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417th out of 527 books
—
350 voters
You've Got to Read This: Contemporary American Writers Introduce Stories that Held Them in Awe
by
Ron Hansen ,
Jim Shepard
Thirty-four of America' s most distinguished fiction writers--including Oscar Hijuelos, John Irving, and Joyce Carol Oates--introduce the short stories that inspired them most.
Paperback, 640 pages
Published
September 17th 1994
by Harper Perennial
(first published 1994)
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Short stories are the three minute singles of the literary world and anyone who has been pasted to the wall by the furious power of 19th Nervous Breakdown or the limpid beauty of Waterloo Sunset and yet hasn't managed to keep awake during an entire Stones or Kinks album will know what I mean. A great short story has a pungency and a pure serendipity. Alas, though, for every Paint It Black there are a couple of Angies (ouch) and for every Lola there's a few Plasticmen (ecch).
So it is with every...more
So it is with every...more
12 likes · like · see review
view all 38 comments
just received this from Paul Bryant - thanks. It's massive (600 big p) - I can see this taking up most of February. Looks tasty, but the Biblical style of the book (Awe), the weight, puts me off reading it in public.
a bunch of fantastic stories on the whole. Will do a proper review soon. (Tomorrow I hope).
Where to start? This review will be a work in progress as it'll take me a couple of days (United are on tonight). Firstly I'd read half-ish of the stories (17), but thought I'd re-read all but...more
a bunch of fantastic stories on the whole. Will do a proper review soon. (Tomorrow I hope).
Where to start? This review will be a work in progress as it'll take me a couple of days (United are on tonight). Firstly I'd read half-ish of the stories (17), but thought I'd re-read all but...more
7 likes · like · see review
Feb 24, 2012
Mikki
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Buddy Read With Jenny
Shelves:
short-stories,
anthologies
An anthology perfectly titled. If you love short stories then, yes, you've got to read this. Thirty-five American contemporary authors (many familiar to me and some not) were asked to choose one short story that "left them breathless, held them in awe, or otherwise enthralled them when they first read it." Writers' writers. How can you go wrong?
It's a BIG book (615 pages) so Jenny and I chose to take it on as a team--we decided to read one story per night and then discuss the merits, favorite l...more
5 likes · like · see review
This book was just too heavy. Sad, but true. I did read the three shortest stories so I could feel better about returning it after making it sit on my nightstand for 4 months.
Favorite Quotes:
One day, we had a discussion in class. They asked me, where did they go? The trees, the salamander, the tropical fish, Edgar, the poppas and mommas, Matthew and Tony, where did they go? And I said, I don't know, I don't know. And they said, who knows? and I said, nobody knows. And they said, is death that w...more
Favorite Quotes:
One day, we had a discussion in class. They asked me, where did they go? The trees, the salamander, the tropical fish, Edgar, the poppas and mommas, Matthew and Tony, where did they go? And I said, I don't know, I don't know. And they said, who knows? and I said, nobody knows. And they said, is death that w...more
This is one of the best anthologies of short stories I've ever found. The editors sought out many talented writers to ask which stories had inspired them over the years, and each story is accompanied by an explanation by its recommender about why they love it so much. So the book combines wonderful fiction and insight into the reading tastes of several important authors. It's a good concept with a great result.
I read about this book in a New York Times article about the five books you should never pack away and I was intrigued. So I ordered it from the library and started reading it. I couldn't read the first short story (it was about calves being led to a slaughterhouse; it is a parable). But the next short story was spell binding.
The great thing about this book is well respected contemporary writers each introduce the short story that awed and impacted them. Based on the recommendation to reading th...more
The great thing about this book is well respected contemporary writers each introduce the short story that awed and impacted them. Based on the recommendation to reading th...more
This is the book that I have been reading before I go to bed, for a month or so, and I am very glad to have read this book, as all the stories are good, and some are even great.
