The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2004 (The Best American Series (TM))
by Dave Eggers
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The last story in this collection - "transmissions from camp trans", by Michelle Tea, is one of the most well written, insightful, and interesting pieces I have ever read on the topic it discusses. It talks about a camp for lesbian-identified women and the issue of them not allowing transgendered (male to female) people to participate. I like the way it "sheds light" on the issue, without being preachy or rude in any way. And it's really sad, because I know a lot of trans peo...more
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Read in March, 2008
I always love these books, so it seems fairly pointless to review them. Favorites here: "We Have a Pope!" (about a failed PR campaign to appoint an American pope), "What You Eat" (about a boy whose father makes him eat anything he kills-- less gross and more poignant than it sounds), "Hidden Lives of Lakes" (about a town where the dead go to live underneath the ice in a frozen-over lake), "Sixteen Jackies" (Jackie Kennedy splits into 16 different Jackies ...more
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Read in June, 2005
I'll admit it - I bought this book for two reasons. 1 - to read something nonrequired was going to be such a relief. 2 - the introduction was written by Viggo Mortensen, to whom I am forever grateful for not screwing up on Aragorn. I have not finished it yet, probably because I got stuck in a story that I wasn't really feeling, but I remember there were other pieces that I really liked. And when I read that it was a committee consisting of high-school students who made the choices about the stor...more
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Read in December, 2004
the thing i love the most about the nonrequired reading is that you're introduced to all these authors that maybe you've never read before, but they're totally awesome. it's how i found one of my absolute favorite authors ever: david sedaris. thank you, best american nonrequired reading! i love you!
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Read in July, 2008
This books was alright, but I was expecting it to be a little bit better. Some of the stories like "The Fast Runner" were inspiring, while others were so so. I think my favorite part of the book was the introduction by Viggo Mortensien. I never knew he was such a gifted writer.
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Read in January, 2005
I love reading these books because of their atypical collections. The amount of "different" material in this series is wonderful, and although I sometimes don't like what I read, I feel better for having read it.
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Fantastic collection of shorts. Some were more magnetic than others. Favorites:
Zoanthropy by David Benioff
Introduction by Viggo Mortensen (I know, who saw that coming?)
The Minor Wars by Kaui Hart Hemmings
Zoanthropy by David Benioff
Introduction by Viggo Mortensen (I know, who saw that coming?)
The Minor Wars by Kaui Hart Hemmings
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Read in May, 2005
Great great read. Picked this up randomly after I graduated high school, and so glad I did. Really enjoyed the random mash-up of stories and content. Need to read more of this in the future.
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recommends it for:
short attention span theater
this was a great read. it was a wonderful collection of all sorts of things! and who knew, one of the better introductions i've read in a while by viggo mortensen!
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Read in January, 2004
recommends it for:
people with broad lit tastes
Eclectic and stimulating mix of essays, short stories and nonfiction pieces.
I got this book as a gift. It was a fun read. I recommend it.
I got this book as a gift. It was a fun read. I recommend it.
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Read in January, 2008
Still working my way through it. I'm enjoying the short stories, even though they hurt my heart. Especially the Poor Sailor.
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Has a copy to sell/swap
Found in a pile on the curb of Amsterdam Avenue on my way home from yoga on a sunny Saturday morning. So far so good.
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Read in January, 2003
Great range of styles, I usually have a hard time with a book of short stories but this one was hard to put down.
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Read in March, 2008
faves so far:
michelle tea - "transmissions from camp trans"
john gertner - "the futile pursuit of happiness"
michelle tea - "transmissions from camp trans"
john gertner - "the futile pursuit of happiness"
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Read in September, 2007
i think 2003 was a better year for nonrequired reading. though i liked the story on camp trans.
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I love this series, and this one has a wonderful introduction by Viggo Mortensen. O Strider...
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Read in February, 2006
i like to see what the kids are up to. unfortunately the answer is usually "not much"
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Read in January, 2006
sucker for a good cover. enjoyed all the points of view and the short story fun
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Read in June, 2005
okay stuff.. kind of pre-npr sort of writing, a bit too clever in a dumb way.
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Read in January, 2005
great for short stories. and worth it just to read the intros by dave eggers.
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