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The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2008
"This great volume highlights the very best of this year's fiction, nonfiction, alternative comics, screenplays, blogs, and more" (OK!). Compiled by Dave Eggers and students of his San Francisco writing center, it is thoroughly "entertaining and thought-provoking reading" (Library Journal).
400 pages, Paperback
First published October 8, 2008
47 people are currently reading
948 people want to read
About the author
Dave Eggers
353 books9,463 followersDave 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
December 18, 2008
This is by far the weakest collection I've read since '05. Honestly, the best part was the throwaway "best of" craziness in the first third of the collection. I found the nonfiction tedious and "trying too hard" (including the Saunders piece . . though I did read it until the end . . . President Clinton makes me feel like a lazy ass) I found the fiction so-so at best. The comics were good. To be sure, "A Brutal Sweetness" by Abby Nance (it was mentioned in the back as a notable) was better than all of these pieces combined.
February 19, 2025
An anthology compiled by high school students, this publication has been going on for several years wherein said students read everything they can get their hands on outside of their required reading texts in school and decide on some of the best to include in the anthology. These can range from non-fiction, lists of social media groups, fiction, and editorials. Together, it creates a snapshot of not only the literature of the year, but also where young people’s heads are at and what they find important.
A cool concept, absolutely, and let me tell you there are some bangers in here. But, as with any compilation, there’s also some I could do without. With such a broad spectrum of acceptable material, it is not surprising that there’s material I could have overlooked happily.
Despite this, the compilation itself is worth quite a deal of merit for a snapshot of what young people find important today. Unfortunately, the publications seems to have stopped in 2019, right before the tipping point of some pretty influential cultural events in America. Now we can only look to the past lives before the dark times.
A cool concept, absolutely, and let me tell you there are some bangers in here. But, as with any compilation, there’s also some I could do without. With such a broad spectrum of acceptable material, it is not surprising that there’s material I could have overlooked happily.
Despite this, the compilation itself is worth quite a deal of merit for a snapshot of what young people find important today. Unfortunately, the publications seems to have stopped in 2019, right before the tipping point of some pretty influential cultural events in America. Now we can only look to the past lives before the dark times.
December 2, 2008
As today is anthology review day, I just want to take the opportunity to pimp this one, and the whole series. Review follows:
Once again this series, always the star of the "Best American" anthologies, delivers the goods. Here is just a selection of the delights it offers this year:
A hilarious introduction by Judy Blume
Best American police blotter items from Kensington, California
Best American facebook groups
Best American NY Times headlines from 1907 ("Man pours molten lead into own ear - believed to have been reading Hamlet"; "President's quiet Sunday: He goes to church, Greets neighbors, Has shot only rabbits"; "Have you a fetich? Most of us have")
Best American: last sentences of books, Ron Paul facts, champion showdog names, Kurt Vonnegut writings, diary of a young girl, diary of the living dead.
pieces by Marjorie Celona, J. Malcolm Garcia, Andrew Sean Greer, Helon Habila, Raffi Khatchadourian, Stephen King, Emily Raboteau, George Saunders, jake Swearingen, Patrick Tobin, Laura van den Berg, Gene Weingarten, Laurie Weeks, and Malerie Willens
an excerpt from Paul Hornschemeier's graphic novel, "The Three Paradoxes"
an illustrated story by Rutu Modan: "Queen of the Scottish Fairies"
When I say that this anthology "delivers the goods", what I mean is - of the eight pieces I've read thus far, each has been fascinating, well-written, and not something I would otherwise have come across. (Other than one piece from each of The New Yorker, The new York Times, and The Washington Post, the selection is deliberately weighted to represent non-mainstream publications, such as The Paris Review, The Kenyon Review, The Virginia Quarterly Review, Zoetrope).
J. Malcolm Garcia's "The White Train", about the cartoneros of Buenos Aires (people who, following the economic collapse of 2001, have been forced to make a living from recycling cardboard and paper) and George Saunder's portrait, "Bill Clinton, Public Citizen" (a fascinating account of the Clinton Foundation's work throughout the developing world) -- these two pieces alone are so good, they make it worth the price of admission.
What this series manages to do, reliably, is to track down material that may be a little off the beaten path, but that is compulsively readable, and that expands the reader's horizons in the most enjoyable way possible. Starting each piece is like biting into an exotically flavored Dove bar - unfamiliar at first, but totally delicious.
This anthology rocks!
