is handsome hard bound volume with some great inserts of photos of people running in various settings by former MTV VJay Tabitha Soren (and current wife of Michael Lewis). However, the real attraction of this volume is that it contained stories by some of my favorite contemporary writers and more than a few surprises. I sold on the promise of a new Karen Sisco (from Out of Sight) story, "Chick Killer," from Elmore Leonard, fiction from Spokane native Jess Walter, "Anything Helps,"...more
I've been reading the flagship quarterly from McSweeney's religiously for nine years. Given everything I have missed, it's amazing to me that I haven't missed a single issue in nearly a decade, that I continue to pack and unpack them for the purpose of accompanying me in a string of apartments. Issue 39 is a reminder of why I attach such fetishistic value to these books.
This issue is divided fairly evenly between fiction and non-fiction, the non-fiction representing a smattering of speeches, ess...more
This issue is divided fairly evenly between fiction and non-fiction, the non-fiction representing a smattering of speeches, ess...more
This was the first McSweeney's I've read, and while the nonfiction was uniformly great, the fiction was, well, up and down. The Elmore Leonard story was, of course, awesome, and "Anything Helps" and the last two stories were also great. From there things went a little downhill to some stuff that I liked while I was reading it but had issues with as soon as I'd start to think about it, and one piece that I absolutely hated. (I may decide to write about that last one mentioned at lenght someday.)
E...more
E...more
Every year, I attend the Selected Shorts story readings at the Getty. At the end of the program, the audience is asked to fill out comment cards and suggest stories for future readings. This year, I'll be ready with my recommendations from McSweeney's 39.
This is a really good, strong collection. Just about everything was good, but here are my particular favorites:
--Carlos the Impossible, by J.T.K. Belle (made me a little misty-eyed at the end)
--Fifty Ways to Eat Your Lover, by Amelia Gray
--They...more
This is a really good, strong collection. Just about everything was good, but here are my particular favorites:
--Carlos the Impossible, by J.T.K. Belle (made me a little misty-eyed at the end)
--Fifty Ways to Eat Your Lover, by Amelia Gray
--They...more
this issue of mcsweeneys is more notable for its non-fiction than fiction, in particular for the timely inclusion of a long essay from vaclav havel so close to the great man's passing. that and the piece about reptile smugglers and con men in uganda were the most compelling. among the fiction, 'louella tarantula' (about a son losing his mother to cancer, though also about a spider) had personal resonance but probably 'secret language' and 'giant of the sea' were probably favorites.
There are some quality pieces in this issue of McSweeney's Quarterly. Tom Barbash on the Shah. Roberto Bolaño poem, "The Neochileans." Yannick Murphy - Secret Language. Amelia Gray's "Fifty Ways to Eat Your Lover" is absolutely magnificent. Elmore Leonard - Chick Killer is also good. And, finally, J.T.K. Belle's fantastic bull-fighting story, "Carlos the Impossible."
This issue is worth your time and money.
This issue is worth your time and money.
A solid literary issue with some excellent nonfiction, "The Right-hand Man to the Shah of Iran", "Benjamin Bucks" on Ugandan con men, and Vaclav Havel's "Politics and Conscience" in particular. "Bumsters", "They All Stand Up and Sing", "Secret Language", "Giant of the Sea", and "Carlos the Impossible" were standout fiction pieces.
Benjamin Bucks by Jennie Erin Smith, The Shah's Man (Tom Barbash, non-fiction about the last Shah's page) and Vaclac Havel's address stood out for me.
This time there are two mini foto album inserts with nice images to spice things up.
This time there are two mini foto album inserts with nice images to spice things up.
It's always great to read a Havel piece. I also loved Benjamin Weissman’s Louella Tarantula so much. It's the type of language that sounds best read aloud.
Forgot everything except Bolano and Abi Maxwell.
Some strong stuff toward the end, especially "Carlos the Impossible" by J.T.K. Belles. Superb writing.
I enjoyed the Havel essay and the nonfiction work by Tom Babash, but the real gems for me were the short stories at the end of the book. I sobbed a bit during "Anything Helps" by Jess Walter, smiled a whole lot through "Louella Tarantula" by Benjamin Weissman, and rooted for the bull (and was ultimately satisfied) in J. T. K. Belle's "Carlos The Impossible." Another great issue, McSweeny's...I'll be renewing my subscription!
these books are always a good read...thanks Luke.
Nice solid issue of McSweeney's, I liked the transition for nonfiction/reportage to fiction as the issue progressed. And, even better, this is the second straight issue of the quarterly without problems with the binding.
This is great. MSweeney's compiles the greatest short stories AND thoughtprovoking essays. Must read for any literary enthusiasts.
i don't know why, but it wasn't my favorite issues...some issues just grab me and i pore over them while some feel like more of a struggle.
Anything Helps
Secret Language
Secret Language
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Dave Eggers is the author of six previous books, including his most recent, A Hologram for the King, about a struggling businessman pursuing a last-ditch attempt to stave off foreclosure, pay his daughter's college tuition, and finally do something great. In this novel the author takes us around the world to show how one man fights to hold himself and his splintering family together in the face of...more
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