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PEN/O. Henry Prize Stories 2011: The Best Stories of the Year
The PEN/O. Henry Prize Stories 2011 contains twenty unforgettable stories selected from hundreds of literary magazines. The winning tales take place in such far-flung locales as Madagascar, Nantucket, a Midwestern meth lab, Antarctica, and a post-apocalyptic England, and feature a fascinating array of aging jazzmen, avalanche researchers, a South African wild child, and a mute actor in silent films. Also included are essays from the eminent jurors on their favorite stories, observations from the winners on what inspired them, and an extensive resource list of magazines. Your Fate Hurtles Down at YouJim Shepard Diary of an Interesting YearHelen Simpson MelindaJudy Doenges NightbloomingKenneth Calhoun The Restoration of the Villa Where Tibor Kálmán Once LivedTamas Dobozy IceLily Tuck How to Leave HialeahJennine Capó Crucet The JunctionDavid Means Pole, PoleSusan Minot Alamo PlazaBrad Watson The Black Square Chris Adrian Nothing of ConsequenceJane Delury The Rules Are the RulesAdam Foulds The Vanishing AmericanLeslie Parry CrossingMark Slouka Bed DeathLori Ostlund WindeyeBrian Evenson SunshineLynn Freed Never Come BackElizabeth Tallent Something You Can’t Live WithoutMatthew Neill Null For author interviews, photos, and more, go to www.ohenryprizestories.com A portion of the proceeds from this book will go to support the PEN Readers & Writers Literary Outreach Program. From the Trade Paperback edition.
432 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
18 people are currently reading
234 people want to read
About the author
Laura Furman
67 books59 followersLaura J. Furman (born 1945) is an American author best known for her role as series editor for the O. Henry Awards prize story collection. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, Mirabella, Ploughshares, Southwest Review.
She has written three collections of stories (The Glass House, Watch Time Fly, and Drinking with the Cook), two novels (The Shadow Line and Tuxedo Park), and a memoir (Ordinary Paradise).
She founded American Short Fiction, which was a three-time finalist for the National Magazine Award. She is currently Professor of English at the University of Texas at Austin, where she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in writing. Most recently, she has announced that she has submitted a collection of short stories to her agent, and the subsequent collection will be her first new work to follow the release of 2001's Drinking with the Cook.
She has written three collections of stories (The Glass House, Watch Time Fly, and Drinking with the Cook), two novels (The Shadow Line and Tuxedo Park), and a memoir (Ordinary Paradise).
She founded American Short Fiction, which was a three-time finalist for the National Magazine Award. She is currently Professor of English at the University of Texas at Austin, where she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in writing. Most recently, she has announced that she has submitted a collection of short stories to her agent, and the subsequent collection will be her first new work to follow the release of 2001's Drinking with the Cook.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
March 30, 2011
I'm in this!
April 4, 2012
There were a few fantastic stories that make this collection worthwhile:
Diary of an Interesting Year, Helen Simpson
Black Square, Chris Adrian
Windeye, Brian Evenson
Sunshine, Lynn Freed
These stories were extraordinary, some of the best I've read anywhere.
The rest of the collection was pretty mundane - it seems that if you are writing about an exotic locale (Africa, Malaysia, India) and your protagonists are homosexuals, then you had a fair chance of making it into this book. Not that those stories can't be interesting, but there were way too many "white woman ventures into Dark Land, has romantic interlude with Dark, Exotic Stranger, is forever changed" kind of stuff. Trite.
Diary of an Interesting Year, Helen Simpson
Black Square, Chris Adrian
Windeye, Brian Evenson
Sunshine, Lynn Freed
These stories were extraordinary, some of the best I've read anywhere.
The rest of the collection was pretty mundane - it seems that if you are writing about an exotic locale (Africa, Malaysia, India) and your protagonists are homosexuals, then you had a fair chance of making it into this book. Not that those stories can't be interesting, but there were way too many "white woman ventures into Dark Land, has romantic interlude with Dark, Exotic Stranger, is forever changed" kind of stuff. Trite.
September 19, 2015
Not surprisingly, an astonishing collection of outstanding short fiction. From harrowing to moving to gorgeous miniatures, these stories delight, one after the next. Many are from writers I do not know at all, but certainly encourages one to get to read their work more fully.