Once again this series, always the star of the "Best American" anthologies, delivers the goods. Here is just a selection of the delights it offers this year:
A hilarious introduction by Judy Blume
Best American police blotter items from Kensington, California
Best American facebook groups
Best American NY Times headlines from 1907 ("Man pours molten lead into own ear - believed to have been reading Hamlet"; "President's quiet Sunday: He goes to church, Greets neighbors, Has shot only rabbits"; "Have you a fetich? Most of us have")
Best American: last sentences of books, Ron Paul facts, champion showdog names, Kurt Vonnegut writings, diary of a young girl, diary of the living dead.
pieces by Marjorie Celona, J. Malcolm Garcia, Andrew Sean Greer, Helon Habila, Raffi Khatchadourian, Stephen King, Emily Raboteau, George Saunders, jake Swearingen, Patrick Tobin, Laura van den Berg, Gene Weingarten, Laurie Weeks, and Malerie Willens
an excerpt from Paul Hornschemeier's graphic novel, "The Three Paradoxes"
an illustrated story by Rutu Modan: "Queen of the Scottish Fairies"
When I say that this anthology "delivers the goods", what I mean is - of the eight pieces I've read thus far, each has been fascinating, well-written, and not something I would otherwise have come across. (Other than one piece from each of The New Yorker, The new York Times, and The Washington Post, the selection is deliberately weighted to represent non-mainstream publications, such as The Paris Review, The Kenyon Review, The Virginia Quarterly Review, Zoetrope).
J. Malcolm Garcia's "The White Train", about the cartoneros of Buenos Aires (people who, following the economic collapse of 2001, have been forced to make a living from recycling cardboard and paper) and George Saunder's portrait, "Bill Clinton, Public Citizen" (a fascinating account of the Clinton Foundation's work throughout the developing world) -- these two pieces alone are so good, they make it worth the price of admission.
What this series manages to do, reliably, is to track down material that may be a little off the beaten path, but that is compulsively readable, and that expands the reader's horizons in the most enjoyable way possible. Starting each piece is like biting into an exotically flavored Dove bar - unfamiliar at first, but totally delicious.
This anthology rocks!
October 10, 2014
I love the Non-Required Reading series. If you want to spend several hours learning about random things you have never heard of, but that are completely fascinating, this book is for you. The 2008 edition features lists of Kurt Vonnegut Quotes, Ron Paul Facts, and Things This Guy on the Internet Will Sell You, as well as fiction about birthday cakes, large sums of money, and Bigfoot, and non-fiction about modern-day pirates, Bill Clinton, and the relationships between black people and Jews. And the Introduction is written by Judy Blume, where she is asked to comment about a piece called, "Are You There, God? It's Me, and a Bunch of Zombies."
Another hidden gem in this collection is a story from the Washington Post called "Pearls Before Breakfast", which you may think you've never heard of but I bet you have. It's the original story of the people who convinced Joshua Bell to play in the DC subway to see if anyone would notice (spoiler alert: they didn't.) It's a compelling story no matter how you tell it, but this article is also an excellent piece of journalism.
There are also two excerpts from graphic novels, which break up the collection nicely, and a disconcerting little Stephen King piece about miracles, if that's more your speed. Basically, there's something in here for everyone, and even if it is non-required reading, I would recommend taking a look.
Another hidden gem in this collection is a story from the Washington Post called "Pearls Before Breakfast", which you may think you've never heard of but I bet you have. It's the original story of the people who convinced Joshua Bell to play in the DC subway to see if anyone would notice (spoiler alert: they didn't.) It's a compelling story no matter how you tell it, but this article is also an excellent piece of journalism.
There are also two excerpts from graphic novels, which break up the collection nicely, and a disconcerting little Stephen King piece about miracles, if that's more your speed. Basically, there's something in here for everyone, and even if it is non-required reading, I would recommend taking a look.
November 21, 2011
Compared to most collections, I actually enjoyed about 90 percent of the writings in here. What surprised me even more is that I liked the non-fiction even better than the fiction. There are some fantastic essays in here, from "White Train, " to the article on Bill Clinton, to the fantastic look at how we appreciate beauty as human, "Pearls Before Breakfast." This is a good collection, and one I'm glad I picked up.
July 6, 2018
previously read in 2010
January 24, 2015
Another great collection of essays, short stories, odds and ends in creative writing.
October 2, 2019
Can any review of an anthology dodge the inevitable List? Where one prints out all the stories one liked and all the stories one disliked, which somehow diminishes from the experience of reading an anthology? The anthology is where you grapple with short stories well outside your comfort zone, I hope. Well, I guess I’ll just highlight one – Andrew Sean Greer’s story DARKNESS. With its theologically omniscient POV and lesbian older couple, it might as well have been written with me in my mind. But, come on. Every year of the Best Nonrequired series is a must read. However these teens are choosing their stories, they’re doing a better job than adults. Teens are probably less afraid of recognizing a boring (but technically proficient / author famous) story, less afraid of going to bat for a great (but maybe raw, ineptly constructed) one. Good job, teens! See you in 2009.
July 27, 2017
A comparatively weak collection, with a few competent stories and features, but mostly contributions where you sense the writer is trying too hard, or recycling something from their last Creative Writing course. Especially annoying: the ego-tripping high school consultant editors! Why are they showcased with cutesie texts and photos, while the contributors just get a standard mini-biography (text only)? I picked this up for 4 € at a fleamarket bookstall, which is OK; if I'd paid the cover price of 14 $ I'd be feeling hard done by.
