Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
Mariner Books (2011), Edition: 1 Original, Paperback, 528 pages
Description
Essays. Nonfiction. HTML: The Best American Series� First, Best, and Best-Selling The Best American series is the premier annual showcase for the country's finest short fiction and nonfiction. For each volume, the very best pieces are selected by a leading writer in the field, making the Best American series the most respected�and most popular�of its kind. The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2011 includes Daniel Alarc�n, Clare Beams, Sloane Crosley, Anthony Doerr, Neil Gaiman, Mohammed Hanif, Mac McClelland, Michael Paterniti, Olivier Schrauwen, Gary Shteyngart, and others.
User reviews
LibraryThing member bragan
A collection of fiction and non-fiction from 2010, selected by Dave Eggers and a committee of high school students. It's a good, solid collection, overall. Some of the short stories were more to my taste than others, but they're all decent, and the non-fiction pieces are almost always interesting
What surprised me, though, is just how dark so much of the subject matter is. There are couple of pieces that are simply entertaining and fun: Sloane Crosley's wacky adventures in Paris, an article about a bank robber who, on his arrest, revealed all his secrets to the police (because, hey, who doesn't like a good heist story?). But mostly it's a cavalcade of poverty, injustice, violence, and bad things happening to not-always-bad people. It's not all unremittingly bleak, to be sure, but some of it is very disturbing indeed. Mac McClelland's piece about the technically-not-considered-a-genocide genocide of the Karen people in Burma is particularly difficult to read.
Not that I'm complaining about this, by any means. Sometimes the most distressing stories are the ones that most need to be told, and listened to. But, considering that these were all chosen by high school students, I find myself thinking two simultaneous things. One is that I greatly admire their social consciousness, which is surely much more well-developed than my own was at that age (and maybe, if I'm honest, more than it is even now). But the other is a feeling of sadness at the thought that, when these kids look out at the world they're about to inherit, this is mostly what they see.
Anyway. This is the first of the Nonrequired Reading series that I've read, but it's not going to be the last. Although I can't help hoping, perhaps foolishly, for a few more glimmerings of joy and optimism from the 2012 kids.
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and sometimes very moving. And for a series created specifically to showcase American writing, it has an impressively global flavor, featuring glimpses into such far-flung places as Uganda and China.What surprised me, though, is just how dark so much of the subject matter is. There are couple of pieces that are simply entertaining and fun: Sloane Crosley's wacky adventures in Paris, an article about a bank robber who, on his arrest, revealed all his secrets to the police (because, hey, who doesn't like a good heist story?). But mostly it's a cavalcade of poverty, injustice, violence, and bad things happening to not-always-bad people. It's not all unremittingly bleak, to be sure, but some of it is very disturbing indeed. Mac McClelland's piece about the technically-not-considered-a-genocide genocide of the Karen people in Burma is particularly difficult to read.
Not that I'm complaining about this, by any means. Sometimes the most distressing stories are the ones that most need to be told, and listened to. But, considering that these were all chosen by high school students, I find myself thinking two simultaneous things. One is that I greatly admire their social consciousness, which is surely much more well-developed than my own was at that age (and maybe, if I'm honest, more than it is even now). But the other is a feeling of sadness at the thought that, when these kids look out at the world they're about to inherit, this is mostly what they see.
Anyway. This is the first of the Nonrequired Reading series that I've read, but it's not going to be the last. Although I can't help hoping, perhaps foolishly, for a few more glimmerings of joy and optimism from the 2012 kids.
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LibraryThing member porch_reader
I bought several of the Best American series when they were on sale as a Kindle Daily Deal. This one includes both short stories and non-fiction. Several of the non-fiction pieces were excellent. "Game of Her Life" tells the story of a girl who lives in the largest of eight slums in Kampala,
The short stories in this volume are a little more uneven, although there were several that were quirky and interesting. Neil Gaiman’s story, “Orange,” topped the list for me. It is described as the “third subject’s responses to investigator’s written questionnaire” and consists of a list of numbered responses to questions that are not revealed. It’s up to the reader to try to figure out what happened.
I enjoyed reading these a few at a time, when I needed a break from my "main" book, or when I was travelling with my Kindle. I'm glad to have other volumes from the Best American series (including the Best American Short Stories, the Best American Science and Nature Writing, and the Best American Essays) waiting for me on my Kindle.
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Uganda, in terrible conditions. But Robert Katende, who works for an NGO, teaches her and other children to play chess, sees her promise, and takes her to the Chess Olympiad in Russia. In "The Suicide Catcher" we meet a man who tries to stop suicide attempts on the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge in China. "For Us Surrender Is Out of the Question" sheds light on the horrific violence faced by the ethnic group known as the Karen in Burma, while "An Oral History of Adama Bah" and "What Killed Aiyana Stanley-Jones?" tell the stories of two girls living in the US who face struggles of their own. All of these pieces are well written, conveying truths through stories as the best narrative non-fiction does.The short stories in this volume are a little more uneven, although there were several that were quirky and interesting. Neil Gaiman’s story, “Orange,” topped the list for me. It is described as the “third subject’s responses to investigator’s written questionnaire” and consists of a list of numbered responses to questions that are not revealed. It’s up to the reader to try to figure out what happened.
