The Best American series has been the premier annual showcase for the country's finest short fiction and nonfiction since 1915. Each volume's serie...
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reviews
May 01, 2011
Jessica
rated it: 
I saw this on a display rack at the library, Susan Orlean's name caught my eye because I really liked The Orchid Thief, and there turned out to be several writers in the collection whose names I recognized. I particularly wanted to read the Oliver Sacks essay, and was interested to check out the selections from David Foster Wallace, Jonathan Franzen, David Sedaris, and a few others. I enjoyed reading the collection, but it didn't really introduce me to any new writers I got especially excited ab
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Oct 01, 2010
Mandi
rated it: 
Overall, I wouldn’t recommend this collection. I like essays, but I didn’t like a majority of those selected for this compilation. I only continued to read because I fell in love with Andre Barrett’s “The Sea of Information” (originally published in The Kenyon Review), all about the love of research and reading nonfiction, which I completely related to and found her take fascinating. It’s placement as the second essay is what kept me reading.
What I didn’t like was that few really More...
What I didn’t like was that few really More...
Oct 03, 2011
Chris
rated it:
I figure these should all get three stars if they're doing their thing right. I heard Seth Meyers describe a perfect episode of SNL as one with 3 things that make you belly-laugh, three things you hate viscerally, and some filler. Essay collections are largely the same, and this one may actually be better than many.
As for the keepers:
"Consider the Lobster" by DFWallace is the "with us for years to come" winner here.
"Speak, Hoyt- More...
As for the keepers:
"Consider the Lobster" by DFWallace is the "with us for years to come" winner here.
"Speak, Hoyt- More...
Apr 01, 2008
Jocelyn
rated it:
I don't remember when I bought this, but a few nights ago I found it in my closet. I was going to give it away to the book store, but then I saw some people whose work I really wanted to read (David Wallace Foster, David Sedaris, and Jonathan Franzen).
It was a decent collection. And considering that I haven't read any essay collections quite like this, I was pleased.
Only a few of the essays really stood out to me, though. Joyas Voladoras by Brian Doyle was probably the first More...
It was a decent collection. And considering that I haven't read any essay collections quite like this, I was pleased.
Only a few of the essays really stood out to me, though. Joyas Voladoras by Brian Doyle was probably the first More...
Dec 01, 2007
Daniel
rated it: 
Once again I find that I enjoy these collections of essays much more than I have the collections of short fiction.
Of the collection, only a couple essays were skim-worthy. Most were quite enjoyable, and a few stood out as quite captivating. Notable were: "If Memory Doesn't Serve" (which had me grinning from ear to ear in familiarity); "Contributor's Note" (which I greatly enjoyed as being particularly clever); "My Friend Lodovico" (for it's passion for a More...
Of the collection, only a couple essays were skim-worthy. Most were quite enjoyable, and a few stood out as quite captivating. Notable were: "If Memory Doesn't Serve" (which had me grinning from ear to ear in familiarity); "Contributor's Note" (which I greatly enjoyed as being particularly clever); "My Friend Lodovico" (for it's passion for a More...
Sep 05, 2009
Becca
rated it: 
Brian Doyle's "Joyas Voladoras" may be the most beautiful three pages I have ever read.
Aug 31, 2008
Niña Jade
rated it:
came across this book in our library and borrowed it for a some light reading. The essays have catchy titles which made me want to read them right away. Some essays were quite an interesting read but were also a little too long for me to grasp what the main idea really is. There were a few quotable quotes as well. for example:
"[in a photo, the subjects are] plunged into an atmosphere of equivocal artificiality..."...oh well..just something for those who have a love for words =)
"[in a photo, the subjects are] plunged into an atmosphere of equivocal artificiality..."...oh well..just something for those who have a love for words =)
Sep 21, 2011
Anie
rated it:
Excellent. There are some truly fantastic essays in here (Oliver Sacks' "Speed" comes to mind especially), and the majority are worth reading through. Only one or two fell flat for me---a good thing.