Tamas Dobosy's "The Restoration of the Villa Where Tibor Kalman Once Lived" is hard to finish, with its terrible portrait of the desperate acts a young man undertakes to survive the grueling end of World War II. A long, fairly successful marriage marriage is minutely examined during Lily Tuck's "Ice." A young American woman on assignment in Africa has a chance romantic encounter with one of her colleagues, learning much about herself and even a bit more about local culture, in Susan Minot's {"Pole, Pole."
These are just three of the collection, all of the individually rich and rewarding. Easy to pick up and put down, which is always a plus for those of us chronically short on time for pure reading.
A treat from end to end.
Tamas Dobosy's "The Restoration of the Villa Where Tibor Kalman Once Lived" is hard to finish, with its terrible portrait of the desperate acts a young man undertakes to survive the grueling end of World War II. A long, fairly successful marriage marriage is minutely examined during Lily Tuck's "Ice." A young American woman on assignment in Africa has a chance romantic encounter with one of her colleagues, learning much about herself and even a bit more about local culture, in Susan Minot's {"Pole, Pole."
These are just three of the collection, all of the individually rich and rewarding. Easy to pick up and put down, which is always a plus for those of us chronically short on time for pure reading.
A treat from end to end.
July 30, 2013
I'm catching up on some of my older reading, this being one. I started it when first released but have been distracted by other stuff (writing mostly) and have only picked it back up to finish this week. I've very surprised by the number of excellent (what I would call) speculative fiction stories. Precisely the kinds of stories I have in the past read in Fantasy and Science Fiction and others. Now some may take offense at this but I think it's wonderful. These are along the lines of The Ceiling by Kevin Brockmeier - http://www.randomhouse.com/boldtype/o... which I love!
I don't know if there was just a run of great 'out there' fiction this year or what but definitely a great collection here. I particularly enjoyed - Diary of an Interesting Year, The Black Square, Windeye, and Sunshine. And really there are no stinkers in the entire collection.
Loved it!
I don't know if there was just a run of great 'out there' fiction this year or what but definitely a great collection here. I particularly enjoyed - Diary of an Interesting Year, The Black Square, Windeye, and Sunshine. And really there are no stinkers in the entire collection.
Loved it!
June 23, 2017
Too many of these stories lack the tension, relevance and technical superiority of other books in this series. Some also veer into the realm of bad taste for what I believe was a cheap 'shock value' motive on the part of the judges/editor. (The story entitled "Diary of an Interesting Year" was the worst offender for me in this volume--yuck; I felt physically ill.)
On the bright side, my reading circumstances forced me to revisit the work of Brian Evenson, whose writing has failed to grab me in the past. His story, "Windeye," is in this collection, and is actually quite impressive to me on a second read-through.
On the bright side, my reading circumstances forced me to revisit the work of Brian Evenson, whose writing has failed to grab me in the past. His story, "Windeye," is in this collection, and is actually quite impressive to me on a second read-through.
June 14, 2011
As is usually the case with these collections, a fair half were beyond amazing, perfect really. The other half were not so compelling or didn't warrant such a prize for me as a reader. Interestingly, the below top stories are all authored by women.
Here are the standouts:
Pole, Pole - Susan Minot
The Vanishing American - Leslie Parry
Nothing of Consequence - Jane Delury (though that title stinks)
How to Leave Hialeah - Jennine Capo Crucet
Here are the standouts:
Pole, Pole - Susan Minot
The Vanishing American - Leslie Parry
Nothing of Consequence - Jane Delury (though that title stinks)
How to Leave Hialeah - Jennine Capo Crucet
September 10, 2011
These stories appear to have been selected for their diversity rather than their overall merit. It's a good book to read if you want to be sure that you never read two stories in a row that are remotely like each other. (There's one exception--there are in fact two stories in a row written from the first-person perspective of homosexual men.)
May 8, 2011
Another great collection. This year's stories were grimmer and darker than I had expected (two tramp/hobo stories? Strange!), but it made for an excellent read. Favourite stories: 'How to Leave Hialeah' by Jennine Capo Crucet and 'Crossing' by Mark Slouka.