January 20, 2019
Best American collections are, year in and year out, reliably good, and this one is no exception. But that's all it is: good. It's fine. But, in comparison to the series' heights, it underwhelms. This volume seems to lean much more heavily on non-fiction than in past years, and it's pretty uneven. Some of the pieces are, if not entirely uninteresting, at least not worth their excessive lengths. At least the fawning profile of Bill Clinton (and his foundation) was written by George Saunders and was entertaining; other interminable essays often felt like a slog.
March 31, 2021
Very hit or miss depending on the author/piece. The first section of collated lists was just a waste of time and paper.
July 19, 2024
3.5 stars.
Some good stories and essays. Especially enjoyed the inclusion of short comics.
Some good stories and essays. Especially enjoyed the inclusion of short comics.
July 5, 2012
The Best American Non-Required Reading series is a series of books that I have enjoyed mostly due to the large number of new voices and mix of fiction and nonfiction. Somehow I overlooked the 2008 edition with an introduction by Judy Blume, so I sought it out. I really don’t get much out of section I that is an indulgent and arbitrary list of things like “Best American Facebook Groups.” However, there was one worthwhile piece that I enjoyed as much as anything else in this volume, Jake Swearingen’s “Best American Diary of the Living Dead or: Are You There God? It’s Me. Also, A Bunch of Zombies.” One of the standouts in section II was J. Malcolm Garcia’s nonfiction piece “The White Train.” It was a moving piece about the recycling collectors of Argentina’s shattered economy that drew to mind a favorable comparison with Alma Guillemoprieto‘s fascinating piece on garbage pickers in Mexico City for The New Yorker. I also discovered African born author Helon Habila whose impressive story-“The Hotel Malogo” tells a tale of murder, money, escape and triumph in Lagos, Nigeria. I was also fascinated by the Raffi Khatchadourian’s piece on Sea Shepherd’s Paul Watson, “Neptune’s Navy” for The New Yorker. I was somewhat familiar with Watson because 1) a college friend is married to his daughter 2) Sea Shepherd is always at odds with the Japanese whalers, thus often in the news here in Japan. This piece filled in the gaps I had about his connection with Greenpeace and notoriety throughout the world. I haven’t read any Stephen King since high school when I decided that he was a middlebrow writer. I have to admit I enjoyed his mysterious story “Anya.” I’m not sure what I think about George Saunders’ fiction, but I have often come across entertaining and informative pieces by him in GQ magazine, much like his excellent portrayal of Bill Clinton and his charitable activities in Africa in “”Bill Clinton, Public Citizen.” Patrick Tobin, who wrote the short and sweet story ”Cake,” was also a new find for me. There was another standout nonfiction piece from the Washington Post writer Gene Weingarten, “Pearls Before Breakfast” that recounted an interesting experiment. Violin maestro Joshua Bell busked in the Washington D.C. metro one morning, as Post reporters were on hand to describe the reaction. The fact was there was little reaction and it gave Weingarten a chance to muse on the nature of beauty, modern society, and the role of context in appreciating art.
May 23, 2009
Oh gosh -- it says something about the quality of this collection that I finished reading it sometime in April (May? I don't even remember) and just never bothered to update my "currently reading" or review it. This was just a slog. I know, I keep reading BANRR, I keep complaining about it, but this may really be the one that puts the final nail in the coffin for me.
While basically all of these except the first one (where Eggers had someone editing HIM) are relatively crap and read like collections chosen by high school students (which is what they are), this one was really especially bad. Even the joke-y "lists" section at the beginning was weak. And the pieces in the collection were just dull as dirt -- usually they're at least gross, or offensive in some way, but these were just straight-up tedious. There was a large number of pieces devoted to "issues," which isn't a problem in and of itself, but these mostly read like college essays ("A trip that made me realize important things about myself" kinds of themes).
Other low points included the usual assortment of people with unconventional jobs, depressing/abusive childhoods, and of course, the terminally ill (in one case in a Stephen King story featuring yes, a magical black person -- will he ever learn??). Cliche after cliche after cliche, year after year after year. And starting with 2008, the spine is just plain -- silver with print. Part of what tugged at me to buy these was how handsome they looked on my shelf sitting together, since each cover used to wrap into a lavishly illustrated spine. But if that's over, then possibly my very last excuse to continue buying and reading BANRR is over and done with. Given that I spent several hours of my life reading this book, and that life is a precious resource of which we have a finite amount, this is probably a good thing.
While basically all of these except the first one (where Eggers had someone editing HIM) are relatively crap and read like collections chosen by high school students (which is what they are), this one was really especially bad. Even the joke-y "lists" section at the beginning was weak. And the pieces in the collection were just dull as dirt -- usually they're at least gross, or offensive in some way, but these were just straight-up tedious. There was a large number of pieces devoted to "issues," which isn't a problem in and of itself, but these mostly read like college essays ("A trip that made me realize important things about myself" kinds of themes).