Aug 02, 2008
Laura
rated it:
Ashleigh made me buy this book. Never been a big reader of essays or short stories but oh this book has some great ones which I really enjoyed! My favorite ever was Joyas Voladoras by Brian Doyle--gets me choked up and moved every time I read it. And some truly hilarious stories, like Dog Trouble by Cathleen Shine, and of course anything by David Sedaris.
Feb 19, 2008
Tricia
rated it:
Do you know about this series? (There is also BA Short Stories, etc). Great way to keep up on more contemporary writing w/o reading everything in sight. There is a fantastic essay in here called "Speed" about human perception of time--so cool.
Do watch for who is editing. The Garrison Keeler year was a travesty! (who likes him?)
Do watch for who is editing. The Garrison Keeler year was a travesty! (who likes him?)
Mar 07, 2008
Leslie
rated it:
I have to say only a few essays in this collection resonated with me. "Dinner with Robots" ended up really intriguing me. When I saw the title and that the author was a computer programmer, I was not looking forward to the essay. I was pleasantly surprised, however. It's one of the few in the collection that has stuck with me.
Jul 24, 2008
David
rated it:
Brian Doyle's "Joyas Voladoras" is a gem. I enjoy Andrea Barrett's style. Oliver Sacks is always fascinating, and David Sedaris is fun in small doses, so it's nice to have a single essay here. I can't seem to get David Foster Wallace's "Consider the Lobster" out of my head--a unique essay for Gourmet Magazine.
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Nov 18, 2008
Liz
rated it:
So I returned to this one for a while. Some real gems are hidden in there. Particularly the last three essays: "Dining with Robots," by Ellen Ullman; "Consider the Lobster," by David Foster Wallace; and "Satin Worship," by Holly Welker. I may have already read this one, but I'll keep rereading it to.
Aug 19, 2007
Mike
rated it:
Read for:
"The Sea of Information" by Andrea Barrett
"Contributor's Note" by Michael Martone
"Consider the Lobster" by David Foster Wallace
"If Memory Doesn't Serve" by Ian Frazier
"Speak, Hoyt-Schermerhorn" By Jonathan Lethem
"The Sea of Information" by Andrea Barrett
"Contributor's Note" by Michael Martone
"Consider the Lobster" by David Foster Wallace
"If Memory Doesn't Serve" by Ian Frazier
"Speak, Hoyt-Schermerhorn" By Jonathan Lethem
Sep 04, 2008
Priya
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read most of the essays in this book for a nonfiction writing course. some were amazing, i question the inclusion of others. i've read other "best american series" compilations and they're great reading for the most part
Feb 12, 2008
Deb
rated it:
"Best" is always a loaded superlative. I enjoyed some of these essays tremendously. Others, not so much. Still, an anthology of essays is fun, because you read a wider variety than would otherwise be possible.
May 05, 2010
Drew
rated it:
A fun to read compilation. A great way to find new writers, some have me absolutely rolling off the couch laughing, others I can hardly bear.
Favorites so far:
Consider the Lobster
Sedaris
Oliver Sacks
Favorites so far:
Consider the Lobster
Sedaris
Oliver Sacks
Dec 16, 2009
James
rated it:
Stronger collection than 2004; I'd give it 3 1/2 stars if I could. Highlights are the gorgeous "Joyas Voladoras," the resonant "Sister Bernadette's Barking Dog," and the sprawling "Speak, Hoyt-Schermerhorn."
Nov 09, 2008
Clinton
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I checked this out to read David Foster Wallace's "Consider the Lobster," but found other gems, as usual for this series.
Feb 29, 2008
Grayson
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Particularly liked the oliver sacks, david sedaris, johnathan franzen, Johnathan lethem, and ted kooser essays.
Oct 12, 2007
Wendy
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David Foster Wallace's essay is a highlight, but for the most part I found this to be a clunker of a year.
Nov 27, 2007
I bought this book forever ago and still leaf through the remaining essays from time to time.
Jan 23, 2012
Jan 11, 2012
