An annual collection of the twenty best contemporary short stories selected by series editor Laura Furman from hundreds of literary magazines, T...
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Aug 21, 2008
Laura
rated it: 
Each year, short story lovers eagerly anticipate two collections of stories: The Best American Short Stories collection published by Houghton Mifflin, and the O. Henry Prize Stories, edited by Laura Furman and published by Anchor. While the "Best American" series contains many worthy stories and authors (this year, the series editor is Salman Rushdie and the winners include Nicole Krauss, A.M. Homes, and Jonathan Lethem), the choices tend to be a bit more conventional than the O. Henry
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Nov 19, 2008
Matt
rated it:
I took a couple years off from the O Henry anthologies and flirted with other collections of new fiction, the Pushcart, the Dzanc Press books. But really, this is the best series I know of. I accept the criticisms that some of the writers here are ringers (Alice Munro, Bill Trevor, Mary Gaitskill-- what, was Joyce Carol Oates sick this year?), but when you look past the well-known names, there are twenty stories here, each one of which is a little odd, a little off, and somewhere outside the ran
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Feb 21, 2011
Tintin
rated it: 
Last year when I wanted to write short stories, I picked up this book to get a survey of what were supposedly the best stories by the best writers. These were the winners handpicked by the judges for the prestigious O. Henry Prize, after all.
Unfortunately I hadn't done my research and didn't realize that these stories are primarily of the literary genre. I was expecting a mixed bag of genres, not pure literary.
I have mixed feelings about this genre. Even those in the writ More...
Unfortunately I hadn't done my research and didn't realize that these stories are primarily of the literary genre. I was expecting a mixed bag of genres, not pure literary.
I have mixed feelings about this genre. Even those in the writ More...
May 04, 2009
Doug
rated it: 
The "O. Henry Prize Stories"? Is this the best they've got? I am sorely disappointed. If this O. Henry foundation is trying to tell me that these are the best stories written in 2008, then we've got very little going on.
I love O. Henry and his writing. His poorest stories are far and away better than any one of these, and I've read at least 30-40 of his stories.
Some of these stories are pretty good ( "What Do You Want to Know For?" by Alice Munro, More...
I love O. Henry and his writing. His poorest stories are far and away better than any one of these, and I've read at least 30-40 of his stories.
Some of these stories are pretty good ( "What Do You Want to Know For?" by Alice Munro, More...
Sep 30, 2009
Tiny Pants
rated it:
In recent years I've enjoyed the O. Henry more than Best American, but I'm not sure if that was the case this year -- sadly, only because Best American was unmemorable enough this year for me to be sure without looking up my review. Quelle disappointment!
There were a few stories in here I liked a lot -- the opener from Ha Jin was lovely, and there was a Mary Gaitskill piece near the end I liked quite a bit (though less so when I read the contributor's notes -- it's odd how sometimes More...
There were a few stories in here I liked a lot -- the opener from Ha Jin was lovely, and there was a Mary Gaitskill piece near the end I liked quite a bit (though less so when I read the contributor's notes -- it's odd how sometimes More...
Apr 06, 2010
Another retreat read. While it was fun to skip around and read a bunch of short stories by authors I was unfamiliar with the collection left me a little cold. None of the stories I read were bad but none of them really grabbed me either. My favorite, perhaps the least realistic of the bunch, was by Lore Segal. I especially like the fact that while the story sounded like it was written by a young man it was in fact written by an older woman.
Nov 15, 2010
Rose Tremain -- kind of didn't wind up liking this story that much in the end, but maybe want to read more of her
Love Steven Millhauser's fashion story, must give to Karen
LOVE Shannon Cain story, must give to April, investigate this person
I know Alice Munro is like the Meryl Streep of short fiction or whatever, but I just.... I don't know. I mean, obviously she's good. I guess I bore easily.
Love Steven Millhauser's fashion story, must give to Karen
LOVE Shannon Cain story, must give to April, investigate this person
I know Alice Munro is like the Meryl Streep of short fiction or whatever, but I just.... I don't know. I mean, obviously she's good. I guess I bore easily.
May 12, 2009
tomlinton
rated it:
Four of the stories
I want to reread
until I understand
what the author is doing
but most of these
are much more attractive
than the average short story
which I admit
I've had trouble staying interested in
I just acquired 2007
as a result
and o
fair warning
I've notified Amazon
but 2008's Table of Contents
was just that
a nonworking pdf table
I want to reread
until I understand
what the author is doing
but most of these
are much more attractive
than the average short story
which I admit
I've had trouble staying interested in
I just acquired 2007
as a result
and o
fair warning
I've notified Amazon
but 2008's Table of Contents
was just that
a nonworking pdf table
Aug 01, 2009
Courtney
rated it: 
Started reading it... some of them were good, but then they all started getting dark, annoying, yucky... they should rename it the "O. Henry Depression Inducing Prize" if this is the kind of "work" that warrants praise. So weird...
Also, I think people give this more stars because they are trying to be literary... read O. Henry instead, that's my advice!
Also, I think people give this more stars because they are trying to be literary... read O. Henry instead, that's my advice!
Dec 30, 2008
Jim
rated it:
Can't say enough about the selection of stories for this book. It starts on a high note with "A Composer and His Parakeets" by Ha Jin, but is topped by "What Do You Want to Know For?" by Alice Munro. "On the Lake" by Olaf Olafson is special, but the best one in the book is "Touch" by Alexi Zentner. I'll remember it for a long time.