I enjoyed reading these a few at a time, when I needed a break from my "main" book, or when I was travelling with my Kindle. I'm glad to have other volumes from the Best American series (including the Best American Short Stories, the Best American Science and Nature Writing, and the Best American Essays) waiting for me on my Kindle.
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LibraryThing member figre
I have found that, over the years, this series – the Best American Non-Required Reading – can be extremely good or just kind of good. At its worst, it is just good. Sometimes the essays are strong and the stories weak. Sometimes the stories are strong and the essays weak. Sometimes none stand
And this year? Not just good, not good, not very good. This time? One of the best of the series. A collection of stories and essays and comics that are more than worth your time; events that will stick with you long after you walk away.
A few examples. Neil Gaiman’s “Orange” which takes what could be a pedestrian story of aliens coming to earth and makes us work to learn what has happened as we read the answers to a set of questions asked by a police investigator. Chris Jones’ “Roger Ebert: The Essential Man” which does its best to help us understand what the famous film critic is going through as he battles cancer. And a particular stand out for me – William Deresiewicz’s “Solitude and Leadership”, a discussion on leadership that emphasizes the need for thinkers, and the need to take time to think – to assimilate what you are hearing and make it your own. (This one article enough to make me want to preorder his upcoming book Excellent Sheep: The Disadvantage of an Elite Education.)
Look, that only scratches the surface. I haven’t even gone into Joan Wickersham’s “The Boy’s School, or the News from Spain”, or Olivier Schrauwen’s graphic story (is that what you call part of a graphic novel?) “The Imaginist”, or Mac McClelland’s “For Us Surrender is Out of the Question”, or Charlie Leduff’s “Who Killed Aiyana Stanley-Jones”, or… never mind, I give up. I’m just opening pages now and remembering how good it all was.
That being said, there is one thing that keeps this from being a perfect five-star recommendation. A few years ago, this series began including a front section of short pieces. In this edition, 16 items over 45 pages. When those are good, they are really good; when they are bad, they are really, really bad. In this edition, they are really, really, really bad. Almost nothing to warrant your time.
So, skip that section. Dive straight into the meat of the collection and have yourself a grand time.
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out, but all feel nice. But the number one thing I have learned is that, as long as I don’t go in expecting a five-star experience every time, I will not be disappointed with the quality. I’ll take “just good” any day compared to some of the tripe that is out there.And this year? Not just good, not good, not very good. This time? One of the best of the series. A collection of stories and essays and comics that are more than worth your time; events that will stick with you long after you walk away.
A few examples. Neil Gaiman’s “Orange” which takes what could be a pedestrian story of aliens coming to earth and makes us work to learn what has happened as we read the answers to a set of questions asked by a police investigator. Chris Jones’ “Roger Ebert: The Essential Man” which does its best to help us understand what the famous film critic is going through as he battles cancer. And a particular stand out for me – William Deresiewicz’s “Solitude and Leadership”, a discussion on leadership that emphasizes the need for thinkers, and the need to take time to think – to assimilate what you are hearing and make it your own. (This one article enough to make me want to preorder his upcoming book Excellent Sheep: The Disadvantage of an Elite Education.)
Look, that only scratches the surface. I haven’t even gone into Joan Wickersham’s “The Boy’s School, or the News from Spain”, or Olivier Schrauwen’s graphic story (is that what you call part of a graphic novel?) “The Imaginist”, or Mac McClelland’s “For Us Surrender is Out of the Question”, or Charlie Leduff’s “Who Killed Aiyana Stanley-Jones”, or… never mind, I give up. I’m just opening pages now and remembering how good it all was.
That being said, there is one thing that keeps this from being a perfect five-star recommendation. A few years ago, this series began including a front section of short pieces. In this edition, 16 items over 45 pages. When those are good, they are really good; when they are bad, they are really, really bad. In this edition, they are really, really, really bad. Almost nothing to warrant your time.
So, skip that section. Dive straight into the meat of the collection and have yourself a grand time.
Show Less
LibraryThing member exitfish
Best Best in a few years I think...
LibraryThing member stuart10er
I love these series. I think my favorite story of the year is "Orange" by Neil Gaiman. Great story.
Some of the non-fiction in here was amazing - parciularly the Suicide Catcher and the Mid-Life Cowboy. Great and touching articles.
The beginning section, which is often the funniest, was strangely
Some of the non-fiction in here was amazing - parciularly the Suicide Catcher and the Mid-Life Cowboy. Great and touching articles.
The beginning section, which is often the funniest, was strangely
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flat this year. Maybe not a lot of stuff to laugh at in 2010. Although, I doubt it. Show Less
LibraryThing member cookierooks
Not nearly as good as past years. Pleiades and Kicked Out of Paris are standouts.
LibraryThing member JBD1
As usual, pretty enjoyable section of short front matter. Tom Barbash's "The Women" was an interesting read, and Joshua Bearman's "Art of the Steal" was excellent. Neil Gaiman's "Orange" alone is probably worth getting this volume for, as was Chris Jones' profile of Roger Ebert. I had read Michael
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Paterniti's "The Suicide Catcher" somewhere before, but enjoyed revisiting it here. Show Less
Language
Physical description
528 p.; 8.2 inches
ISBN
0547577435 / 9780547577432