| Title | : | The Best American Short Stories 2021 |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1328485382 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781328485380 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 304 |
| Publication | : | First published October 12, 2021 |
In her introduction to The Best American Short Stories 2021, guest editor JesmynWard says that the best fiction offers the reader a sense of repair.The stories in this year's collection accomplish just that, immersing the reader in powerfully imagined worlds and allowing them to bring some of that power into their own lives. From a stirring portrait of Rodney King's final days to a surreal video game set in the Middle East, with real consequences, to an indigenous boy's gripping escape from his captors, this collection renders profoundly empathetic depictions of the variety of human experience. These stories are poignant reminders of the possibilities of fiction: as you sink into world after world, become character after character, as Ward writes, youforget yourself, and then, upon surfacing, know yourself and others anew.
The Best American Short Stories 2021 includes GABRIEL BUMP - BRANDON HOBSON - DAVID MEANS- JANE PEK - TRACEY ROSE PEYTON - GEORGE SAUNDERS - BRYAN WASHINGTON - KEVIN WILSON - C PAM ZHANG and others
The Best American Short Stories 2021 Reviews
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3.78 "varied, inclusive, dark" stars !!
The Pleasant Surprise Award of 2021
Thanks so much to Netgalley, Houghton Miffin Harcourt, the editors and all the authors for an advanced e-copy. I am providing an honest review. This will be released October 2021.
This is my first time reading this collection of annual stories that are chosen by an accomplished author. This year it was Ms. Jesmyn Ward and she wrote a very thoughtful and beautiful introduction.
For me these stories were about chaos, search for safety and love and dealing with the intersectionality of all our lives. In fact, all of us are other, and until we begin to acknowledge this the polarization, hatred and vitriol will not end. There are degrees of oppression (both internal and external) in all our lives but through compassion, wisdom and a genuine attunement to the other in others but also in ourselves along with social justice that is honest and keeping with a good life for all of us regardless of race, socio-economic status, gender expression, sexual orientation and/or health status. I am not sure this is possible but in order for us to survive we need to keep trying and include all of nature as well.
I was very pleasantly surprised that in 20 stories that there were five 5-stars, two 4.5 -stars and three 4-stars stories. Very high quality indeed.
There were no duds here but there a few stories that were 2.5 star average reads for me that I would not have included in a collection of bests (but that's just me ! and they may end up being favorites of yours)
In my usual fashion I will list the author, title, rating and a few impressions that I jotted down as I was reading.
1. Gabriel Bump (To Buffalo Eastward)- 2.5 stars....a young man hooks up with some strangers on his way to Buffalo and takes some psychedelics....not feeling it...sorry not sorry.
2.Rita Chang-Eppig (The Miracle Girl)-4 stars....a funny and interesting story of two sisters' experiences of missionary school in Taiwan...stigmata and all...terrific and an interesting commentary on race relations and colonialism within the context of Catholicism
3. Vanessa Cuti..... (Our Children)-2.5 stars... a mediocre story about the constraints of suburban womanhood
4. Jenzo DuQue(The Rest of Us)-5 stars.... a glorious story of Latin life in Chicago's south side...the writing is absolutely lush and bright and poignant !! (Bronze Award of the bunch)
5. Brandon Hobson (Escape from the Dysphesiac People)-3.5 stars....an Indigenous man of the plains reflects on his nation's history and his own ....sad and poignant
6. Jamil Jan Kochai (Playing Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain) -4 stars...A brilliant story of traumatic memory and gaming addiction and the confusion of a young Afghani American man.
7. Nicole Krauss (Switzerland)-3 stars....a young Jewish girl learns about the ways of sensuality through the sexual antics of an older Iranian girl....good but nothing new or terribly original here
8. David Means (Clementine, Carmelita, Dog)-5 stars.... a gloriously beautiful story about living life as a Daschund....compelling and poignant (Silver Award of the bunch)
9. Yxta Maya Murray (Paradise)-3.5 stars...a mixed race woman escape the fires of northern california with her baby daughter and white father in law.....interesting reflections on race relations
10. Eloghosa Osunde (Good Boy).-5 stars...a story of queer Africa that blew my mind....the writing is fresh vivid and sharp...fuck this was riveting !
