Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
Mariner Books (2006), Edition: 1st, Paperback, 400 pages
Description
Presents selections of mainstream and alternative American literature, including both fiction and nonfiction, that discuss a broad spectrum of subjects.
User reviews
LibraryThing member figre
I was about to write this review, when I found myself in the position to respond (on the Harlan Ellison web page) to someone asking about trying to find good fiction. Rather than rewrite a review - here was my comment to them.
I can’t tell you if the short story is fully alive. However, what I
Sorry, didn’t mean to turn this into an endorsement. It is just that the short stories in here made me want to search out more of them - reading the copyright pages for ideas where more might be found. The stories are out there – we just have to work harder to find them.
I can’t tell you if the short story is fully alive. However, what I
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can tell you is that the life it still maintains has some incredible moments. Your question is timely in that I just completed The Best American Nonrequired Reading for 2006 (part of The Best American Series) edited by Dave Eggers. This includes some staggering short stories. The previously discussed Murakami is included with another of his stories (those stories that make you want to reread them right away because there is just so much in there). Also included are stories by Judy Budnitz, Naguib Mahfouz, and Jeff Parker that will stun you. And, of course, there are more short stories but, since this is nonrequired reading, it also includes great essays by (among others) Michael Lewis and David Rakoff – essays which cover everything from New Orleans after the hurricane to the plastination leading to Body Worlds to Dubai to Iraqi insurgents. And, since (as I already mentioned) it is nonrequired reading, it also includes two intriguing comics, some writing from Mr. Vonnegut, a commencement speech from David Foster Wallace, and the Iraqi Constitution. Sorry, didn’t mean to turn this into an endorsement. It is just that the short stories in here made me want to search out more of them - reading the copyright pages for ideas where more might be found. The stories are out there – we just have to work harder to find them.
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LibraryThing member Ix0x0L
I found this collection pretty good. A lot of political stuff I could have done without, i.e. the Iraqi Constituation. My favorite was Julia Sweeny's essay 'Letting Go of God.'
LibraryThing member cinesnail88
I haven't read a collection this good in a long time. I'd never seen this before, but bought it when I stumbled upon it in the bookstore. I definitely don't regret it.
LibraryThing member MSarki
Four stars for the David Foster Wallace brilliance and the essay by Julia Sweeney was also the best I ever read on the topic of God, Catholicism, and Belief. Not much else worth reading for me, but those two definitely worth grabbing the book for.
LibraryThing member csweder
As I was reading the last few stories, I actually started to like them....but upon reading that a "one star" is "didn't like it" and "two stars" is "it was ok", I have no choice but to render a 1 star.
This book was pathetic. The title: Best American Nonrequired Reading in 2006. If this is the BEST
Was 2006 a terrible year? Did NO ONE give good speeches or write stories with PLOTS?
With the exception of--at most--4 stories, I found EVERYTHING in this book difficult and pointless to read. There were stories, where, after I read it, I thought to myself, what was the plot? What was the reason? And, being a person who prides themselves in being able to decipher difficult texts, I feel it is the fault of the authors, not me.
The only thing that kept me going with this book was knowing that I couldn't write a review of how terrible it was if I didn't finish it.
I am glad that I finished it, because they put two of the best stories in here, at the back. One was about a woman who read the Bible, and it lead to her disbelief in God (IRONY!). And another about a man who is so unhappy with his life, he finds a decapitated head and befriends it.
With all this, if I had read the Introduction first (which I didn't, I read it around page 280 when I wasn't sure I could continue), I would have been even MORE angry. The introduction by Matt Groening was SPECTACULAR. But, had I read that and figured that it set a course for the rest of the book, I would ahve been SORELY mistaken, and more angered.
As is, I can see why it was $1.00 at Half Price Books.
With the exception of the Intro and a few stories, this isn't even worth considering as literature.
Oh, and I didn't read the 25 pages of the Iraqi constitution. HELL NO.
This book was pathetic. The title: Best American Nonrequired Reading in 2006. If this is the BEST
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that can come out of any nonrequired reading, boy am I glad I had a LOT of required reading in 2006. Holy crap! I can't believe there are people out there, and then an editor and publishing company, that said, "YES! THESE STORIES ARE THE BEST!" Was 2006 a terrible year? Did NO ONE give good speeches or write stories with PLOTS?
With the exception of--at most--4 stories, I found EVERYTHING in this book difficult and pointless to read. There were stories, where, after I read it, I thought to myself, what was the plot? What was the reason? And, being a person who prides themselves in being able to decipher difficult texts, I feel it is the fault of the authors, not me.