Other low points included the usual assortment of people with unconventional jobs, depressing/abusive childhoods, and of course, the terminally ill (in one case in a Stephen King story featuring yes, a magical black person -- will he ever learn??). Cliche after cliche after cliche, year after year after year. And starting with 2008, the spine is just plain -- silver with print. Part of what tugged at me to buy these was how handsome they looked on my shelf sitting together, since each cover used to wrap into a lavishly illustrated spine. But if that's over, then possibly my very last excuse to continue buying and reading BANRR is over and done with. Given that I spent several hours of my life reading this book, and that life is a precious resource of which we have a finite amount, this is probably a good thing.
March 18, 2009
i just picked this up at the library as airplane reading. & then i failed to read it one the airplane because i got all involved in a copy of "real simple" magazine instead (<3). the "best american" series is usually pretty good. they collect together a sampling of what they consider to be the best of the best of what was published that year, & they're usually pretty on point. the non-required series is helmed by dave eggers, who i could really live without, but he gets a crew of high school students from the 826 project in san francisco to help choose submissions for the book, & i like that. i think they help keep things from getting too pretentious, because they are still wide-eyed naive high school kids in a lot of ways. some of them didn't even have any idea how to write their bios in the back (one girl was all, "i like to hang out with my friends & have fun," which cracked me up because it was so unprofessional & such a mark of what myspace/facebook has done to kids who have to write author bios). there was some good shit in here. i liked the story about the bigfoot impersonator best, followed by the piece about the internationally famous classical musician busking in the subway as a social experiment. i was surprisingly into the piece on the foundation bill clinton started to make AIDS drugs available in africa. the comic about the little boy who wants to dress in a tutu was pretty cool, & you know i usually don't go for comics. this book isn't a bad choice if you have an airplane or train ride ahead of you & don't want to over-tax your noggin, or maybe if you have the flu or something. but if you're actually looking for a seriously good read, there are better books in the world.
December 3, 2010
again, like BANR 2007, the selections were too similar, in style, mood, and subject, to selections in previous anthologies. it's good that BANR can be reliable in providing selections that appeal to a certain reader, but there is such a thing as being TOO reliable. at this point, i want to be surprised. i want to read something unlike anything i've ever read before, that will astound me and leave me breathless. the last few BANR's i have read have not done that. with that aside, i have nothing bad to say about the entries in 2008's collection. i liked and enjoyed almost all of them; they are of a much better quality than a lot of the crap that gets published, even better than a lot of the crap that becomes popular. certain selections stood out for me, and kept me reading, unable to put the book down, even after my bathwater had gone cold and my blood sugar was too low from ignoring everything but my book for too many hours. these selections were: "searching for zion" by emily raboteau, "cake" by patrick tobin, and "pearls before breakfast" by gene weingarten. i also enjoyed most of the first section, which was greatly strengthened by its lengthy inclusion of kurt vonnegut quotes, and "my massive feelings" piece by laurie weeks (which i forgive for first being published in vice magazine. i have issues with its hipsters-qua-hipsters pseudo-irony. (vice, not weeks' writing.)) other selections that i enjoyed, but that seemed too formulaicaly BANR-ready were "y" by marjorie celona, "darkness" by andrew sean greer, and "where we must be" by laura van den berg.
August 23, 2011
This was my first shot at The Best American Nonrequired Reading series. And it was almost my last.
Starts out cute enough, like something for the edgy 15-22-year-old (well, if it gets them reading something other than Harry Potter, I'm fine with it). I Got through the first fifty pages relatively quickly. Then I stumbled somewhere around the third or forth story; I even put the book down for a couple weeks because the writing everywhere was proficient, yes, but drab, also. But the stories did get better--in spots.
I already have the 2009 and 2010 editions lined up and will take a look at them soon, but so far, just based on an initial one time look, Nonrequired Reading is merely that; some laughs, some provocations, a comic or two that doesn't add anything except a higher tolerance to our barely functioning ADD world, and an essay on certain world leaders I couldn't care less about (Bill Clinton).
Ranked in order from really good, to good (and funny and severely flawed). The rest of the stories/essays are okay to passable, with the exception of the immensely amusing opening pages, which saved the book.
01: Neptune's Navy (Raffi Khatchadourian)
02: Pearls Before Breakfast (Gene Weingarten)
03: Best American Diary of a Young Girl (aka My Massive Feelings) (Laurie Weeks)
04: Best American Diary of the Living Dead or: Are You There God? It's Me. Also, a Bunch of Zombies (Jake Swearingen)
05: The Dreamer Did Not Exist (David Gessner)
06: Searching for Zion (Emily Raboteau)
07: Where We Must Be (Laura van den Berg)
Starts out cute enough, like something for the edgy 15-22-year-old (well, if it gets them reading something other than Harry Potter, I'm fine with it). I Got through the first fifty pages relatively quickly. Then I stumbled somewhere around the third or forth story; I even put the book down for a couple weeks because the writing everywhere was proficient, yes, but drab, also. But the stories did get better--in spots.