Among the stories in this collection that I had read before are “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien (arguably the best Vietnam War story ever written) and “No Place for You, My Love” by Eudora Welty. I loved some of the stories I read here for the first time, such as “A Mother’s Tale” by James Agee, “The School” by D...more
Among the stories in this collection that I had read before are “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien (arguably the best Vietnam War story ever written) and “No Place for You, My Love” by Eudora Welty. I loved some of the stories I read here for the first time, such as “A Mother’s Tale” by James Agee, “The School” by D...more
Jan 23, 2012
Jenny
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommended to Jenny by:
Mikki
Shelves:
short-stories,
read2012
I've been reading this throughout the months with my reading buddy Mikki, and for a more detailed discussion you can read our comments on both our reviews (see below). It is SO HARD to talk about this anthology. For the most part, these stories were fantastic, some because of the visuals and beautiful writing, some because of the completely disturbing twists or ends, some because of the well-written raw characters.
My absolutely favorite story has to be "Reflection" by Angela Carter. The concept...more
My absolutely favorite story has to be "Reflection" by Angela Carter. The concept...more
2 likes · like · see review
YOU'VE GOT TO READ THIS
If you love, I mean love, you some short stories, then you've got to read this! It's a collection of short stories selected by established writers at the time of this book's printing. It first caught my attention when I learned it was being used as an ad hoc textbook for the undergraduate creative writing students at Iowa University. My thinking was, "Hey, good enough for the Iowa Workshop, good enough for me."
And it was! This collection really speaks to what the short st...more
If you love, I mean love, you some short stories, then you've got to read this! It's a collection of short stories selected by established writers at the time of this book's printing. It first caught my attention when I learned it was being used as an ad hoc textbook for the undergraduate creative writing students at Iowa University. My thinking was, "Hey, good enough for the Iowa Workshop, good enough for me."
And it was! This collection really speaks to what the short st...more
For some reason, I'm having a difficult time finishing this collection. I keep reading it on and off — usually off. I like anthologies and short fiction, but something about this one makes me want to put it down after a story or two. Many of the selections I've read (I was halfway through) have been good to great. I'll continue this when I feel the urge to do so.
(Updated to May 20, 2009)
Many of the stories in this anthology reward a close but quick reading. Oftentimes, English students and would...more
(Updated to May 20, 2009)
Many of the stories in this anthology reward a close but quick reading. Oftentimes, English students and would...more
The title pretty much explains itself. The way that worked best for me was to read the story, then read the introduction by the author who selected it, then read the story again. This anthology brought me to several stories I now read annually or biennially. In ascending order of amazement.
A Distant Episode - Paul Bowles
Cathedral - Raymond Carver
A Good Man is Hard to Find - Flannery O'Connor
The Things They Carried - Tim O'Brien
The School - Donald Barthelme
and always
I Stand Here Ironing - Tillie...more
A Distant Episode - Paul Bowles
Cathedral - Raymond Carver
A Good Man is Hard to Find - Flannery O'Connor
The Things They Carried - Tim O'Brien
The School - Donald Barthelme
and always
I Stand Here Ironing - Tillie...more
I'll admit - I read this a long time ago, but it made a huge impression. I loved the idea of peeking into the minds of contemporary authors and learning what inspired them, and maybe shaped some stories that I loved to read... Many of them liked stories that I had also read, but often for different reasons. I learned a lot abou tthe authors, and about the stories themselves.
I've been reading this book for 9 years. It has some of the world's best short stories in it. This book is responsible for introducing me to the greats (Grace Paley, Ray Carver, Flannery O'Connor, James Baldwin.) Every year I treat myself to a few more of its stories.
I didn't get to read all the stories before I had to return it to the library--but I loved many of the ones I did read. Each story is introduced by the contemporary author who picked it--I enjoyed reading some of them--others were pretty uninteresting.
My sister, the writer, recommended this and was dead on - some amazing stories in here, and the intros shed a lot of light on what makes writers tick.
Found on WorldCat while searching for Borges' short story The Aleph.