11. Jane Pek (Portrait of Two Young Ladies in Green and White Robes)-5 stars...one of the most beatiful and ethereal lesbian love stories that I have ever read...I could not stop quivering with tears as I read this one...never-ending and spanning centuries (Gold award of the bunch)
12. Tracey Rose Peyton (The Last Days of Rodney)-3.5 stars...a look at the last day of Rodney King dealing with long term PTSD after police brutality and the heavy prices he paid for being Black and male....very good !
13. Christa Romanosky (In this sort of world, the asshole wins)-4 stars...a terribly sad story of a dope addict mama...her rage, her traumas, her excuses....
14. George Saunders (Love Letter)-2.5 stars...a somewhat interesting political letter from a loving grandfather to his grandson...just not feeling it...kind of contrived and over stylized.
15. Shanteka Sigers (A Way with Bea)-3 stars...A Chicago teacher from rural Alabama struggles with classism, internalized racism and her husband as she yearns to make a difference...at least for Bea...
16. Stephanie Soileau (Haguillory)-3.5 stars...A hateful Louisiana man and his angry wife go fishing....fun, authentic, bizarre
17. Madhuri Vijay (You are my Dear Friend)-4.5 stars...A complex multi-faceted piece of noir that left me shocked, perplexed, a bit terrified...an understanding of South Asian sociology will help you with this one
18. Bryan Washington (Palaver)-3 stars...Interactions between a young gay Black man and his mother in Japan who is visiting him from Texas...clever and interesting
19. Kevin Wilson (Biology)-4 stars....A young gay eighth grader (possibly on the autistic spectrum) finds compassion and understanding in his biology teacher...poignant, uplifting but ever so sad...ps why do the mean girls play basketball?
20. C. Pam Zhang (Little Beast)-4. 5 stars...a terrifying story about the darkness that can lurk inside teenage girls and why that might be...the writing is stellar and claustrophobic
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short story anthologies will be like here's a phenomenal piece of literature, the likes of which you will never encounter again, and then 10 pages later serve you wattpad-level writing.
of the 20 selected short stories, these were the few i felt genuinely deserved acknowledgment and would like to revisit in the future:
• "the rest of us" by jenzo duque (from one story)
• "good boy" by eloghosa osunde (from the paris review)
• "haguillory" by stephanie soileau (from zoetrope: all-story)
honorable mention for "portrait of two young ladies in white and green robes (unidentified artist, circa sixteenth century)" by jane pek (from conjunctions) because it told a better immortality story than v.e. schwab's addie larue. -
A big bag of broken glass and diamonds, all holding light, some of it painful. Some stories were unforgettable for their cruelty, others for their incredible love. I’ll definitely be watching for more from my favorites.
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All the stories here are terrific, and some are even better than that. They would have to be when you consider who the editor (Jesmyn Ward) left out: Richard Bausch, Lorrie Moore, Lydia Davis, T C Boyle to name a few from the 'Other Distinguished Stories' list.
Perhaps because I read it in bed with a COVID fever I could not get one particular story out of my head - Christa Romanosky's 'In This Sort of World, the Asshole Wins' - I would wake up and treat myself to a paragraph from it and read the whole thing again. And again.
