McSweeney's #07

McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern #7

by Dave Eggers (Editor)

The seventh edition of this American literary quarterly includes stories by nine Kevin Brockmeier, Michael Chabon, Ann Cummins, Courtney Eldridge, A.M. Homes, Heidi Julavits, JT Leroy, Allan Seager, William T. Vollmann, and Chris Ware.

Each story is published separately in booklet form, held together by a blue and grey hardboard clamshell.
Note: This edition was untitled.

Genres: Fiction, Literature, Essays

First published May 1, 2001

About the author

Dave Eggers is an American writer, editor, and publisher. He is best known for his 2000 memoir, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, which became a bestseller and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction. Eggers is also the founder of several notable literary and philanthropic ventures, including the literary journal Timothy McSweeney's Quarterly Concern, the literacy project 826 Valencia, and the human rights nonprofit Voice of Witness. Additionally, he founded ScholarMatch, a program that connects donors with students needing funds for college tuition. His writing has appeared in numerous prestigious publications, including The New Yorker, Esquire, and The New York Times Magazine.

Reviews

[Rand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like nearly all of the issues of this journal, the design of the book as an object is more unique than its content. That is not to say that the prose contents are poor; rather that this is the only literary journal I know of which has each story bound in softcover as an individual pamphlet, bundled inside a hard back and secured by a giant rubber band. This format is ideal for carrying an individual story with one during a commute, or lending a particular piece to a friend. Or for loosing piecemeal across one's string of abodes, as the case may be.

The AM Holmes story was excellent; the Chabon "continuation" to that comic book novel was an interesting concept but I couldn't force myself to get into it, not having read that comic book novel and not wanting to spoil a potentially good story. Cannot recall the rest, but I know that they were for the most part rather good. Each pamphlet has its own unique cover art as well.

A worthy addition to any library.

[Jay Semeniuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

i absolutely loved do not disturb. its such a wild story that i never wouldve expected to read in this

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently wrote a short thing about Dave Eggers and then realized that I hadn't rated or reviewed the many issues of McSweeney's I've read. The early issues were especially influential and inspiring to me.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the packaging of this issue quite a bit. The cover art of each book was wonderful. Some of the stories were great, some just okay, and some not my style. There was no discernible theme to hold everything together but all things considered, a good issue.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt like some of these stories needed a trigger warning. Damn. It also included 100 pages of Vollman's work on violence, which I'll never get to read because it's a minimum of $1,000 online now.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

McSweeneys at the height of their powers

[Jessica Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really only stars for Allan Seager, and for the descending ceiling of doom.

[Alex]

McSweeney's 7 (McSweeney's Quarterly, Volume 7) (2001)