book data
49 ratings, 3.49 average rating, 17 reviews
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published
October 8th 2007
by Harvest Books
binding
Paperback, 432 pages
isbn
0156031493
(isbn13: 9780156031493)
description
Critically acclaimed novelist and short story writer Richard Bausch continues the tradition of identifying the best young writers on the cusp of their...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 83)
Read in November, 2007
OK, I revised upward to 3 stars. A few of the stories are brilliant, and one should be so lucky in any anthology. But I'm getting the overriding feeling that those that sort pop out at the beginning, and then plod on in a very careful, capable way, are going to make the coordinates for the book's median. I feel like shouting into the book, hey, book! Short stories don't have to be longer than five pages! It's better in fact for many stories to pack a punch! They're not supposed to b...more
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16 comments
Read in November, 2007
There were 2 short stories involving bicycles. Super. I want to read more stories about bicycles.
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Read in January, 2008
This was my first attempt to engage this series; I cannot say it was a failure, but it certainly was not a success. I got this volume because I may attend a session at the AWP that focuses on this series.
If these stories are the best of the US writing programs from 2007, then the US writing programs need to become much more vigorous and discriminating. Let me explain.
These are all solid, accomplished stories, they are well crafted and well paced, and each has its unique tone. Unfortuna...more
If these stories are the best of the US writing programs from 2007, then the US writing programs need to become much more vigorous and discriminating. Let me explain.
These are all solid, accomplished stories, they are well crafted and well paced, and each has its unique tone. Unfortuna...more
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Read in January, 2008
recommends it for:
adventurous writers
Surprisingly, my mother picked out this book for me. I'm a huge creative writer, and she felt I could learn a lot from this collection of stories. So far I've read two and found them both amazing. This is a compliation of 17 short stories that have been written in the top writing programs across the U.S. They range in ideas, style, and pretty much everything. I'll have to read them all to form an official opinion but so far it is awesome! I love writers!!
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Read in November, 2008
recommended to Amanda by:
Tucker Capps (featured writer in the collection)
I'll be honest, I didn't get through all the stories. I skipped three. Two I started and couldn't get through and the other I just never got around to.
This is a collection of stories culled from the finest our country's graduate programs have to offer. That being said, I was woefully unengaged by these stories. They were all well-written. There's nothing I can find to be critical of in the craft.
Perhaps it is merely my inability to be drawn into short stories. Beyond Chekov and...more
This is a collection of stories culled from the finest our country's graduate programs have to offer. That being said, I was woefully unengaged by these stories. They were all well-written. There's nothing I can find to be critical of in the craft.
Perhaps it is merely my inability to be drawn into short stories. Beyond Chekov and...more
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It's a collection of short stories from the top writing programs around the country... I'm a complete short story anthology whore. I'm still working my way through it, or rather I've just started it, but I've read the first story so far (which sounds lame but it's a long one!). I'll probably review the stories one by one, or at least the ones I like enough to finish.
"Alice" by Tucker Capps
It's a whopping 41 pages, which at least to me seems like a bit long for a short story, but...more
"Alice" by Tucker Capps
It's a whopping 41 pages, which at least to me seems like a bit long for a short story, but...more
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Read in May, 2008
I enjoyed reading these stories, which were all over the map -- some deeply strange, and some more based in reality. It's always interesting to me to read short fiction by previously unpublished authors, and especially in this case, where the stories are coming straight out of MFA programs and writing workshops. Given my own tendency to write thinly-disguised fiction about myself when I was writing in college, I couldn't help but wonder with some of these stories if there weren't some seeds of a...more
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Read in January, 2008
Some of the stories in here were really good. Most, however, left me muttering something along the lines of "How the hell did this person get into Iowa?" If you want to read good contemporary fiction, you're better off skipping these "Best American" collections and buying a couple of copies of Zyzzyva and Ploughshares.
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Read in November, 2007
recommends it for:
anyone interested in potential up-and-coming authors
This was an interesting collection of short stories. I can see why these stories were selected. Each story seemed distinctly different from the one(s) prior, and focused on a variety of topics. I am not sure I will be seeking out some of the authors in the future, but I did enjoy reading this collection.
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Read in July, 2008
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! Many of the stories have really stuck with me and creep into my thoughts at random times, gaining impact and my respect... and then of course, a little jealousy... damn you talented writers (who are also motivated)!!!!!
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2 carry-overs from the "Best American series" and oddly enough they were back-to-back in this series. Some decent stuff and some odd stuff. Not as strong as "Best American"
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Read in May, 2008
recommended to Kathy by:
Kim
Short stories are not usually my genre of choice, but I was impressed by the majority of the stories in this collection.
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I enjoyed almost every short story in this collection, which is rare for an anthology.
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They're the best, but are they any good? We shall see...
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currently-reading (on 16 people's shelves)
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mywriting (on 2 people's shelves)
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