October 2, 2011
45% of the stories contain a death. Death by avalanche, drowning, cancer, car crash, falling, suicide, old age, cancer, baboon girl attack, several pages describing all the ways people can die in a war, death by gunshot, by mysterious black box, and unspecified causes.
Want to read
July 16, 2011Just finished the opening story, "Your Fate Hurtles Down at You" by Jim Shepard--fantastic
June 13, 2025
Read in random order. Stories I read, rated out of 5. These are my predictably particularized personal opinions. Expect to disagree with me. (You know, like all reviews.) (Different people have different experiences, period.) I generally felt a kind of optimistic pre-pandemic vibe in this that seemed kinda... nostalgic? Might be interesting to compare this to a new collection.
Nightblooming. Kenneth Calhoun. 2.5, kinda dull.
Sunshine. Lynn Freed. 4. Freaky, bold, original .
Diary of an interesting year. Simpson. 2.5 Cliche. Sorry, postapocalyptic tropes bore me at this point in my life.
Nothing of Consequence. Jane Delury. 5. A marvelous work of shortstorytelling artistry.
Pole, Pole. Susan Minot. 4.5, another marvel of narration, as if it takes place in slow motion.
Alamo plaza. Brad watson. 4.
Black Square. Chris Adrian. 4.
Ice. Lily tuck. 3.
Something you can’t live without. Matt Null. 5. Fun, twisty, predictably brutalist western.
Windeye. Evenson. 3
Your fate hurtles down at you. Shepard. 4. (Another story in a frozen landscape.) Kind of adventurous.
Melinda. Judy Doeges. 2. I barely understood this story. I didn’t believe it....Confused.
How to Leave Hialeah. Jennine capo Crucet. 3. Seems like an indulgent autobiography.
Crossing. Mark slouka. 2.5. Very slight, odd that this made it, though I suppose its also fine.
The Vanishing American. 3.5. I have a soft spot for westerns and indigenous stories. This feels like something Guy Vanderhaeghe should have written.
The Junction. 3.5.
Nightblooming. Kenneth Calhoun. 2.5, kinda dull.
Sunshine. Lynn Freed. 4. Freaky, bold, original .
Diary of an interesting year. Simpson. 2.5 Cliche. Sorry, postapocalyptic tropes bore me at this point in my life.
Nothing of Consequence. Jane Delury. 5. A marvelous work of shortstorytelling artistry.
Pole, Pole. Susan Minot. 4.5, another marvel of narration, as if it takes place in slow motion.
Alamo plaza. Brad watson. 4.
Black Square. Chris Adrian. 4.
Ice. Lily tuck. 3.
Something you can’t live without. Matt Null. 5. Fun, twisty, predictably brutalist western.
Windeye. Evenson. 3
Your fate hurtles down at you. Shepard. 4. (Another story in a frozen landscape.) Kind of adventurous.
Melinda. Judy Doeges. 2. I barely understood this story. I didn’t believe it....Confused.
How to Leave Hialeah. Jennine capo Crucet. 3. Seems like an indulgent autobiography.
Crossing. Mark slouka. 2.5. Very slight, odd that this made it, though I suppose its also fine.
The Vanishing American. 3.5. I have a soft spot for westerns and indigenous stories. This feels like something Guy Vanderhaeghe should have written.
The Junction. 3.5.
June 10, 2022
All the stories in this collection were (not surprisingly) excellent. However, for me, several stood out amongst the rest:
Diary of an Interesting Year by Helen Simpson: A haunting take on the apocalypse. The "interesting year" is a nightmarish hellscape told to us through brief diary entries.
The Black Square by Chris Adrian: The concept of this story left me hungry for more. I loved it--wish it were a novel.
The Vanishing American by Leslie Parry: This story gave a sense of lingering sadness and I enjoyed that I learned something, too.
Crossing by Mark Slouka: A father and son cross a river together and it's terrifying. If it were a movie, I'd be covering my eyes with my hands and peeking through the cracks in my fingers.
Sunshine by Lynn Freed: With a title like that, you think you're getting something nice and light, but what you get is something disturbing with a violent vengeful ending.
Something You Can't Live Without by Matthew Neill Null: Maybe it's the recency effect at work here (this story is the last in the book), but I think this one is my favorite stories here because of the skillful and interesting descriptions. I laughed aloud when the protagonist remarks to his horses that the weather is "hotter than two rats fucking in a wool sock". The whole story is full of wonderful word gems. Now I want to read everything by this author.
