Scan barcode
A review by reading_rainbow_with_chris
The Best Short Stories 2021: The O. Henry Prize Winners by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-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? N/A
3.5
“The Best Short Stories 2021: The O. Henry Prize Winners” edited by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche
The O. Henry Prize short story anthologies are one of my two reliable annual collections that I go to for some amazing short stories. That is why this particular collection was slightly disappointing. To be clear, there are some excellent works in here and I think Adiche did a remarkable job of capturing a range of diverse voices. But something about the stories collected here didn’t entice me. I was missing the kind of verve in them that motivates me to keep reading. Although I could objectively point out each story being good, I had trouble keeping interest, hence the very long journey to completion. I think ultimately this is not a reflection on the quality of the collection and more a statement that this particular collection didn’t speak to me as much. Standout stories for me included “Endangered Species: Case #74701,” “Becoming the Baby Girl,” “Freedom from Want,” “Fisherman’s Stew,” and “Delandria.”
The O. Henry Prize short story anthologies are one of my two reliable annual collections that I go to for some amazing short stories. That is why this particular collection was slightly disappointing. To be clear, there are some excellent works in here and I think Adiche did a remarkable job of capturing a range of diverse voices. But something about the stories collected here didn’t entice me. I was missing the kind of verve in them that motivates me to keep reading. Although I could objectively point out each story being good, I had trouble keeping interest, hence the very long journey to completion. I think ultimately this is not a reflection on the quality of the collection and more a statement that this particular collection didn’t speak to me as much. Standout stories for me included “Endangered Species: Case #74701,” “Becoming the Baby Girl,” “Freedom from Want,” “Fisherman’s Stew,” and “Delandria.”