McSweeney's Issue 23

McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern #23

by Dave Eggers (Editor)

McSweeney's Issue 23 includes ten stories from ten excellent writers, including Wells Tower, Chris Bachelder, Ann Beattie, and other agile talents bringing visions of the Dallas/Fort Worth fake-watch trade and Papua New Guinea in the 1960s.  Every story gets its own front and back cover drawn, collaged, or embroidered by the polymathic Andrea Dezsö.  The whole thing is wrapped in a jacket that unfolds into five square feet of double-sided glory — spread it out one way for dozens of very short stories by Dave Eggers, arranged in what we're pretty sure is a volvelle; flip it over and witness all those Dezsö illustrations stitched into one unbroken expanse.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Anthologies, Literature, Collections

300 pages, Hardcover

Published April 18, 2007

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

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first McSweeny's I've read in book-form. I keep trying to get into Dave Eggers' style/taste, but have trouble accessing it. Everything in here is a sliver too magical or bizarre for me to get into it.

[Sam Quixote · Rating 2 out of 5]

McSweeney's 23 is a large hardback book (written on the cover is "Still going strong... like Castro") with a wraparound cover designed by Andrea Dezso which unfolds into a massive poster which on the flipside has dozens of short short stories by Dave Eggers. The poster is ace but I didn't read any of the short stories by Eggers as it's just uncomfortable and awkward holding a piece of paper that big and squinting at the spiralling paragraphs. The ones I read were so so. Andrea Deszo also designs front and back covers for each short story within which is very cool.

Though of the 10 stories within I only really liked Deb Olin Unferth's "Bride" about a deluded man who heads off to meet his ex-girlfriend years after they've broken up to see if she'll leave her husband and kids and run off with him. Along the way he picks up a madwoman about to get married and finally arrive at the ex-girlfriend's house. The ending is great and the whole story is original and funny.

It's the only good story here. Wells Tower's "Retreat" is like the story in his book "Everything Ravaged..." except it's told from the point of view of the other brother. This would be interesting except very few new details emerge and so the story doesn't really need to be written. Having read this same story now twice, it's good but really only the first time.

Roddy Doyle's "Black Hoodie" is good as always while there are a couple of average stories like Shawn Vestal's "About As Fast As This Car Will Go" about a young boy whose felon father takes his own scamming and eventually swallows up his life in crime with a holdup. Chris Bachelder's "My Son, There Exists Another World Alongside Our Own" really only just says "have sex a lot" which I'm going to assume most people already know (although I'm sure some of the really bookish out there are probably asexual like Henry James and will probably dismiss the story) and so seems a bit pointless.

Mostly a token effort, this issue looks good and is produced to a high standard but the stories are a bit of a let down and ultimately might put you off McSweeney's for a couple of years. McSweeney's 29 is brilliant and I recommend checking that out instead.

[Atikah Wahid · Rating 1 out of 5]

My rating wildly changed mid-reading when I realised there's only 3 good short stories in here and they are the first three. I've always known that McSweeney likes stories that are a little bizarre and strange but most of them are not interesting enough to pass. Most of them are eyeroll-inducing, navel-gazing first-world-problems where the protagonist is thinking about thinking. Seriously. The stories are like coming-of-age indie Sundance films without any charm. You know the ones. The troubling thing is I don't know why these stories are chosen at all for a book that looks so beautiful and well-made. This hardcover book was illustrated by Andrea Dezso and it looks amazing, some of the illustrations within the book are detailed embroideries. In fact, the really good short stories by Wells Tower and Roddy Doyle felt completely wasted compiled with all the other lacklustre ones. In the end, I actually thought "when is this going to end??" so that alone deserve a one-star rating. At least it will look good on my shelf.

[Frank Dahai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roddy Doyle's 'Black Hoody' is pitch-perfect blend of idea, style, voice, wit and character. The voice of the Dublin teenager is spot on, with its repitition and mannerisms. The story idea wraps up themes of identity, race, determination, intelligence and youth so seamlessly that it just all flows. It's hilarious too. One to analyse, take apart, and check all the inner workings of.