I also really enjoyed the contributions of Gabriel Bump, Jenzo Duque, Nicole Krauss, Eloghosa Osunde, Madhuri Vijay, Bryan Washington and Kevin Wilson. -
Another collection of stories so unoffensive and polite that they border on the bland. The "mfa" style of contemporary writing boiled down to its least adventurous form, albeit still engaging, well-written, and generally thoughtful. That's my issue - there's nothing wrong with it, but there's nothing that makes my jaw drop either. I can't blame the editorial team though, it's hard to shy away from a safe collection that will appease most people, and what can I say? I will probably purchase next year's as well to act as a taster of contemporary fiction authors (but check out the Pushcart prizes collection for a better spread! Support small presses!). I preferred last year's selection though - no Emma Cline the MFA darling in this one despite a pretty good story she wrote about Wim Hof in the New Yorker a few months back.
Favorites included Switzerland - Nicole Krauss (New Yorker), Palaver - Bryan Washington (McSweeny's), and the Miracle Girl -Rita Chang-Eppig (Virginia Quarterly Review). -
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Best American Short Stories 2021.
I have a love/hate relationship with anthologies.
I know I won't like or connect with most of the stories but a few of them will stand out for me and make reading the collection worth it.
The only story I really liked and connected with was "Biology."
"Paradise" wasn't bad though I didn't like the characters like I did in "Biology."
Good writing and a diverse collection of stories but didn't like the majority of them but I usually feel this way so it's not the fault of the editor or the authors. -
3.85 is the official average of these 20 stories. My favorite was Kevin Wilson’s Biology. I do think the early stories are not as strong as the middle/later ones, which is completely random because these are in alphabetical order by author.
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Three and a half stars.
I thought these were the best stories overall:
Our Children; Vanessa Cuti
Playing Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain; Jamil Jan Kochai
Clementine, Carmelita, Dog; David Means
Paradise, Yxta Maya Murray
The Last Days of Rodney; Tracey Rose Peyton
In This Sort of World, the Asshole Wins; Christa Romanosky
Love Letter, George Saunders
Biology, Kevin Wilson
These stories represent what I responded to in the collection, mostly realist, observational, formal structure, family/relationship centered. If I can look at a title and the first paragraph and remember what the story was like (if not all the detail) then I consider it a success. There are some tough subjects and themes here. But no matter how much is thrown their way, the characters are key to making me feel something. -
In my collection of short story anthologies, I mark the stories I would read again. In this one there were four - by Nicole Krauss, David Means, Yxta Maya Murray, and Kevin Wilson.
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I have been reading the BASS anthologies over the last few years with the goal of catching up to the current year’s edition. I almost made it this year but not quite. The 2022 edition was recently published just before I finished 2021.
As with all of the BASS anthologies I've read, I found the selections to be a mixed bag, some years lots of good stories, and some years about a 50/50 mix. As I read the first two I was a bit apprehensive because they did not sit well with me. Then Our Children by Vanessa Cuti gave me hope until it got too weird. Finally, The Rest of Us by Jenzo Duque gave me a story that stirred emotions. All was not lost.
Other favorites were:
Switzerland by Nicole Krauss
Clementine, Carmelita, Dog by David Means
Good Boy by Eloghosa Osunde
The Last Days of Rodney by Tracey Rose Peyton
Haguillory by Stephanie Soileau
Palaver by Bryan Washington
Biology by Kevin Wilson -
Another year, another volume from BEST AMERICAN SHORT STORIES! I had a little trouble adding this one to my digital collection. For a short amount of time, it simply wasn’t available as an ebook in the ibook store. Strange!