Diary of an Interesting Year by Helen Simpson: A haunting take on the apocalypse. The "interesting year" is a nightmarish hellscape told to us through brief diary entries.
The Black Square by Chris Adrian: The concept of this story left me hungry for more. I loved it--wish it were a novel.
The Vanishing American by Leslie Parry: This story gave a sense of lingering sadness and I enjoyed that I learned something, too.
Crossing by Mark Slouka: A father and son cross a river together and it's terrifying. If it were a movie, I'd be covering my eyes with my hands and peeking through the cracks in my fingers.
Sunshine by Lynn Freed: With a title like that, you think you're getting something nice and light, but what you get is something disturbing with a violent vengeful ending.
Something You Can't Live Without by Matthew Neill Null: Maybe it's the recency effect at work here (this story is the last in the book), but I think this one is my favorite stories here because of the skillful and interesting descriptions. I laughed aloud when the protagonist remarks to his horses that the weather is "hotter than two rats fucking in a wool sock". The whole story is full of wonderful word gems. Now I want to read everything by this author.
October 6, 2023
Melinda, the restoration of the villa Tibor Kálmán once lived, sunshine and never come back were good, something you can't live without tops the collection
November 22, 2015
Always nice to have a collection of short stories in order to keep my palate wet during a reading-lite month. Best American Short Stories will always be my fave, but I liked the fare in here, too. Below are thoughts on the stories that made the biggest impressions.
"Diary of an Interesting Year" by Helen Simpson, The New Yorker--I don't think I like dystopia short stories as much as I do novels. There's not enough space to explore ideas, so it comes off as tropey and preachy.
"Melinda" by Judy Doenges, The Kenyon Review--I liked the juxtaposition of the protagonist's past and current lives, and am now freaked out about the ease of identity theft. Characters are well defined for so little space, though it's easier due to the all-encompassing nature of addiction.
"Nightblooming" by Kenneth Calhoun, The Paris Review--20 something briefly joins senior band on its death knell plus party with like-age women. Quirky set piece and I liked the illusion of rhythm and beat as a human life.
"Ice" by Lily Tuck, The American Scholar--middle aged married couple on an Antarctica cruise. Nice mix of character quirks, built up conflict between couple, and visuals of icebergs.
"How to Leave Hialeah" by Jeanine Capo Crucet, Epoch--somewhat stereotypical story of Cuban American girl escaping promise of low end job/teenage pregnancy life by going to college and grad school. She's book smart, learns about identity politics and has micro aggression run-ins with WASPs. Told in second person, and the ending, where she confronts the death of a cousin, is more arresting.
"Pole Pole" by Susan Minot, The Kenyon Review--probably my fave so far in the collection. Involves a sexual tryst between two white people in Kenya. She weaves physical description and decent character development in a small amount of space. Touched deftly on several themes--racism, entitlement, abuse, adultery, reading people through faces, and the multitudes of meaning in a different language.
"Alamo Plaza" by Brad Watson, Ecotone--plot of the story, about a family on a summer vacation, is filed in with narrator's future recollections about their ultimate fates. Writing style dips into showmanship and navel grazing, weak on dialogue; I recognize my own flaws. :p. Works better in novels where there's room for the story to breathe.
"The Black Square" by Chris Adrian, McSweeney's--seems like subtle metaphors-meets-magic-realism with the black square representing falling into depression. Thoughtful with well realized characters for the short story form. I found the protagonist unlikeable for some self-centered denial and hypocrisy, but that's often depression, too.
"The Rules Are The Rules" by Adam Foulds, Granata--maybe another favorite. About a priest in a secret, gay relationship, and his interactions with a few of his parishioners. Refreshingly down to earth, not melodramatic plot content.
"The Vanishing American" by Leslie Parry, Virginia Quarterly Review--great period piece, melding what it's like to be a silent film actor and a war veteran in the 1920s. Wonderful use of backstory, too.
"Bed Death" by Lori Ostlund, The Kenyon Review--a lesbian couple from the US take jobs as teachers in a college. Partially a cultural study and partially a psychological study of how the cynical narrator relates to her world. Perhaps a little loose with subplot direction, but that made the first person experience seem more real.