I was also pleasantly surprised by Deb Olin Unferth's 'Bride'. Olin's writing usually irks me with its attention seeking effects, but this time around she took the thing for more of a walk. The characterisation and story were well rounded with insight. Ann Beattie's 'Girls in Bad Weather' was also memorable.

Otherwise, mostly forgetable.

[James Jardine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dave Eggers' inside cover content was really cool and creative, as was the artwork. I especially liked the Sleep essay/commentary.
Overall the collection was pretty good, but McSweeneys always is really good at its worst. I would've rated it much higher but I was a little disappointed in Wells Tower's story. I was so excited to read it because Wells is one of my favorite fiction writers, but it wasn't as great as I'd been hoping for. Still good, but I have unrealistic Wells Tower expectations since reading "Executors of Important Energies" in McSweeneys #14.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really quick and great read of short stories. The book jacket is actually a huge folded up work of art with more short stories on the backside...or the front?? i especially like the story about the Black Hoodie Solution where a white kid in a black hoodie, a Nigerian beauty and a kid in a fake wheelchair shoplift to proove a point. and the other about some indigenious group of people who make art and eat people.

[Bobby · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's nice to pick up a collection of short stories by emerging but talented authors and be pleasantly surprised by the high quality of most, if not all, of the stories. Given the disparate tone and style of the stories, everyone will likely have his/her favorite. Although for me no one story was amazing, I found most of them quite good and rather impressive, especially given how short they are. A nice break from heavier novels or non-fiction works.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this issue better than issue 21, and there were some stories that definitely were engaging and entertaining. Every time I read one of these collections I always find myself particularly liking the story by Roddy Doyle if there is one, so I think I should one of these days read one of his books...

[MJ Nicholls · Rating 5 out of 5]

This issue is awesomely designed, with uniformly excellent stories: the highlights coming from Chris Bachelder, Clancy Martin & Deb Olin Unferth.

The bonus features include an instructional, scientific guide to learning comedy, and a labyrinth of miniature stories on the reverse of the book's cover, authored by unknowns in the deadpan Eggers manner. A work of beauty.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I subscribed to McSweeney's a while back and this is the first issue I received. Shame on me for letting it sit on my shelf for so long - this is an EXCELLENT collection of funny and dramatic short stories, which have become my new favorite thing in reading. Just superb.

[viola · Rating 3 out of 5]

not as good as the last mcsweeney's i read. too many stories that were oh-so-experimental that they resulted in being just a small step above nonsense (and in some cases were actually nonsense). probably just too highbrow for me, but i'm willing to admit it.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A terrific collection of short stories and a great introduction to the McSweeney's style. One of the best issues in my opinion, I couldn't put it down. Also, a beautiful cover which pulls out into a poster, if you're into that kind of thing.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

We had a McSweeney's and Believer subscription last year, and I think I only ever read a page or two of the various McSweeney's - now I'm getting to it a year later, and am really enjoying the short stories.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for short stories; this is a good collection from McSweeney's (Dave Eggers - Heartbreaking Work) publishing house. If you're not familiar with McSweeney's I'd highly recommend checking it out: $100 annual book club for 10 hardback new releases.

[Sara Bohl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic short story collection. edited by Dave Eggers.

[Paulg · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first McSweeney's issue, in my opinion, that's good throughout. This contains several authors of whom I've never heard.

[Emily]

don't miss the story about the jeweler.

[jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roddy Doyle is my new favorite thing.

[rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

contains some true gems, the details of which I can't recall

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't really understand why most of these were chosen...they weren't very well written or engaging in anyway.

[A.Jay Wagner]

McSweeney's Issue 23 (Mcsweeney's Quarterly Concern) by Dave Eggers (2007)

[Adrianne Mathiowetz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it all except the second-to-last story. Skip that one.