Anywho, this is the first volume of stories largely written (or at least published) in the era of covid. But covid didn’t feature directly in any of them. I guess that is in keeping with the general feeling I get from the literary community that the pandemic is still too raw. We can deal with our usual subjects: poverty, depression, prejudice, etc. :P
Though perhaps I’m being glib about the connection between covid and these other societal ills. “For a story to resonate with me, it had to feel urgent during a time when even going to the post office held real danger,” Heidi Pitlor wrote. “A story had to ring loudly with some kind of deeply necessary truth or humor or wisdom.” Almost feels like Pitlor is admitting to a bias that might make her look past certain stories. But isn’t this self-seriousness the direction literary fiction has been moving in for a long time? Maybe more to the point I prefer it as well, so maybe I’ve found my wheelhouse. :P
Jesmyn Ward spoke of focusing on younger protagonists in the stories she chose; that’s how covid (and other social turbulence in the wider world) worked on her. “This year, in many ways, made me feel unmoored in a way I hadn’t since I was a teenager,” she wrote. “As I came of age, half aware of the pressure of society and culture around me but fully cognizant of their weight, I found myself wandering, aghast. The young people in these stories are compelling and unruly and imperfect, and perfecting heartbreaking.” Something more utilitarian to add: the stories, perhaps by dint of their young protagonists or covid fatigue in the writers room (speculation,) were also shorter than the norm. On ebook, most stories were 20-ish pages or less, whereas in previous years several were at least 40.
But anywho. An enjoyable collection overall, with the usual mix of stories I liked and stories I didn’t so much. Here’s a list of my favorites.
“The Miracle Girl” by Rita Chang-Epping (Virginia Quarterly Review): There’s a lot going on here---Chinese refugees in Taiwan, racism amongst missionary teachings, religious fervor and the realities of poverty. But I most appreciated the universal message of the main character’s desire for acceptance.
“The Rest of Us” by Jenzo Duque (One Story): Lushly detailed story of a Chicago Latinx community, particularly a group of friends, as told through the perspective of a drug dealer who grew up there. Seems to be addressing new people—gentrifiers? And a past that can’t be taken away.
“Clementine, Carmelita, Dog” by David Means (Granta): The narrator theoretically felt like a cheat, and yet somehow all of these characters—human and dog—felt alive to me. Opened up an entirely new perspective on a story about pretty normal relationships and desires.
“Paradise” by Yxta Maya Murray (The Southern Review): A timely piece on wild fires and white supremacy as experienced by a Native woman, her racist father-in-law, her dog and her kid. Also did well with backstory and describing the impending doom of the present day.
“The Last Days of Rodney” by Tracey Rose Peyton (American Short Fiction): The fictionalized life of a real person; there’s something untoward about this. And yet the character the author creates is so real, in deftly realized surroundings, and contemplating life’s issues from trauma and family relations. Plus the continuance of police violence into the modern day.
“In This Sort of World, the Asshole Wins” by Christa Romanosky (The Cincinnati Review): This character is “unlikeable” to a T. She’s both a victim and one of the assholes who wins, or survives, in her own way. There’s a master handling of past abuse and trauma, with current day mental patterns and external concerns. A dizzying read.
“Biology” by Kevin Wilson (The Southern Review): Oh wow. Not the best written, but probably my favorite. A rumination on depression, the confusion of growing up and facing your life, burgeoning queer identity, adolescent cruelty and strange relationships that can only be defined in hindsight.
“Little Beast” by C. Pam Zhang (BOMB): About the alienation of middle school, particularly with a wealth disparity between the protagonist and most others. More universally about girlhood in the age of obsession over sexualized victim stories and anorexic body types. Descriptive writing to lay out the scene without over-exposition.
And some honorable mentions…
“Playing Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain” by Jamil Jan Kochai (The New Yorker): The vignette style and abrupt ending make this story feel a little incomplete. But I can’t get over the creativity and geo-political commentary about these video games that turn ethnic groups into full-scale villains.
“Switzerland” by Nicole Krauss (The New Yorker): I wish this story was less passive and removed. But I have a keen interest in the backstory of the protagonist’s Jewish heritage.
“Haguillory” by Stephanie Soileau (Zoetrope: All-Story): Well written story about implicit racism, lack of empathy and outsized grievances. Interesting progression of cruelty to animals, from the societally accepted crabbing, to the less-so fish mutilation, to the more taboo housecat cat abuse. MC was one-dimensional though. -
Great:
Playing Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, Jamil Jan Kochai. Excellent. Sudden terror at recognizing his father in a video game, about the desparate wish to change the past, and the immutability of the present. Uses the second person well, which is hard to do.