"Sunshine" by Lynn Freed, Narrative Magazine-- a rapist tames a feral girl, with surprising results. Has a magic realism feel, outside of time, like the man, his servants, the girl, are all metaphors for violent patriarchy and loss of innocence.
"Never Come Back" by Elizabeth Tallent, The Threepenny Review--teen pregnancy, mother abandons kid at 4, lives with paternal grandparents. Nice characterization, but also felt a little stereotypical.
"Diary of an Interesting Year" by Helen Simpson, The New Yorker--I don't think I like dystopia short stories as much as I do novels. There's not enough space to explore ideas, so it comes off as tropey and preachy.
"Melinda" by Judy Doenges, The Kenyon Review--I liked the juxtaposition of the protagonist's past and current lives, and am now freaked out about the ease of identity theft. Characters are well defined for so little space, though it's easier due to the all-encompassing nature of addiction.
"Nightblooming" by Kenneth Calhoun, The Paris Review--20 something briefly joins senior band on its death knell plus party with like-age women. Quirky set piece and I liked the illusion of rhythm and beat as a human life.
"Ice" by Lily Tuck, The American Scholar--middle aged married couple on an Antarctica cruise. Nice mix of character quirks, built up conflict between couple, and visuals of icebergs.
"How to Leave Hialeah" by Jeanine Capo Crucet, Epoch--somewhat stereotypical story of Cuban American girl escaping promise of low end job/teenage pregnancy life by going to college and grad school. She's book smart, learns about identity politics and has micro aggression run-ins with WASPs. Told in second person, and the ending, where she confronts the death of a cousin, is more arresting.
"Pole Pole" by Susan Minot, The Kenyon Review--probably my fave so far in the collection. Involves a sexual tryst between two white people in Kenya. She weaves physical description and decent character development in a small amount of space. Touched deftly on several themes--racism, entitlement, abuse, adultery, reading people through faces, and the multitudes of meaning in a different language.
"Alamo Plaza" by Brad Watson, Ecotone--plot of the story, about a family on a summer vacation, is filed in with narrator's future recollections about their ultimate fates. Writing style dips into showmanship and navel grazing, weak on dialogue; I recognize my own flaws. :p. Works better in novels where there's room for the story to breathe.
"The Black Square" by Chris Adrian, McSweeney's--seems like subtle metaphors-meets-magic-realism with the black square representing falling into depression. Thoughtful with well realized characters for the short story form. I found the protagonist unlikeable for some self-centered denial and hypocrisy, but that's often depression, too.
"The Rules Are The Rules" by Adam Foulds, Granata--maybe another favorite. About a priest in a secret, gay relationship, and his interactions with a few of his parishioners. Refreshingly down to earth, not melodramatic plot content.
"The Vanishing American" by Leslie Parry, Virginia Quarterly Review--great period piece, melding what it's like to be a silent film actor and a war veteran in the 1920s. Wonderful use of backstory, too.
"Bed Death" by Lori Ostlund, The Kenyon Review--a lesbian couple from the US take jobs as teachers in a college. Partially a cultural study and partially a psychological study of how the cynical narrator relates to her world. Perhaps a little loose with subplot direction, but that made the first person experience seem more real.
"Sunshine" by Lynn Freed, Narrative Magazine-- a rapist tames a feral girl, with surprising results. Has a magic realism feel, outside of time, like the man, his servants, the girl, are all metaphors for violent patriarchy and loss of innocence.
"Never Come Back" by Elizabeth Tallent, The Threepenny Review--teen pregnancy, mother abandons kid at 4, lives with paternal grandparents. Nice characterization, but also felt a little stereotypical.
Want to read
July 14, 2015The PEN/O. Henry Prize Stories 2011 contains twenty unforgettable stories selected from hundreds of literary magazines. The winning tales take place in such far-flung locales as Madagascar, Nantucket, a Midwestern meth lab, Antarctica, and a post-apocalyptic England, and feature a fascinating array of characters: aging jazzmen, avalanche researchers, a South African wild child, and a mute actor in silent films. Also included are essays from the eminent jurors on their favorite stories, observations from the winners on what inspired them, and an extensive resource list of magazines.