I already have the 2009 and 2010 editions lined up and will take a look at them soon, but so far, just based on an initial one time look, Nonrequired Reading is merely that; some laughs, some provocations, a comic or two that doesn't add anything except a higher tolerance to our barely functioning ADD world, and an essay on certain world leaders I couldn't care less about (Bill Clinton).
Ranked in order from really good, to good (and funny and severely flawed). The rest of the stories/essays are okay to passable, with the exception of the immensely amusing opening pages, which saved the book.
01: Neptune's Navy (Raffi Khatchadourian)
02: Pearls Before Breakfast (Gene Weingarten)
03: Best American Diary of a Young Girl (aka My Massive Feelings) (Laurie Weeks)
04: Best American Diary of the Living Dead or: Are You There God? It's Me. Also, a Bunch of Zombies (Jake Swearingen)
05: The Dreamer Did Not Exist (David Gessner)
06: Searching for Zion (Emily Raboteau)
07: Where We Must Be (Laura van den Berg)
October 11, 2008
I will admit, so far I'm a little disappointed compared to last year's volume (which pretty much blew my mind). The front section is much smaller than last year's, which is a shame - it's usually the funniest section.
This year's front section doesn't fall down, exactly...(Best American Police Blotter Items from Kensington, California is an EXCELLENT start to the book, Best American Facebook Groups is the kind of content I was expecting and looking forward to, Best American Diary of the Living Dead or: Are You There God? It's Me. Also, a Bunch of Zombies = BEST TITLE EVER, also, sort of what I imagine what would happen if Ryan Howard from Season 2 of The Office had to face down an apocalyptic herd of zombies) ...it's just - short. And short! And full of Vonnegut, which is great and all, but dammit, I want more.
Also, MAJOR notpicky complaint, but DAMN, Harry and the Potters do not belong in Best New Band Names of 2007, good GOD y'all, Wikipedia this shit before you go to print! There are other bands in that list as well that do not belong there, and maybe it's just annoying to me, but come on.
As for the second half, I have only read the first story so far, but I did enjoy it. So far, so good!
This year's front section doesn't fall down, exactly...(Best American Police Blotter Items from Kensington, California is an EXCELLENT start to the book, Best American Facebook Groups is the kind of content I was expecting and looking forward to, Best American Diary of the Living Dead or: Are You There God? It's Me. Also, a Bunch of Zombies = BEST TITLE EVER, also, sort of what I imagine what would happen if Ryan Howard from Season 2 of The Office had to face down an apocalyptic herd of zombies) ...it's just - short. And short! And full of Vonnegut, which is great and all, but dammit, I want more.
Also, MAJOR notpicky complaint, but DAMN, Harry and the Potters do not belong in Best New Band Names of 2007, good GOD y'all, Wikipedia this shit before you go to print! There are other bands in that list as well that do not belong there, and maybe it's just annoying to me, but come on.
As for the second half, I have only read the first story so far, but I did enjoy it. So far, so good!
March 4, 2016
Of the 27 entries in this collection, there are two stellar, worth-while pieces. The best is "Neptune's Navy," an essay from the New Yorker (available here: www.newyorker.com/magazine/2007/11/05...) that profiles the extraordinary figure of Paul Watson, a renegade environmentalist who leads volunteer crews aboard pirate ships on missions to sink whaling boats in international waters. He is a lunatic but also inspiring. Particularly interesting is Watson's relationship to the law. He exploits legal gray areas and outwits authorities. It is a riveting read.
The other entry is an autobiographical piece, Emily Raboteau's "Searching for Zion," which is an honest and perceptive account of the author's racial identity, her relationship with her best friend, her travel to Israel, the troubled construction of race in Israel, and the African diaspora that has made a home there. This piece appeared in Transition Magazine, but I could not find a link online. It apparently was the basis of a book of the same title that took Raboteau 10 years to write.
For lack of a more appropriate bookshelf, I'm sticking this book on my "fiction" shelf (there is in fact fiction in this collection, just none that I thought was worth reviewing).
The other entry is an autobiographical piece, Emily Raboteau's "Searching for Zion," which is an honest and perceptive account of the author's racial identity, her relationship with her best friend, her travel to Israel, the troubled construction of race in Israel, and the African diaspora that has made a home there. This piece appeared in Transition Magazine, but I could not find a link online. It apparently was the basis of a book of the same title that took Raboteau 10 years to write.
For lack of a more appropriate bookshelf, I'm sticking this book on my "fiction" shelf (there is in fact fiction in this collection, just none that I thought was worth reviewing).
January 14, 2009
The beauty of an anthology of this caliber is that you're bound to find something in it you absolutely love. And, anything you don't love you can just skp. I highly recommend this book, although there was actually more I liked in the 2007 edition.