The Rest of Us, Jenzo Duque. Excellent .A story about the projects that doesn’t feel like exploitation and doesn’t have false optimism, with a lived-in language of spanglish.
Biology, Kevin Wilson. Seizes on an oft-overlooked milestone; the first time an adult treats someone as a future adult and future peer. The moments that make life less alone and more unique. Done beautifully and with care and with a lot of unexpected bends in the road.
Palaver, Bryan Washington. Thoughtful and quiet and fragile. A love that isn’t expressed is still there and still makes a difference.
Escape from the Dysphesiac People, Brandon Hobson. Excellent. The experiences of marginalized communities lend themselves to becoming horror narratives, and this lets the horror of residence schools and the policies of “Kill the Indian, Save the Man” breathe.
Love Letter, George Saunders. Full of love and fear and an understanding of how the two can feed another during times of trouble. This is a Saunders who is too afraid to make jokes, which means it’s not him at peak performance.
Switzerland, Nicole Krauss. Dangerous girl at a Swiss boarding school is an aspiration, then a cautionary tale. Firm prose and illustrative of how people we meet stay with us even if we lose contact with them
Good:
The Miracle Girl, Rita Chang-Eppig. Very good. Takes a very recognizable dynamic (overachieving older sister vs. underachieving younger syister) and adds one confounding element: mysticism. What are you to do when older sister isn’t just mom’s favorite or teacher’s favorite but g-d’s? exposes the racism of missionary schools but doesn’t linger or stop the momentum of the story
You Are My Dear Friend, Madhuri Vijay. Unpredictable and taut like a rubber band, when it snaps you barely hear it.
Paradise, Yxta Maya Murray. Unafraid, daring, full of action spots and social discomfort with a sudden ending that provokes.
A Way With Bea, Shanteka Sigers. A very interesting form, taking advantage of negative space, trusting you to fill the gaps through close observation the same way the teacher reaches out to a student through that same observation.
Little Beast, C Pam Zhang. Horrifying tale of wanting to impress and assert yourself having shocking results.
In This Sort of World, The Asshole Wins, Christa Romanosky. Destruction and rage dominate this and pulse through it, and then almost as suddenly moments of love and tenderness poke through like a beak from an egg.
Alright:
Good Boy, Eloghosa Osunde Lively, and ultimately triumphant, story of a Lagos boy who has achieved personal freedom.
Our Children, Vanessa Cuti. Playful in the way its repressed narrator indulges a weird harmful fantasy that she ultimately doesn’t act on.
Minorly flawed:
The Last Days of Rodney, Tracey Rose Peyton. Decent, but the use of Rodney King’s name and history for a completely fictional day in the life vignette feels like a shortcut.
Haguillory, Stephanie Soileau. Has the same mechanism and structure as a vulgar joke. Good as far as jokes go, but there is a ceiling on these things.
Portrait of Two Young Ladies in White and Green Robes (Unidentified Artist, circa Sixteenth Century), Jane Pek. Disappointed with how aimless this felt, when the same author with the same concept spun marvels last year. Then again, it’s a little troubling that this was so similar to The Nine-Tailed Fox Explains. This reads like a failed draft of the former.
Majorly flawed:
Clementine, Carmelita, Dog, David Means. Attempts to translate for a dog’s point of view, but is full of clunky fourth wall apologies. The dog in question isn’t terribly observant or curious about its two human owners, and the result is a story that is basically purposefully hiding from the world at large.
To Buffalo Eastward, Gabriel Bump. Plug And Chug MFA story. Narrator is a cypher, so any choice he makes count as growth. Hallucinogens are introduced to give non-sequiturs cheap profundity. Flippant allusions to classics to prove he did the reading and isn’t impressed. All sheen, no substance, just a ball of saran wrap. -
This is a wonderful collection. In her introduction, Editor Jesmyn Ward writes: “I hope that as you sink into world after world, become character after character in these stellar stories, you can forget yourself, and then, upon surfacing, know yourself and others anew.” These stories deliver on this promise, introducing readers to places and people and circumstances far and wide. My personal favorites were Miracle Girl and Switzerland. But excellence abounds and I enjoyed this collection immensely. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book.