The only thing that kept me going with this book was knowing that I couldn't write a review of how terrible it was if I didn't finish it.
I am glad that I finished it, because they put two of the best stories in here, at the back. One was about a woman who read the Bible, and it lead to her disbelief in God (IRONY!). And another about a man who is so unhappy with his life, he finds a decapitated head and befriends it.
With all this, if I had read the Introduction first (which I didn't, I read it around page 280 when I wasn't sure I could continue), I would have been even MORE angry. The introduction by Matt Groening was SPECTACULAR. But, had I read that and figured that it set a course for the rest of the book, I would ahve been SORELY mistaken, and more angered.
As is, I can see why it was $1.00 at Half Price Books.
With the exception of the Intro and a few stories, this isn't even worth considering as literature.
Oh, and I didn't read the 25 pages of the Iraqi constitution. HELL NO.
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LibraryThing member csweder
As I was reading the last few stories, I actually started to like them....but upon reading that a "one star" is "didn't like it" and "two stars" is "it was ok", I have no choice but to render a 1 star.
This book was pathetic. The title: Best American Nonrequired Reading in 2006. If this is the BEST
Was 2006 a terrible year? Did NO ONE give good speeches or write stories with PLOTS?
With the exception of--at most--4 stories, I found EVERYTHING in this book difficult and pointless to read. There were stories, where, after I read it, I thought to myself, what was the plot? What was the reason? And, being a person who prides themselves in being able to decipher difficult texts, I feel it is the fault of the authors, not me.
The only thing that kept me going with this book was knowing that I couldn't write a review of how terrible it was if I didn't finish it.
I am glad that I finished it, because they put two of the best stories in here, at the back. One was about a woman who read the Bible, and it lead to her disbelief in God (IRONY!). And another about a man who is so unhappy with his life, he finds a decapitated head and befriends it.
With all this, if I had read the Introduction first (which I didn't, I read it around page 280 when I wasn't sure I could continue), I would have been even MORE angry. The introduction by Matt Groening was SPECTACULAR. But, had I read that and figured that it set a course for the rest of the book, I would ahve been SORELY mistaken, and more angered.
As is, I can see why it was $1.00 at Half Price Books.
With the exception of the Intro and a few stories, this isn't even worth considering as literature.
Oh, and I didn't read the 25 pages of the Iraqi constitution. HELL NO.
This book was pathetic. The title: Best American Nonrequired Reading in 2006. If this is the BEST
Show More
that can come out of any nonrequired reading, boy am I glad I had a LOT of required reading in 2006. Holy crap! I can't believe there are people out there, and then an editor and publishing company, that said, "YES! THESE STORIES ARE THE BEST!" Was 2006 a terrible year? Did NO ONE give good speeches or write stories with PLOTS?
With the exception of--at most--4 stories, I found EVERYTHING in this book difficult and pointless to read. There were stories, where, after I read it, I thought to myself, what was the plot? What was the reason? And, being a person who prides themselves in being able to decipher difficult texts, I feel it is the fault of the authors, not me.
The only thing that kept me going with this book was knowing that I couldn't write a review of how terrible it was if I didn't finish it.
I am glad that I finished it, because they put two of the best stories in here, at the back. One was about a woman who read the Bible, and it lead to her disbelief in God (IRONY!). And another about a man who is so unhappy with his life, he finds a decapitated head and befriends it.
With all this, if I had read the Introduction first (which I didn't, I read it around page 280 when I wasn't sure I could continue), I would have been even MORE angry. The introduction by Matt Groening was SPECTACULAR. But, had I read that and figured that it set a course for the rest of the book, I would ahve been SORELY mistaken, and more angered.
As is, I can see why it was $1.00 at Half Price Books.
With the exception of the Intro and a few stories, this isn't even worth considering as literature.
Oh, and I didn't read the 25 pages of the Iraqi constitution. HELL NO.
Show Less
LibraryThing member JBD1
Very much enjoyed the addition of the shorter pieces and lists as the first part of the anthology; this was pretty much the most interesting part of the book for me (if they did a whole volume just of that stuff, I'd be more than happy to read it). The 2005 Iraqi constitution (published here in
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full) does make for surprisingly good reading, and Kurt Vonnegut's "Here Is a Lesson in Creative Writing" and David Foster Wallace's Kenyon Commencement speech are also well worth a read. Show Less
LibraryThing member ritaer
Uneven like most anthologies. Sad reminder that the US is still bogged in mistaken operations in the Middle East.
Original publication date
2006
Physical description
400 p.; 8.2 inches
ISBN
0618570519 / 9780618570515