Highlights from this year include "Are You There, God? It's Me and the Zombies," (a hilarious piece of short fiction about...well, zombies), "The Best American Facebook Groups" (so funny), "The White Train" (I learned about mate...also, about the horrendous economic inequality going on in Argentina), and I absolutely loved "Bill Clinton, Public Citizen," by George Saunders. His writing was exceptional; simultaneously entertaining and moving. The piece, which describes the efforts of the Clinton Foundation to provide medication for third world AIDS victims, makes you want to be better and do more, without overwhelming you with guilt (no easy task when you're describing that kind of suffering and poverty).
There were a few fiction pieces I didn't love, and a few others I didn't get a chance to read before the book was due back at the library. (I'll probably check it out again sometime.) All together, an excellent read.
Highlights from this year include "Are You There, God? It's Me and the Zombies," (a hilarious piece of short fiction about...well, zombies), "The Best American Facebook Groups" (so funny), "The White Train" (I learned about mate...also, about the horrendous economic inequality going on in Argentina), and I absolutely loved "Bill Clinton, Public Citizen," by George Saunders. His writing was exceptional; simultaneously entertaining and moving. The piece, which describes the efforts of the Clinton Foundation to provide medication for third world AIDS victims, makes you want to be better and do more, without overwhelming you with guilt (no easy task when you're describing that kind of suffering and poverty).
There were a few fiction pieces I didn't love, and a few others I didn't get a chance to read before the book was due back at the library. (I'll probably check it out again sometime.) All together, an excellent read.
January 11, 2009
Another good Best American collection (though, for this title, I did like 2007's collection more). The best bits:
(1) "Neptune's Navy:" After catching a few episodes of Whale Wars, I had many, many questions (the money? the getting kicked out of Greenpeace? the poetry?). This piece explained a lot...and, while the dude may be crazy, he's got a serious point about what we're doing to our oceans (most powerful description: the equivalent of how we treat the ocean is if we hunted for deer by plowing down entire forrests...not a pretty picture).
(2) "Best American Diary of the Living Dead or: Are You There God?
It's Me. Also, A Bunch of Zombies." Funny, and probably accurate.
(3) Andrew Sean Greer's short story "Darkness:" Slightly odd and disconcerting...my favorite elements in any short story.
(4) "Bill Clinton, Public Citizen:" You know what? Despite the man's contradictions and disappointments, he's doing some phenomenal work with his foundation in tackling AIDS and malaria in Africa. Saunders is right...if you're trying to bail yourself out of a problem, you might want Bill on your team.
(1) "Neptune's Navy:" After catching a few episodes of Whale Wars, I had many, many questions (the money? the getting kicked out of Greenpeace? the poetry?). This piece explained a lot...and, while the dude may be crazy, he's got a serious point about what we're doing to our oceans (most powerful description: the equivalent of how we treat the ocean is if we hunted for deer by plowing down entire forrests...not a pretty picture).
(2) "Best American Diary of the Living Dead or: Are You There God?
It's Me. Also, A Bunch of Zombies." Funny, and probably accurate.
(3) Andrew Sean Greer's short story "Darkness:" Slightly odd and disconcerting...my favorite elements in any short story.
(4) "Bill Clinton, Public Citizen:" You know what? Despite the man's contradictions and disappointments, he's doing some phenomenal work with his foundation in tackling AIDS and malaria in Africa. Saunders is right...if you're trying to bail yourself out of a problem, you might want Bill on your team.
March 27, 2009
While not as strong as BANR 07, it was a good effort. I remember picking up BANR 07 and being blown away by the stories, all pretty good. From Allison Bechdel's Fun Home to Conan O'Brien. My favorite stories were from Miranda July, Nam Le and Mattox Roersh. Even the intro was super damn funny.
BANR 08 was a little off the mark. Sure it had some good stories. A lot of mediocre ones too. The Majorie Celona story was good. Patrick Tobin's story made me laugh out loud, and the "where we must be" story was pretty slick too. But it seemed like a lot of the other stuff wasnt as satisfying. I suffered through some of the more mundane pieces then wanted to slap those high school kids and tell them "for god's sake, youre working with Eggers! Show some respect and pick interesting stuff!" The comic stories didn't grab or intrigue me. The intro had its moments(I immediately joined a few of those facebook groups) but I didn't care for the Ron Paul stuff, it just wasn't funny. I'm glad they did a Kurt Vonnegut retrospective. A pretty good effort, but I'm hoping for something spectacular next year. I'm glad my purchase is going to a good cause too.
BANR 08 was a little off the mark. Sure it had some good stories. A lot of mediocre ones too. The Majorie Celona story was good. Patrick Tobin's story made me laugh out loud, and the "where we must be" story was pretty slick too. But it seemed like a lot of the other stuff wasnt as satisfying. I suffered through some of the more mundane pieces then wanted to slap those high school kids and tell them "for god's sake, youre working with Eggers! Show some respect and pick interesting stuff!" The comic stories didn't grab or intrigue me. The intro had its moments(I immediately joined a few of those facebook groups) but I didn't care for the Ron Paul stuff, it just wasn't funny. I'm glad they did a Kurt Vonnegut retrospective. A pretty good effort, but I'm hoping for something spectacular next year. I'm glad my purchase is going to a good cause too.
