A review by toryhallelujah
The Best American Short Stories 2017 by Heidi Pitlor, Meg Wolitzer

3.0

"Maidencane" was an interesting treatise on the impermanence of memories; TC Boyle's "Are We Not Men?" was a cool departure into a future where designer dogs come in ROYGBIV colors; speaking of ROYGBIV, "Richard of York Gave Battle in Vain" had the uh-MAY-zing line "...you don't put a redhead in orange unless you're angry at her. Girl is being punished for something." "Ugly" was so heart-wrenching, even though it was just furniture and dishes being judged so harshly. "The Midnight Zone," by Lauren Groff -- oh geez. Mom falls off a stool and whangs her head, and has to still try to keep her little boys safe. I'll be seeking out more of Groff's work. "Let's Go to the Videotape" made me want to smack that damn dad in his fking face, and "Novostroiika" was nearly a direct homage to 1984's doublespeak/think, complete with incredible workday tasks to "ENGINEER TRIANGULAR VEGETABLE."