Despite increasing competition, this annual collection remains the place to find the most compelling short fiction published in the U.S. and Canada...
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reviews
May 27, 2011
Rachel
rated it: 
Oh, I remember why I don't like short stories--depressing.
A few of the stories were interesting. Most were seriously depressing and at least half left me wondering why I bothered. I like a story where we get to know the character and care about him or her because of the way he or she behaves. Very few of these stories had that to them. Most of them seemed to be "commenting" on "social problems" or something. Can you be a little more subtle.
l learned 2 thi More...
A few of the stories were interesting. Most were seriously depressing and at least half left me wondering why I bothered. I like a story where we get to know the character and care about him or her because of the way he or she behaves. Very few of these stories had that to them. Most of them seemed to be "commenting" on "social problems" or something. Can you be a little more subtle.
l learned 2 thi More...
Jan 01, 2009
Klgg
rated it: 
I love short stories. Each of these "Best ofs" definitely reflects that year's editor. I especially liked "The Gilgul of Park Avenue" by Nathan Englander and "The Anointed" by Kathleen Hill.
Quote from The Anointed:
"We cannot see into the mysteries of another person's life, dear boys and girls. We have no way of knowing what deaths a soul has sustained before the final one. It is for this reason that we must never presume to judge o More...
Quote from The Anointed:
"We cannot see into the mysteries of another person's life, dear boys and girls. We have no way of knowing what deaths a soul has sustained before the final one. It is for this reason that we must never presume to judge o More...
May 22, 2010
Jenifer
rated it:
More short stories; a very different rhythm is required than for novels. It's better to try and finish a story in one sitting, because it's very hard to pick up the thread if you put the book down.
I think that how much I like these collections depends very much on how much I like the editor.
A few of my favorites this time;
"The Ordinary Son" Ron Carlson
"He's At The Office" Allan Gurganus
"People In Hell Just Want A Drink Of W
I think that how much I like these collections depends very much on how much I like the editor.
A few of my favorites this time;
"The Ordinary Son" Ron Carlson
"He's At The Office" Allan Gurganus
"People In Hell Just Want A Drink Of W
Mar 15, 2008
Ariel
rated it:
Noteworthy/memorable:
The Beautiful Days is one of my favorite stories and I don't exactly know why. It's fairly long and there's a lot of development that may or may not be necessary, but by the end I am always just fascinated and staring into space wondering, how did we get here?
The Fix is a story with a simple premise, but the quick and riveting extrapolation of that premise gives poignant meaning to the phrase "a gift and a curse."
The Third and F More...
The Beautiful Days is one of my favorite stories and I don't exactly know why. It's fairly long and there's a lot of development that may or may not be necessary, but by the end I am always just fascinated and staring into space wondering, how did we get here?
The Fix is a story with a simple premise, but the quick and riveting extrapolation of that premise gives poignant meaning to the phrase "a gift and a curse."
The Third and F More...
Jan 29, 2009
Margie
rated it: 
Interesting that so many authors who appeared in the 1999 collection are also in the 2000 volume. And stories in both collections by Annie Proulx eventually became part of Wyoming Stories.
Mar 07, 2010
Tracy
rated it:
I am in a short story phase right now. I am going to read as many of these "Best American Short Stories" as I can get my hands on. This one was great. Short stories are such a different way to tell a story. My favorites in this collection was 'The Anointed' by Kathleen Hill, and 'The Fix' by Percival Everett.
Aug 18, 2009
Meredith
rated it: 
Thus far, my favorite group of selections (of the Best American Short Stories series). You really surprised me, Mr. Doctorow. Congrats!
Favorites:
"The Story" (The last sentence really tore my heart to shreds)
"The Ordinary Son" (hilarious)
"The Fix"
"Good for the Soul" (ending = worth it)
"The Beautiful Days"
"People in Hell Just Want a Drink of Water" (again, the ending... ahhhhh "hu hu hu
Favorites:
"The Story" (The last sentence really tore my heart to shreds)
"The Ordinary Son" (hilarious)
"The Fix"
"Good for the Soul" (ending = worth it)
"The Beautiful Days"
"People in Hell Just Want a Drink of Water" (again, the ending... ahhhhh "hu hu hu
Feb 19, 2008
Frederica
rated it:
There is a story in here by Michael Byers called "The Beautiful Days." Apparently it is loosely based on his senior year at Oberlin (I say loosely because I have no idea if these things actually happened to him, only that the descriptions of the college and town are dead on). I find myself coming back to this story a lot not just because he evokes the place so well, but also because it's an example of a story that is not flashy yet memorable.
Dec 20, 2007
Kate
rated it:
Stand-out after stand-out in this one. Starts out with Amy Bloom's "The Story," which is just shockingly good.
Read it at the beach. It was falling apart there, its cracking spine filling with sand. I remember holding it together against the gusting breeze, which wanted to take its pages away.
Read it at the beach. It was falling apart there, its cracking spine filling with sand. I remember holding it together against the gusting breeze, which wanted to take its pages away.
Nov 10, 2008
Some uplifting stuff (He's at the Office). Plenty of disturbing stuff (People in Hell Just Want a Drink of Water and Basil the Dog).
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