September 9, 2009
This book is pretty unmemorable, bar the last few stories: "Cake" by Patrick Tobin, "Where We Must Be" by Laura van den Berg, and "Pearls Before Breakfast" by Gene Weingarten aka what happens when you take a world-renowned violinist, dress him up in street clothes, and plunk him down in the middle of a D.C. metro as an ordinary street musician.
I agree with other reviews about the injustice done to Judy Blume; at the very least, I would have expected more of a contribution from her, be it the foreword or the inclusion of one of her own stories.
Oh, and Stephen King? YOU SUCK. Seriously, that might have been the worst story in the entire collection. It was probably only included because the kids picking out the stories are impressionable and want to look cool and "old school" by including a King story.
After reading the bios of the kids, these are precisely the kinds of kids I grew to hate in my Creative Writing program. I still plan on getting my hands on all these books because there is always at least a few gems in the dust, but if you're looking for a solid collection of good writing, these books don't really seem to fit the bill.
I agree with other reviews about the injustice done to Judy Blume; at the very least, I would have expected more of a contribution from her, be it the foreword or the inclusion of one of her own stories.
Oh, and Stephen King? YOU SUCK. Seriously, that might have been the worst story in the entire collection. It was probably only included because the kids picking out the stories are impressionable and want to look cool and "old school" by including a King story.
After reading the bios of the kids, these are precisely the kinds of kids I grew to hate in my Creative Writing program. I still plan on getting my hands on all these books because there is always at least a few gems in the dust, but if you're looking for a solid collection of good writing, these books don't really seem to fit the bill.
March 10, 2009
I disagree with a lot of the reviews of this edition. I thought 2008 was by far the best of these anthologies.
The pieces are organized in such a way that each story naturally connects to the next. Many of them were politically relevant, and all of them did something I hadn't seen before. I was sad when the thing was finished.
The ones I remember best are about a recycling train in Argentina and another about a guerrilla environmentalist sailor who intentionally crashes into whaling ships. There was a wonderful one about a black disenfranchised American finding she has a special relationship with Israel, once the whitest place imaginable to her.
And although the writing style got old, the piece on Bill Clinton was fascinating.
There was only one that I really didn't like, about a writing professor (how original) getting drunk in the woods with other professors and students, and basically hating every person around him. It was pretentious, but I even finished that one.
The pieces are organized in such a way that each story naturally connects to the next. Many of them were politically relevant, and all of them did something I hadn't seen before. I was sad when the thing was finished.
The ones I remember best are about a recycling train in Argentina and another about a guerrilla environmentalist sailor who intentionally crashes into whaling ships. There was a wonderful one about a black disenfranchised American finding she has a special relationship with Israel, once the whitest place imaginable to her.
And although the writing style got old, the piece on Bill Clinton was fascinating.
There was only one that I really didn't like, about a writing professor (how original) getting drunk in the woods with other professors and students, and basically hating every person around him. It was pretentious, but I even finished that one.
April 20, 2010
The yearly anthology of writing compiled by a team of San Francisco high school students and edited by Dave Eggers. Unfortunately, for me, this edition was the least satisfying I've read. There were a couple of stories I had to push myself to finish, which meant I ended up reading the whole collection over the course of a year or so.
That said, as one might expect in an anthology like this -- and as I, myself, have come to expect from this series in particular -- there were definitely some bright spots. For me, they included the stories "Are You There God? It's Me. Also, a bunch of Zombies" and "Where We Must Be."
Also, there was an interesting Washington Post story called "Pearls Before Breakfast" -- in which a world-famous violinist dresses as a street musician and plays unannounced for the a.m. rush-hour crowd outside the metro. It's an interesting experiment, and a good read.
That said, as one might expect in an anthology like this -- and as I, myself, have come to expect from this series in particular -- there were definitely some bright spots. For me, they included the stories "Are You There God? It's Me. Also, a bunch of Zombies" and "Where We Must Be."
Also, there was an interesting Washington Post story called "Pearls Before Breakfast" -- in which a world-famous violinist dresses as a street musician and plays unannounced for the a.m. rush-hour crowd outside the metro. It's an interesting experiment, and a good read.
February 18, 2009
It's so hard to put a rating on some of these anthologies, as the quality of the writing can vary quite a bit. I was surprised at how much fun it was to read, but as I look back over the table of contents, a few of the selections really stand out. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed a short story of Stephen King's. "Ayana", originally published in the Paris Review, was a captivating story about a man who witnesses what he feels was a miracle, and who becomes a miracle worker of sorts in a few other people's lives.
