Since its inception in 1915, the Best American series has become the premier annual showcase for the country's finest short fiction and nonfiction....
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reviews
Aug 05, 2011
E L Doctorow's "Baby Wilson" is my favorite of the collection. It is amusing and absurd. Karen and the narrator are a regular Bonnie and Clyde, but family-style.
Mona Simpson's "Coins" is an engaging view of wealthy Beverly Hills from the perspective of a Filipino babysitter.
Jess Row's "Heaven Lake" is a saddening story from the perspective of a Chinese immigrant living in the frightening New York of the early 1990s.
"Shamengwa" is a Native American story More...
Mona Simpson's "Coins" is an engaging view of wealthy Beverly Hills from the perspective of a Filipino babysitter.
Jess Row's "Heaven Lake" is a saddening story from the perspective of a Chinese immigrant living in the frightening New York of the early 1990s.
"Shamengwa" is a Native American story More...
Nov 12, 2011
Kyle
rated it: 
The Best American Short Stories 2003 deserves its 5 star rating. Here are three stories that reason why.
WHY THE SKY TURNS RED WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN
Set in the future when androids, which are robots that have an entirely human appearance, can be bought, sold, and upgraded at the hospital, a husband is caught in a dilemma that concerns his son, and must make a life changing choice.
The conflict between characters is dynamic; no character remains static. The setting i More...
WHY THE SKY TURNS RED WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN
Set in the future when androids, which are robots that have an entirely human appearance, can be bought, sold, and upgraded at the hospital, a husband is caught in a dilemma that concerns his son, and must make a life changing choice.
The conflict between characters is dynamic; no character remains static. The setting i More...
May 19, 2011
Lacey
rated it: 
So, seeing as these are "the best" American short stories of 2003, I don't really feel right about dissing any of them. Because even the ones that I didn't like, I could trust the compilers of this collection enough to know they were still quality stories. I liked the diversity of voices, although it felt a little token-ish (here's a story about a Native American, here's a story about a Chinese-American, here's a story about an African American . . .). A few of my thoughts on specific
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Jun 13, 2011
Krystl
rated it: 
I almost feel like you had to be an older women to be interested in these stories. All but 2 were about kids and babies, blech. Most of them were slow moving and boring and too real life. Which I'm living, I don't need to read (listen) about it.
I think the only story I found remotely interesting was one about a reservation and a fiddle that traveled through it and the stories it was involved in. Other than that, I found almost all of them to either be annoying or completely boring (most of More...
I think the only story I found remotely interesting was one about a reservation and a fiddle that traveled through it and the stories it was involved in. Other than that, I found almost all of them to either be annoying or completely boring (most of More...
Nov 22, 2009
Cv
rated it: 
This is an excellent collection - one of the best of the series. Several of the stories really stood out:
Baby Wilson by E.L. Doctorow
Shamengwa by Louise Erdrich
Space by Kevin Brockmeier
Heaven Lake by Jess Row
Coins by Mona Simpson
These are some of the best short stories around. The collection is noted for its clear, unique voices, simple ideas, and well-crafted narratives.
Baby Wilson by E.L. Doctorow
Shamengwa by Louise Erdrich
Space by Kevin Brockmeier
Heaven Lake by Jess Row
Coins by Mona Simpson
These are some of the best short stories around. The collection is noted for its clear, unique voices, simple ideas, and well-crafted narratives.
Nov 28, 2011
Lisa
rated it:
I rarely read short story collections but read this as it was a book club choice. I believe I will get this title each year it is printed. I enjoyed the short reading time each night as well as enjoying the diversity of the stories. The book discussion was good because we all had differing opinions about each story. Almost every story was either "weird" or "bizarre" but in a good and entertaining way.
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Feb 10, 2011
elle
rated it:
I love short stories and I continue to enjoy these collections. I always pick them up 3-4 years after they are published, at least, but I think they're still worth reading, which says something about their quality.
May 29, 2009
Ruth
rated it:
read with Book group on a wonderful weekend get-a-way....we all read some stories in common...hung out...read...ate...talked..fun. But I don't remember any single story!
Aug 27, 2009
David
rated it:
not nearly as strong as some of the other years- 2001 for example (containing the ever-memorable "Secrets of Bats" by Jess Row
Apr 10, 2009
The Best American Short Stories 2003 (The Best American Series) by Walter Mosley (2003)
Feb 01, 2010
Samantha
rated it: 
The only story worth reading in this anthology is THE SHELL COLLECTOR by Anthony Doerr.
Jan 20, 2011
Ursula
rated it:
Although the second half of the book is forgettable and awful, the first half is mostly solid. The best stories are "Kavita through Glass," "Ghost Knife," and "Moriya." ZZ Packer and Mary Yukari's stories were pretty good as well. Many reviews claimed that "The Shell Collector" was the best story in the book, but I actually found it boring and laborious. Many stories were dull including Adam Haslett's Kevin Brockmeier's and Dorothy Allison's. I appreciated
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Aug 17, 2011
Sterlingcindysu
rated it:
I could tell that this selection had been edited by a man. True, there are women writers, but the voice as a whole is violent, aggressive and depressing. 2002 must have been a sad year if these were the "best" short stories. The subject matter of most weren't my cup of tea either. Perhaps the wrong book to read in the summer.
Sep 15, 2007
Cecilia
rated it:
I’ve never been one for short stories, but I thoroughly enjoyed this collection. I kind of like the way that these stories are snapshots into the lives of characters I might not otherwise see. The writing was superb and all the tales were engaging.
Apr 17, 2010
Claire
rated it:
All good stories. I think I liked the ones in the 2008 collection a little better -- they stick more in my mind, at least. But again, completely worth it if only for the contributors' notes in the back, explaining how the story came about.
Jul 04, 2007
What is the criteria for "The Best" short stories?
The O.Henry winner stories were much more interesting and they still not claim as the best.
The O.Henry winner stories were much more interesting and they still not claim as the best.
Apr 12, 2009
Nan
rated it:
What an amazing range of short stories. Fiction is where it's at. And Mosley picked some of the best.
Sep 25, 2007
Holly
rated it:
Dean Paschal's 'Moriya' saved this sucker from one star. Such a gem in such a sea of... crud.
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