Your Fate Hurtles Down at You
Jim Shepard
Diary of an Interesting Year
Helen Simpson
Melinda
Judy Doenges
Nightblooming
Kenneth Calhoun
The Restoration of the Villa Where Tibor Kálmán Once Lived
Tamas Dobozy
Ice
Lily Tuck
How to Leave...
The PEN/O. Henry Prize Stories 2011 contains twenty unforgettable stories selected from hundreds of literary magazines. The winning tales take place in such far-flung locales as Madagascar, Nantucket, a Midwestern meth lab, Antarctica, and a post-apocalyptic England, and feature a fascinating array of characters: aging jazzmen, avalanche researchers, a South African wild child, and a mute actor in silent films. Also included are essays from the eminent jurors on their favorite stories, observations from the winners on what inspired them, and an extensive resource list of magazines. Your Fate Hurtles Down at YouJim Shepard Diary of an Interesting YearHelen Simpson MelindaJudy Doenges NightbloomingKenneth Calhoun The Restoration of the Villa Where Tibor Kálmán Once LivedTamas Dobozy IceLily Tuck How to Leave HialeahJennine Capó Crucet The JunctionDavid Means Pole, PoleSusan Minot Alamo PlazaBrad Watson The Black Square Chris Adrian Nothing of ConsequenceJane Delury The Rules Are the RulesAdam Foulds The Vanishing AmericanLeslie Parry CrossingMark Slouka Bed DeathLori Ostlund WindeyeBrian Evenson SunshineLynn Freed Never Come BackElizabeth Tallent Something You Can’t Live WithoutMatthew Neill Null For author interviews, photos, and more, go to www.ohenryprizestories.com A portion of the proceeds from this book will go to support the PEN Readers & Writers Literary Outreach Program. From the Trade Paperback edition.
October 20, 2011
Two strong stories out of twenty assembled in this useless florilegium = a grade of 1.0 on a 10-point scale; however, as Goodreads does not allow for assessment by the half-star it therefore mathematically has earned, I'll give it one in deference to the two authors whose works' inclusion either momentarily lightens the unpleasant task of grimly wading into this morass as might suddenly coming across a pair of tulips thrust up from the depths of some vast swamp of shit, or else wind up being themselves sucked underneath by the time you've made it to them through the oozing mediocrity so that you're just too thoroughly lacquered with shit to bother fishing them out of the muck and splashing a little water from the by-now-also-shit-coated canteen you wisely bandoliered along over the grimy petals in order to give them the clean consideration they honestly deserve, because at this point you just want to chuck the book as far as possible out into an actual body of sewage-polluted water, only you purchased the so-called "digital edition" for consumption on your digitized-text-displaying "tablet" which means that there will be no physical chuck, the best you could do is expunge it from the files stored on this convenient implement, which feels a bit like ceding victory to the colporteur establishment, since now you're left with neither evidence that the unsatisfactory merchandise was ever yours, nor the fond memory of its trajectory out over the liquid filth, the pleasant ache in your throwing-shoulder attesting to a job well done, and meanwhile they've still got your fourteen bucks.
August 31, 2012
It’s been well over a decade since the last time I’ve cracked open a collection of O. Henry award stories. I don’t have the time to read short stories as often as I used to, and for the most part I’ve managed to satisfy my cravings by going through the The Best American Short Stories collections. However, over the years I’ve gotten dissatisfied with the increasing penchant of those stories to be high on literary style and low on narrative substance. So I decided to give the O. Henry stories another chance, thinking that these would be much more narrative-driven. Even thought that expectation has proven to be largely justified, the plotlines were only marginally better than the ones that I’ve encountered in that other series. On the other hand, the O. Henry stories featured more than a fair share of narratives involving unsavory lifestyles and situations, some of which were very gross and vulgar. These are not the kinds of story that you would want to be reading while enjoying a nice picnic or getting ready to go to bed (I am speaking from a personal experience). If this “edginess” is the price we have to pay in order to get more interesting plotlines, then I think I’ll pass. Which is unfortunate, since there were a few genuinely interesting and original stories in this collection (“Windeye,” “Sunshine,” “Never Come Back” come to mind) which makes me grateful that the good storytelling is not dead yet. So I will keep an eye out for more good stories, but will not put my faith in any of these collections to deliver on the promise of overall storytelling quality. And I’ll be re-reading some old American masters – Hemingway, Twain, Poe, and O. Henry himself.