By far the most captivating piece, "Pearls Before Breakfast", by Washington Post writer Gene Weingarten, describes the reactions of Washington DC commuters to a remarkable performance by a "street musician". The musician in question is Joshua Bell, perhaps the best classical musician in America, and the article addresses our reaction to art "outside of the frame", whether or not we even recognize art if it is not presented where and how we expect to find it.
By far the most captivating piece, "Pearls Before Breakfast", by Washington Post writer Gene Weingarten, describes the reactions of Washington DC commuters to a remarkable performance by a "street musician". The musician in question is Joshua Bell, perhaps the best classical musician in America, and the article addresses our reaction to art "outside of the frame", whether or not we even recognize art if it is not presented where and how we expect to find it.
April 7, 2009
This book is awesome. It has short stories, magazine articles, and clippings from random things (including police blotters and facebook) that either make you laugh out loud or tear up. My favorite pieces include:
1) Best Facebook Groups
2) Police Blotter from Kensington, California
3) Article following Bill Clinton through trip to Africa and how his foundation gives to different global AIDS causes
4) The story of the Sea Shepherd, a crazy Greenpeace founder who hunts whalers (not whales, the people who kill whales)
5) A futuristic story about a group of old people who are caught in the middle of what seems to be the apocalypse.
I recommend it highly, as you go through it quickly. It's filled with stories, so you don't have to sit down and read the whole thing, you can just pick it up when you're interested.
i've already had requests from friends to borrow it, so get on it.
1) Best Facebook Groups
2) Police Blotter from Kensington, California
3) Article following Bill Clinton through trip to Africa and how his foundation gives to different global AIDS causes
4) The story of the Sea Shepherd, a crazy Greenpeace founder who hunts whalers (not whales, the people who kill whales)
5) A futuristic story about a group of old people who are caught in the middle of what seems to be the apocalypse.
I recommend it highly, as you go through it quickly. It's filled with stories, so you don't have to sit down and read the whole thing, you can just pick it up when you're interested.
i've already had requests from friends to borrow it, so get on it.
February 28, 2009
i love the BANR series and happily read the new edition every winter. i am getting a little annoyed with the precious "front section" (just as editor dave eggers himself can be precious and annoying) - "best american last sentences of books published in 2007" (seven pages), "best american ron paul facts" (even though the best chuck norris facts, which this list is an imitation of, was published a few years ago in a BANR volume), "best american new band names," etc. i did enjoy the introduction by judy blume (really just an interview with her).
NOT TO BE MISSED:
"are you there, god? it's me. also, a bunch of zombies" - jake swearingen
"y" - marjorie celona
"darkness" - andrew sean greer
"ayana" - stephen king
"bill clinton, public citizen" - george saunders
"cake" - patrick tobin (my favorite in the collection)
"pearls before breakfast" - gene weingarten
NOT TO BE MISSED:
"are you there, god? it's me. also, a bunch of zombies" - jake swearingen
"y" - marjorie celona
"darkness" - andrew sean greer
"ayana" - stephen king
"bill clinton, public citizen" - george saunders
"cake" - patrick tobin (my favorite in the collection)
"pearls before breakfast" - gene weingarten
April 3, 2009
Even though this book is short stories and articles taken from magazines, etc. I enjoyed it a lot (I'm not a short story fan). The excerpts of graphic novels (cartoons to us laymen) I found sort of inexplicable, not remarkable drawing, the words utterly not compelling to me, why are they here? Can't say. My two favorites maybe were Bill Clinton--Public Citizen which follows Clinton on a tour of Africa where his NGO does a lot of work, The Dreamer Did Not Exist, sort of "autobiographical fiction" by David Gessner. Gessner tackles the fact that all of us humans are rushing headlong toward our own deaths, and all of us do not know what death is. If this is not an interesting fact, then I'm not human. His conclusion? Well, there's no conclusion, is there, just a lame, do the best you can and maybe barbecue some pork before you die, and there you have it.
January 14, 2009
An eclectic collection of magazine pieces, a list of the strangest Facebook groups, and my current favorite, the Kensington Police Blotter. I was shaking from laughing so hard.
Update: This book reminds me of Eggers' "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius." Great ideas, great introduction, and then wah wah wah. I had my favorite pieces: "Cake," which had some heart, unlike many of the other pieces, the previously mentioned pieces (the Kensington Police Blotter is a scream), and a blog by someone trapped in a city full of zombies, which was hilarious. The fiction often left me cold at times--not my style, but I'm giving this four stars because the writing is obviously still very good and executed well.
Update: This book reminds me of Eggers' "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius." Great ideas, great introduction, and then wah wah wah. I had my favorite pieces: "Cake," which had some heart, unlike many of the other pieces, the previously mentioned pieces (the Kensington Police Blotter is a scream), and a blog by someone trapped in a city full of zombies, which was hilarious. The fiction often left me cold at times--not my style, but I'm giving this four stars because the writing is obviously still very good and executed well.
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