Aug 05, 2009
Isabelle
rated it:
A very eclectic collection of short stories, which would be wonderful if all the stories were equal in quality. While some of the selections were masterful and exciting, others left me unable to suspend disbelief long enough to care about any of the characters and their fate...
Dec 11, 2008
Victoria
rated it:
I'm going to rate everything four stars from now on, unless I'm completely blown away, one way or the other. I don't like this rating system. It feels like the thumbs up/ thumbs down, easy response.
Ha Jin's "A Composer and His Parakeets" and Michael Faber's "Bye-bye, Natalia" were my favorites.
Ha Jin's "A Composer and His Parakeets" and Michael Faber's "Bye-bye, Natalia" were my favorites.
Oct 09, 2008
Meredith
rated it:
A good collection of prize-worthy stories, but overall not nearly as strong as the "Best Short Stories of ___ (year)" series (I just saw the 2008 edition the other day on the Barnes and Noble shelf!! edited by Salman Rushdie!! so excited to tear into that one)
there were several stories in particular that i thought were, eh, not so compelling. even alice munro's story lacked her usual "i cannot look away from the page in front of me" mesmerizing quality. hmmmm.
My p More...
there were several stories in particular that i thought were, eh, not so compelling. even alice munro's story lacked her usual "i cannot look away from the page in front of me" mesmerizing quality. hmmmm.
My p More...
Feb 03, 2009
Brooklyn
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I found the prize-winning stories rather uneven...some were brilliant, some mediocre, but they made for an intriuging read as a whole.
Mar 06, 2009
Jeremy
rated it:
Some great stuff, some surprisingly crappy, particularly Doerr & Gass, of whom one expects much better.
Jun 30, 2010
O. Henry Prize Stories 2008 (Pen/O. Henry Prize Stories) by Laura Furman (2008)
Aug 09, 2008
KatieB
rated it:
This is an excellent collection. I've thoroughly enjoyed just about all the stories I've read so far, especially:
Ha Jin's "A Composer and His Parakeets,"
Olaf Olafsson's "On the Lake,"
and Alexi Zentner's "Touch." Zentner's story is just phenomenal. I'm unfamiliar with his work, but I read Adichie's praise of the story included in the back of the book. I will definitely need to check out his other stories, especially if this story is a great represe
Ha Jin's "A Composer and His Parakeets,"
Olaf Olafsson's "On the Lake,"
and Alexi Zentner's "Touch." Zentner's story is just phenomenal. I'm unfamiliar with his work, but I read Adichie's praise of the story included in the back of the book. I will definitely need to check out his other stories, especially if this story is a great represe
Sep 01, 2009
I took two books with me on my trip, this and "The heartbreaking work of Staggering Genius" (which I've already read). The first story of this book was super cheesy and we were getting a package ready for home and my bag was really heavy so I sent this home. Then found out that I would be spending a week alone on a island where there aren't any English books.... Big mistake. I will never ship another book home in my life! You never know when you will need it.
Jul 15, 2009
Brandi
rated it:
i didn't read every single story, but i read several. my favorite is the opener, ha jin's "a composer and his parakeets." i also really enjoyed "on the lake" by olaf olafson. both exhibited very deft handling of the dark side of human connectivity. both had me immensely interested and made me feel like i was snooping on their respective protagonists' emotional, somehow balding, frankness. good stuff.
Mar 24, 2009
Alison
rated it:
I enjoyed this, I think a bit better than the 2007 volume. There were a couple of stories that I had read previously (published in The New Yorker) but the rest were all new to me.
I think that's really all I have to say -- it's hard for me to review these anthologies, because there's not an overarching theme that I can really comment on - they're just the stories that the prize jury liked the best.
I think that's really all I have to say -- it's hard for me to review these anthologies, because there's not an overarching theme that I can really comment on - they're just the stories that the prize jury liked the best.
Dec 03, 2009
Caroline
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I've only read a few of the stories in the book so far, but I have absolutely enjoyed them. Short stories can often give the feeling of "so what?" or "what on earth is the author trying to prove?" But when they are good, they can be fantastic. So far my two favorites are "A composer and His Parakeets" by Ha Jin and "The Necessity of Certain Behaviors" by Shannon Cain.
Sep 30, 2008
oh no! I have to return it to the library and I've only read a couple stories. I'll have to check it out again. whoops! I read the Alice Munro story while backpacking. it was great.
Jan 24, 2009
Steve
rated it:
Mixed bag. Some of the stores were good, others a bit average. I think it reflects the state of short story writing. I suspect many of our best writers are working in another medium.
Jan 07, 2010
Kathy
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Some favorites:
Village 113 - Anthony Doerr
On the Lake - Olaf Olafsson
Prison - Yiyun Li
I tried five or six times to read The Bullock Run, but I just couldn't finish it.
Village 113 - Anthony Doerr
On the Lake - Olaf Olafsson
Prison - Yiyun Li
I tried five or six times to read The Bullock Run, but I just couldn't finish it.
Sep 05, 2008
Amy
rated it:
I love these collections. I buy them almost every year. It is almost always a selection of unique stories most of which are extremely good.
Aug 24, 2009
Margaret
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A good mix of stories and story-telling, by some well known and some new authors. They tend toward the sad side, but don't most short stories?
Jun 17, 2008
Very well written (as one would hope). Most made me think, which I enjoyed- lovely imagery, but mostly downers. . .