October 24, 2012
It took me a long time to get a copy of this O. Henry, and while none of it was genuinely bad (in fact, I think they made a lot more unconventional choices than usual), I just didn't have a strong feeling for any of these stories. It took me a long, long time to decide where to place my bookmark before placing the book on my shelf (for books I own, I always leave a bookmark -- usually something I've picked up somewhere, like a train ticket or a business card from a cute store -- in the part of the book I liked best, or in this case, the story I liked best). I eventually chose "How to Leave Hialeah" (Jennine Capo Crucet) but I worry a lot of my affinity toward this story comes from its relationship to my research. My other fave was probably "Nightblooming" (Kenneth Calhoun), though I was also very excited to see something new by Susan Minot.
There's definitely a creepy, dystopian vein that runs through many of these stories. I didn't mind it, but it's not my favorite either. I got to be terrified by Helen Simpson's "Diary of an Interesting Year" again (it was from the New Yorker), and "The Black Square" (Chris Adrian) and "Sunshine" are definitely toeing the line between creepy and well written. There are at least two more stories that also fit this theme, but I don't want to name them -- a lot of their creepiness works because you don't see it coming until it's right on you.
There's definitely a creepy, dystopian vein that runs through many of these stories. I didn't mind it, but it's not my favorite either. I got to be terrified by Helen Simpson's "Diary of an Interesting Year" again (it was from the New Yorker), and "The Black Square" (Chris Adrian) and "Sunshine" are definitely toeing the line between creepy and well written. There are at least two more stories that also fit this theme, but I don't want to name them -- a lot of their creepiness works because you don't see it coming until it's right on you.
April 18, 2021
Your Fate Hurtles Down at You
by Jim Shepard -- 4/5 Stars
Diary of an Interesting Year by Helen Simpson -- 3/5 Stars
Melinda by Judy Doenges -- 3/5 Stars
Nightblooming by Kenneth Calhoun -- 4/5 Stars
The Restoration of the Villa Where Tibor Kalman Once Lived by Tamas Dobozy -- 4/5 Stars
Ice by Lily Tuck -- 4/5 Stars
How to Leave Hialeah by Jennine Capo Crucet -- 3/5 Stars
The Junction by David Means -- n/a
Pole, Pole by Susan Minot -- n/a
Alamo Plaza by Brad Watson -- 3/5 Stars
The Black Square by Chris Adrian -- 3/5 Stars
Nothing of Consequence by Jane Delury -- 5/5 Stars
The Rules Are the Rules by Adam Foulds -- /5 Stars
The Vanishing American by Leslie Parry -- /5 Stars
Crossing by Mark Slouka -- /5 Stars
Bed Death by Lori Ostlund -- /5 Stars
Windeye by Brian Evenson -- /5 Stars
Sunshine by Lynn Freed -- /5 Stars
Never Come Back by Elizabeth Tallent -- /5 Stars
Something You Can't Live Without by Matthew Neill Null -- /5 Stars
Diary of an Interesting Year by Helen Simpson -- 3/5 Stars
Melinda by Judy Doenges -- 3/5 Stars
Nightblooming by Kenneth Calhoun -- 4/5 Stars
The Restoration of the Villa Where Tibor Kalman Once Lived by Tamas Dobozy -- 4/5 Stars
Ice by Lily Tuck -- 4/5 Stars
How to Leave Hialeah by Jennine Capo Crucet -- 3/5 Stars
The Junction by David Means -- n/a
Pole, Pole by Susan Minot -- n/a
Alamo Plaza by Brad Watson -- 3/5 Stars
The Black Square by Chris Adrian -- 3/5 Stars
Nothing of Consequence by Jane Delury -- 5/5 Stars
The Rules Are the Rules by Adam Foulds -- /5 Stars
The Vanishing American by Leslie Parry -- /5 Stars
Crossing by Mark Slouka -- /5 Stars
Bed Death by Lori Ostlund -- /5 Stars
Windeye by Brian Evenson -- /5 Stars
Sunshine by Lynn Freed -- /5 Stars
Never Come Back by Elizabeth Tallent -- /5 Stars
Something You Can't Live Without by Matthew Neill Null -- /5 Stars
January 27, 2016
Finally got around to this and great great great, those all so finely-crafted moments when the weight of our human experience comes crashing down on the unsuspecting character. Was nice to see some speculative fiction: Diary of an Interesting Year is a chilling must read and The Black Square shows such expert handling of sci-fi as the story focuses on the characters and their response to the Square not the Square itself. Windeye was a short and powerful rendering of childhood fantasies, or not. Pole, Pole set in Kenya hit very close to home for me, as did Melinda about a woman living on a meth farm, Nightblooming took me back to them jazz old gs, and How to Leave Hialeah was just downright hilarious until it was suddenly touching. But the story that will always linger with me is Sunshine (Narrative seems to have a knack for such disturbingly moving stories) and A.M. Homes essay on the story was such a wonderful read. So devour them all and move on to the next collection.