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The thing I like about these collections of short stories is that they are twice chosen, published once and then brought to the attention of whoever gathers the stories to be perused by the guest editor. There is never really a bad story in the collection. Always though, the content is dependent on the guest editor. I am unfamiliar with Jesmyn Ward and didn't know what to expect. Most of the stories were on the short side and except for George Saunders I didn't recognize any of the writers.
This was not my favorite edition of this series, but still quite good. -
As these things work, all of the stories selected by two-time National Book Award winner Jesmyn Ward for The Best American Short Stories 2021 compilation were actually published in English in American or Canadian periodicals between January 2020 and January 2021 by writers who call either the United States or Canada home. For that reason, the stories reflect much of the craziness that the world experienced during the chaotic year that 2020 so unexpectedly turned out to be for all of us. The stories told to us here by the especially diverse group of writers chosen to represent America’s best short writing of 2021 are thought-provoking reminders of just how different we all are now from who we were just one year earlier.
Almost every short story compilation will read differently to different readers. The favorite stories of one reader may barely impact another reader at all; some readers will love almost every story in the collection while others toss the book aside in frustration that none of the stories work for them. That’s just the way it happens, and with that caveat in mind, I want to give special mention to four of the twenty stories in The Best American Short Stories 2021 that most directly spoke to me.
The first is “Clementine, Carmelita Dog” (originally published in Granta) by David Means, a story that captures much of the feeling of isolation and despair that seems to have been so common during much of 2020. This story, although it uses the third person voice, is told largely through the eyes of Clementine, a “middle-aged dachshund,” who positively impacts the lives of two separate households, once as “Clementine” and then as “Carmelita.” While not exactly a feel-good story, this one leaves the reader in a hopeful mood about the things we can learn from the year we’ve just endured.
“Paradise,” by Maya Murray (originally published in The Southern Review), more directly addresses one of 2020’s disasters, the California wildfires that annually devastate portions of that state. In this character-driven story, we watch a woman trying to convince her 80-year-old father-in-law, a man for whom she now feels responsible despite his lifelong antagonism toward her, that it is time to abandon their home and run for their lives before it is too late to escape the fires. As I watched the interplay between the characters, I found myself wishing this one was much longer than it is.
Stephanie Soilleau’s “Haguillory” (originally published in Zoetrope: All-Story) is a revealing story about a deeply, probably permanently, flawed old man who confirms what kind of man he really is at the very end of the story. The story takes place in Louisiana, shortly after a hurricane has passed through the state, during a crabbing expedition the man and his wife have decided to make. Haguillory is a hard-to-forget fictional character that has earned his place in my memory — even though I can’t tell you why without spoiling the story.
Finally, there is “Biology,” by Kevin Wilson (originally published in The Southern Review), the story I found to be most touching one of the twenty in the collection. “Biology” is told largely in flashback through the eyes of a gay man who has just heard that his favorite high school teacher has died, the biology teacher who is responsible for having practically saved the man’s life by showing him, by example, how to survive his high school years. The teacher is a very complicated character, and I found myself being completely immersed in the world that Wilson created in the limited number of pages he allowed himself to tell the man’s story.
Bottom Line: The Best American Short Stories 2021 is an outstanding addition to this long-running series of short story compilations. That it reflects the work and world-views of such a diverse group of writers is an added bonus to readers looking to experience the writing of a group of young, new-to-them authors.
Review Copy provided by Publisher -
TL;DR:
1. George Saunders's "Love Letter" is the best piece.
2. Admittedly, I skipped nine of the 20 stories here; either the first paragraph completely turned me off, or the first page didn't grab me, and a quick skim and glance at the last page didn't convince me to give those nine a shot.
