Granta 101

Granta: The Magazine of New Writing #101

by Jason Cowley (Editor)

Includes fiction and reports from blitzed Beijing and photographs from the Arctic.

Genres: Short Stories, Nonfiction, Literature, Essays, Poetry, Anthologies

288 pages, Paperback

First published April 2, 2008

Reviews

[Parvathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A reading block is best offset by a Granta. This one unusually is not themed. Some terrific pieces though - especially the non-fiction. Early 21st century suburban Paris, where there is literally an intifada; an investigation into a bizarre murder; British nuclear bomb tests in the Pacific; a Beijing that is obliterating its past. Each of them a gem. And the fiction has some lovely ones too - Anne Proulx and Joshua Ferris. All in all, it got me out of my reading slump.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked twelve of the sixteen pieces in this issue, especially Hilary Mantel’s essay “Subject + Object” about an icon purchased in Saudi Arabia that tells so much about her and the culture. Annie Proulx’s “Family Man” about an old man revealing to his granddaughter that his father was a bigamist with four different families and he named all the children with the same names so he wouldn’t get confused was hilarious. Though poetry doesn’t often appear in Granta, I thought Robin Robertson’s poem about a photographer was beautiful. Lots more good stuff in this issue.

[Declan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Each of the short stories, by Joshua Ferris, Annie Proulx and Rick Moody, is like a bicycle with a slow puncture. Everything seems good at the start before becoming flat and ineffective. Most of the non-fiction, however, is very good, especially Robert Macfarlane's walk across Beijing, Andrew Hussey's report on life in the Paris banlieues, Owen Sheers examination of the legacy of British H-bomb tests on Christmas Island and Janice Galloway's affecting autobiographical piece. All are worth reading.

[Alan Soon · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Paris Intifada" blew me away. What a great piece.

[Barbara Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant collection. Hilary Mantel, Annie Proulx, Robert Macfarlane etc. etc. and some stunning photos of the Antarctic.

[Cécile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favorites from this issue (in no particular order):
- The Paris Intifada
- Blitzed Beijing
- Visual Thinking
- The Aviators
- Bomb Gone

[Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally, a decent issue of Granta. The last few have been lame. Interesting pieces about the banlieues in Paris, the arctic, the death of a South African pilot, the remaking of Beijing in prep for the Olympics by none other than Albert Speer, Jr., and the H-bomb tests by the Brits in the south Pacific. Also, good story by Rick Bass. Was not impressed by the Annie Proulx or Joshua Ferris stories; the Proulx story was especially filled with non-sequiters that created empty tensions in the story. And, of course, I could do without the poetry. But, again, good issue. The Web site is all part of the package, making each issue dynamic. What will happen now that the new editor Jason Cowley is no longer. Just when things were getting interesting again.

[Benjamin Little · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have only just started reading this, but I enjoyed the editor's note at the beginning enough to mention it. Granta is one of my favorite publications. I enjoy short stories and the amalgamation of different high caliber authors into one volume always makes me smile to receive a new issue in the mail.

As I write this I am working through the "Paris Intifada" by Andrew Hussey. Especially timely as I consider Paris a future possible home, his story provides insight and intrigue into the less romantic aspects of the metropolitan area.

I look forward to the remaining stories when I have time.

[Chazzbot · Rating 4 out of 5]

New editor Jason Cowley maintains Granta's literary reputation of "engaging with the present moment." This particular issue (from Spring 2008) contains stronger non-fiction pieces than stories (the Joshua Ferris story is particularly weak), and Janice Galloway contributes to the "I had a shitty childhood" memoir with an excerpt from her work-in-progress. Otherwise, an engaging issue. I particularly enjoyed the harrowing piece by Tim Lott on the murder of a friend, and Owen Sheers' look at the aftermath of British nuclear testing in the Pacific.

[sisterimapoet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great things in this issue, perhaps it was stronger for not having a theme, thus me never quite knowing what to expect next.

I'm always pleasantly surprised when the most beautiful prose arrives in one of the non-fiction pieces. Mantel made her icon appear in my hands. Deblonde and Greenlaw took me to the Arctic and left a piece of me there. Sheers handed me a single image I will never forget.

Ferris left me with the creeps. While Moody left me wanting more.

[mm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure if I like the new style of editorial with the change in ownership. Maybe I'm just used to Ian Jack . . .

[Lera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Felt like there were lots of deaths in this one. Not for the squeamish.

[Brenden]

Granta 101 (Granta: The Magazine of New Writing) by Jason Crowley (2008)