September 12, 2012
Overall this was a fairly satisfying collection - I must say I enjoyed reading many of the stories, even though the quality was quite variable. The best story is for me Helen Simpson's "Diary of an Interesting Year". The story impresses all the more because of the cute, chick-lit style narration of absolutely horrific events.
Of the rest, obviously Mark Slouka's "The Crossing" is the best. As with many of Slouka's stories, extremely vivid & well-told, and intuitively familiar to most men - who among us has not tried to repeat something recklessly just because he had been good at it t once earlier?
Of the rest, obviously Mark Slouka's "The Crossing" is the best. As with many of Slouka's stories, extremely vivid & well-told, and intuitively familiar to most men - who among us has not tried to repeat something recklessly just because he had been good at it t once earlier?
March 23, 2012
Reading this anthology was like falling down a long flight of stairs, with each story being one more step in a series of painful landings. I don't mean that they were all bad stories, but pain was a dominating theme. The memorable exceptions were Jennine Capo Crucet's "How to Leave Hialeah", where there were some laughs mixed in with the sadness, and likewise Chris Adrian"s "The Black Square". Mark Slouka"s "Crossing" was gut-wrenching and still relevant to ordinary life. Helen Simpson's "Diary of an Interesting Year" just made me feel hopeless.
April 25, 2015
A more-depressing-than-usual year's best collection - in subject matter and tone, not in writing skill. Standouts for me were Kenneth Calhoun's "Nightblooming," a story of a young musician who enters the world of a troupe of old jazz men, and Chris Adrian's "The Black Square," a surprisingly optimistic story about suicide and the death of relationships. Many of the other stories here are studies in hopelessness, sudden violence, and loss. All well written (except for the one or two that are overwritten for my taste) but... more than enough downers for one anthology.
February 6, 2013
This collection is notable for its diversity of points of view. There are running themes of dread and/or looking back which are fairly satisfying.
I skipped a few & didn't love them all but the highlights are really high:
"Diary of an Interesting Year" by Helen Simpson
"Your Fate Hurtles Down at You" by Jim Shepard
"The Junction" by David Means
I skipped a few & didn't love them all but the highlights are really high:
"Diary of an Interesting Year" by Helen Simpson
"Your Fate Hurtles Down at You" by Jim Shepard
"The Junction" by David Means
December 6, 2012
An up and down selection of stories from 2011, some of which I liked and some of which I did not like. This is not to say that any of the stories are bad (they're all good enough to be chosen for this), rather that some of them just weren't my style. Overall, a good read, and especially good for those interested in what all's published now in the short story world.
November 17, 2016
For me, these stories just too DARK DARK DARK. People who dress entirely in black and like to look at the world tres cynically would probably love them. It is not to say the writing is bad -- but it is just not very uplifting. Even Pollyanna might have a hard time seeing the silver lining to this.
August 3, 2012
This seemed like an uneven mix of stories to me. However, there is enough really nice stuff in here to make it worth looking at. "Your Fate Hurtles Down on You" by Jim Shepard and "Milinda" by Judy Doenges made this well worth the read for me.
February 8, 2012
A fascinating collection. Each of the stories was (naturally) gorgeously written, and all of them seemed to have a certain delicacy. Some of them were a tad disturbing, and I was interested in how many of them were semi-futuristic.
February 12, 2012
Detailed comments (with possible spoilers) at A Just Recompense, including introduction, summary, and entries on each individual story
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