Checked out a library copy and had it just long enough to read the Aleph story - which was amazing. The whole book seems like a really clever idea for an anthology -- well-known contemporary writers select and introduce a short story that influenced them. Oscar Hijuelos introduced The Aleph as the story that made him want to be a writer. There are many other great writers represented in the collection as both selected and select...more
Checked out a library copy and had it just long enough to read the Aleph story - which was amazing. The whole book seems like a really clever idea for an anthology -- well-known contemporary writers select and introduce a short story that influenced them. Oscar Hijuelos introduced The Aleph as the story that made him want to be a writer. There are many other great writers represented in the collection as both selected and select...more
The wide assortment of stories in "You've Got To Read This" offers much variety but little continuity.
Apr 29, 2013
Shannonmde
marked it as to-read
Sloan Crosley writing for NPR called this book the book that taught her how to talk about books.
Great collection of stories with commentary by other great writers. You can't go wrong.
May 09, 2008
Hung
added it
A very good, even excellent, anthology that has pretty strong selections, some classics and some less well-known.
The element that sets it above many similar anthologies are the prefaces to each story, written by a leading contemporary author. The preface to John Cheever's "Goodbye, My Brother" by Allan Gurganus is a marvelous piece of writing in its own right, and as good of a preface/encomium as I've found.
One important note: read the story before you read the preface. Most of them have spoile...more
The element that sets it above many similar anthologies are the prefaces to each story, written by a leading contemporary author. The preface to John Cheever's "Goodbye, My Brother" by Allan Gurganus is a marvelous piece of writing in its own right, and as good of a preface/encomium as I've found.
One important note: read the story before you read the preface. Most of them have spoile...more
A great anthology for short story lovers--and a great gift for writers.
A great collection!
And also, a doorstop.
And also, a doorstop.
Great book of short stories.
This is my favorite collection of short stories. The choices range from classic to contemporary and each story is introduced by the writer who chose it. The introductions lend an extra layer of enjoyment to most of them. We used this as the anthology for our short story discussions in the constant reader group until we'd read them all and it was a perfect fit for us. However, I would also recommend it simply as a good read for anyone who loves the short story form.
1 like · like · see review
Interesting. I liked the short stories by the people I'd never heard of much more than the ones who are already widely known as great writers.
The thirty-five short stories in this collection were chosen and introduced by thirty-five writers of great distinction. Many of the stories collected in this volume are often anthologized, while others are less known. This collection represents a literary community with a diverse range of voices, time periods, experiences and styles, but all with a common devotion to story.
I read this with two other online book friends, and really enjoyed the collection. What was really nice for me was the short introduction to the writer by the author who chose the story. One that made a big impact on me was the very brief story by Alice Walker called "The Flowers." The combination of familiar and unfamiliar writers (to me) was a real plus. Thumbs up.
Excellent book! Incredible stories. I love this book! Did I say that already? :)
Jul 18, 2007
Becky
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
short story fans, literature lovers
Shelves:
age-adult-books
Okay, I'll admit I didn't read this whole 600-page volume. But I was recently reminded how much I loved the strange and haunting story "In Dreams Begin Responsibilities" by Delmore Schwartz. And also how wonderful short stories can be for busy readers. The introductions by other authors add depth and appreciation.
Ordered, but haven't as yet received the second book for my class. Let you know once I get my eyes on it!
Finished all the assigned reading for the fiction class which ends tomorrow. Can't say enough good things about this collection. I enjoyed every short story that I read.
Finished all the assigned reading for the fiction class which ends tomorrow. Can't say enough good things about this collection. I enjoyed every short story that I read.
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Hansen was born in Omaha, Nebraska, attended a Jesuit high school, Creighton Preparatory School and earned a Bachelor's degree in English from Creighton University in Omaha in 1970. Following military service, he earned an M.F.A. from the Iowa Writers' Workshop in 1974 and held a Wallace Stegner Creative Writing Fellowship at Stanford University. He later earned an M.A. in Spirituality from Santa...more
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