Why I Read This
I always think I'll like most of the pieces in The Best American Short Stories collections. It's usually a toss-up.
Five-Star Stories
"Clementine, Carmelita, Dog"
Solid plot and interesting perspective. I'm still curious who the human narrator is.
"Love Letter"
I do love George Saunders. This is a haunting piece, clearly written either during, or in memory of the mindset of, the autumn of 2020 in America. The letter itself is sweet and thoughtful, rambling believably, offering little nuggets of time-won wisdom, sometimes sentimental, sometimes funny. There are hints of the presence of a sharper mind than Gramps is letting on; maybe the written letter is old-fashioned or simply a bit paranoid, but maybe it's sagely pragmatic. Even the early bit about geese and blue mugs turns into a point later. But that ending!
"Biology"
I skipped around, and this was the last story I read, so by mere chance I got to end with one of my favorites of this collection. This is the epitome of a great short story: in less than 20 pages, we have well-defined characters who are easy to identify with and care about; things happen that make sense, with clear catalysts, complete arcs, and sensible conclusions; and the story itself doesn't require the kind of world-building that a short story doesn't have time for. Patrick's "Death Cards" game reminds me of a much darker, far more plausible version of the little tiles you pull in The Game of Life.
Four-Star Stories
"The Rest of Us"
Just gritty enough to feel authentic without being ostentatiously graphic. What happened to Ricky?
"Playing Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain"
This feels like a longer story that was edited into a short one, in the best way.
Three-Star Stories
"Our Children"
Reconfirming that I never want kids, not that I was looking to reconfirm that.
"Switzerland"
Bildungsromans as short stories rarely work for me. This one fell predictably flat.
"Paradise"
Neil Gaiman's collection Trigger Warning includes a story called "A Calendar of Tales: August Tale", which could have been the inspiration for this one, except this is more a tale of deep, simmering grievances than sudden engulfing flames. Honestly, I was annoyed by the end of it; lots of set-up but no action. It felt like the excerpt from a longer story that might actually be worth reading.
Two-Star Stories
"To Buffalo Eastward"
Feels like a semi-autobiographical retelling of a random road trip encounter, except so hyperbolized that it's pretty implausible, but also just banal enough that really, at least make an effort if you're going to lie about the random hookers you maybe-did-maybe-didn't meet.
"The Miracle Girl"
This feels like a longer, better story that got the life and moral edited out of it.
One-Star Stories
"You Are My Dear Friend"
Nothing happens. Geeta sucks; Geeta's husband is an asshole; Geeta's sort-of daughter is a calculating bitch; Geeta's "dear friend" is a chick she barely knows, whose sad-sack existence ultimately got Geeta shived in her own house. Is there a point? I was sort of reminded of The Bad Seed, like maybe this was going that way, but then nothing happened and a condo building went up. The end. -
General Thoughts:
This is an eclectic (and strong) mix of stories. From stories about family grief and imperialism through the lens of a video game, to stories about individuals who struggle to define their worth outside of how they can be of use to others, all roads lead to the interior in this collection (which feels emblematic of the world at large and lockdown tbh)
My personal Top Five from the anthology (in no particular order):
-Jamal Jan Kochai’s “Playing Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain”
-Eloghosa Osunde’s “Good Boy”
-Shantra Sigers’, “A Way With Bea”
-Rita Chang-Eppig’s “The Miracle Girl”
-Yxta Maya Murray’s “Paradise”
-Jane Pek’s “Portrait of Two Young Ladies in White and Green Robes (Unidentified Artist, circa Sixteenth Century)”
Petty Grievance:
George Saunders' "Love Letter" was a bit of a letdown for me. There's a clear reaching towards interacting with civil unrest and responses to recent protests, but because the story remains intentionally vague, it feels untethered and loses some of its resonance. Ironically, the refusal to provide any specificity prevented this story from feeling broadly applicable. -
I look forward to these collections every year! It's always a great opportunity to discover new authors and I find that each guest editor has a different taste/flair in picking stories. Perhaps fitting for the year defined by a global pandemic and a contentious election that was defined as a battle for the soul of the nation, many of these stories are dark. I found it difficult to read some of the stories, since 2020 left me wanting to feel hopeful. Standouts in the collection are "The Miracle Girl" by Rita Chang-Eppig, "Escape from the Dysphesiac People" by Brandon Hobson, and "Love Letter" by George Saunders. My absolute favorite story was "Switzerland" by Nicole Krauss. I love stories told by someone looking back on their childhood understanding of the world and people in it with the added wisdom of adulthood. If you typically enjoy the best American short story collections, you should pick this one up.
