theverbalthing's review against another edition
4.0
We read selections from this book for my advanced fiction workshop. I was deeply impressed with a number of the stories we looked at, though I was also less than intrigued by some of the others. For a collection which purports to contain the Best American Short Stories of 2011, I thought many of them were lacking crucial elements of a good short story, let alone a best one. I think the editors made some interesting choices and could have probably produced a shorter anthology which only featured the more hard-hitting pieces...
But I'm still giving this book a high rating because of the power contained in the pieces that I did read, reread, and adore. It's been an interesting exercise reading these published pieces while struggling to produce work of my own that lives up to the expectations I give myself and my classmates give me.
But I'm still giving this book a high rating because of the power contained in the pieces that I did read, reread, and adore. It's been an interesting exercise reading these published pieces while struggling to produce work of my own that lives up to the expectations I give myself and my classmates give me.
ije's review
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
bethreadsandnaps's review against another edition
4.0
Consistently good stories. While different stories, the voice of the stories feels threaded through to hold it all together. Really enjoyed!
crfsanders's review against another edition
Good so far, but I've actually read or heard several of the stories in this year's collection elsewhere.
whatandreawrote's review against another edition
5.0
I skipped one ("Phantoms") but the rest of these stories were SUCH BANGERS that I am giving the collection a very coveted five-star rating.
For YEARS, I have avoided short stories. I think high school English bash-you-over-the-head style readings took a lot of joy out of them for me. But I have been reading a lot of books on writing which recommend the reading, writing, and study of short stories. So I got this one from the library.
I cried three times:
1 - Claire Keegan's "Foster" (after the end, staring out a window)
2 - Richard Powers' "To the Measures Fall" (after the end, in a dark room)
3 - Mark Slouka's "The Hare's Mask" (a couple of paragraphs deep, into a pillow)
Highly recommended.
For YEARS, I have avoided short stories. I think high school English bash-you-over-the-head style readings took a lot of joy out of them for me. But I have been reading a lot of books on writing which recommend the reading, writing, and study of short stories. So I got this one from the library.
I cried three times:
1 - Claire Keegan's "Foster" (after the end, staring out a window)
2 - Richard Powers' "To the Measures Fall" (after the end, in a dark room)
3 - Mark Slouka's "The Hare's Mask" (a couple of paragraphs deep, into a pillow)
Highly recommended.
lindsayhotrod's review against another edition
4.0
Hit and miss, but mostly hit. I'd read the Jennifer Egan story as part of A Visit from the Goon Squad before, so I surprised at how poignant it still was. Recommended.
an_enthusiastic_reader's review against another edition
There were some gems in this collection that stand out, and they are all "new to me" authors I will seek out in full collections.
A Bridge Underwater by Tom Bissell
The Sleep by Caitlin Horrocks
Soldier of Fortune by Bret Anthony Johnston
Phantoms by Steven Millhauser
Dog Bites by Ricardo Nuila
A Bridge Underwater by Tom Bissell
The Sleep by Caitlin Horrocks
Soldier of Fortune by Bret Anthony Johnston
Phantoms by Steven Millhauser
Dog Bites by Ricardo Nuila
mandareads1690's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
bookishcassie's review against another edition
5.0
http://booksandbowelmovements.wordpress.com/2011/08/31/the-best-american-short-stories-2011/
lindagreen's review against another edition
2.0
As with most collections, the stories will be hit or miss depending on the type of reading you like. I did not, unfortunately, notice the editor of this collection until after accepting this book for review. I am not a fan of Brooks’ writing and the chosen stories certainly follow the same style. I was able to find very few that even remotely appealed to me within the collection and usually I’m able to find a gem in the midst, so to speak. Each story does have its own merits and will appeal to many different types of readers and I’m certain most readers will be able to find a story within the collection that appeals to them. I think this collections’ tone just wasn’t for me. Good as an addition to a larger library’s collection but perhaps not enough wide audience appeal for smaller libraries like my own.
ARC Galley Proof
ARC Galley Proof