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I really wanted to give this three stars, but with how that very last story made me feel I don't think I can. There are 20 short stories in this book, and they vary greatly in genre and quality. When I first started reading I thought it was alright, but then it got to be a slog to get through. I think the second to last story, Biology, is my favorite, but then the very last story, Little Beast, just made me angry.
There are a few gems in here, but there are also stories that I absolutely do not understand the point of. Several stories seem to be people acting evil for no rhyme or reason, no consequences, and I cannot figure out what the message is supposed to be.
For me this title was just very misleading. Claiming that these stories are the best of the year is high praise, but unfortunately it just could not live up to it. -
I'm usually pretty split on these stories, but it's always worth the trip. Here are my favorite stories from this year's anthology, the ones I taught in my workshops:
Playing Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain by Jamil Jan Kochai—very original, nicely moving
Switzerland by Nicole Krauss—definitely has some bite to it, good tension
Clementine, Carmelita, Dog by David Means—one of my favorite dog POV stories ever
A Way with Bea by Shanteka Sigers—really loved this one, good heart, nice teeth
You Are My Dear Friend by Madhuri Vijay—unsettling at times, great ending
Palaver by Bryan Washington—good emotion, nicely touching
Little Beast by C Pam Zhang—pretty original, nicely creepy, that ending crushed me
Biology by Kevin Wilson—my favorite story of the anthology, great authority, strong emotion -
Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the Advanced Reader's Copy!
Now available.
Whew, Jesmyn Ward has assembled a fantastic lineup of contemporary authors for this anthology. From new & emerging authors like C Pam Zhang to eminent literary giants like George Saunders, the collection explores the mythical, mystical and realistic. There are fairy tales, hood tales, Gothic tales and even an odd email or two. I absolutely could not stop reading it! Highly recommend this collection to anyone in the mood for a change. -
The only drawback is by the time you get to the last story, you’ve forgotten about the first story. But the first story (like every story) is so damn good and weird that you end up wanting to spend your whole year just reading and re reading these … short … stories ….
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I wish I knew in advance that a book would be dark and depressing before I start reading it. Life itself is dark and depressing enough, I don't need a reminder from fiction.
These stories seem to all be about drugs, poverty, abuse and neglect. I did not read them all, and I probably won't. I want fiction that creates the illusion that life is good.
I will say that the Foreword and Introduction were excellent. I received a free advance copy of this book from NetGalley. -
Did not like 2021 of this annual. Even the paper wasn't good - kind of cheap. No heft. Some print books like this important annual should be not be cheapened.
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There’s one in here where a middle school teacher/war veteran challenges a teenage girl to a game of basketball in front of the whole school and it is THE BEST ONE
It’s all really wonderful though. -
This is the first Best American Short Stories anthology that I have read cover to cover. It must be beginner's luck, but what a superb compilation of stories it is. My favorite short story is "Playing Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain," by Jamil Jan Kochai.
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I enjoyed a few of the stories,but had difficulty with some of the cultural slang in one and the weirdness of a couple others. I did like the theme of children. I missed Alice Munro being included!
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Read my mini-review
HERE.
