Tin House Magazine, Volume 9, Issue 1, Fall 2007: #33 Fantastic Women

Tin House #33

by Win McCormack (Editor), Judy Budnitz, Sarah Shun-lien Bynum

Tin House has become a forerunner of brilliant and fresh contemporary fiction, and this astonishing collection captures some of the most promising literary voices writing today. The anthology includes tastes of Aimee Bender's surreal aesthetic, Miranda July's charming and quirky prose, and Sarah Shun-Lien Bynum heart-stopping and lyrical style. Edited by virtuoso novelist and memoirist Rick Moody, this is not only a collection of great fiction, but also a compendium of awe-inspiring work from women on the cutting edge of literary greatness.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Poetry, Fantasy, Anthologies, Magical Realism, Womens

224 pages, Magazine

First published September 28, 2007

About the author

Win McCormack is an American publisher and editor from Oregon.

He is editor-in-chief of Tin House magazine and Tin House Books, the former publisher of Oregon Magazine, and founder and treasurer of MediAmerica, Inc. He serves on the board of directors of the journal New Perspectives Quarterly. His political and social writings have appeared in Oregon Humanities, Tin House, The Nation, The Oregonian, and Oregon Magazine. McCormack's investigative coverage of the Rajneeshee movement was awarded a William Allen White Commendation from the University of Kansas and the City and Regional Magazine Association. His latest book, You Don’t Know Me: A Citizen's Guide to Republican Family Values, examines the sex scandals of Republican politicians who espouse "moral values."

As a political activist, McCormack served as Chair of the Oregon Steering Committee for Gary Hart's 1984 presidential campaign. He is chair of the Democratic Party of Oregon's President's Council and a member of the Obama for President Oregon Finance Committee. McCormack was also chosen as Alternate Delegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention. He currently serves on the Oregon Council for the Humanities and the Oregon Tourism Commission. Additionally, McCormack sits on the Board of Overseers for Emerson College, and is a co-founder of the Los Angeles-based Liberty Hill Foundation

Reviews

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories in this book are super hit or miss. Some high highs but then some pretty low lows.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I confess I did not read through this entire volume. I will echo what many others have offered: the selection here is very inconsistent. I somewhat enjoyed to loved: Jane Avrich, Aimee Bender (always), Sarah Shun-Lien Bynum, Mary Caponegro, Julia Elliott, Samantha Hunt, Miranda July, Kelly Link, Lydia Millet, Alissa Nutting, Paisley Rekdal, Stacey Richter, Gina Zucker, and the Rick Moody essay on Angela Carter. The rest I found kinda boring or too muddled and glossed over. Still, this was a good read for being holed up with shin splints, and I've got a few more authors to add to the future readings list.

[Mikey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some excellent stories and some mediocre stories. But what I couldn't get past was the utterly bizarre alphabetical by last name sequencing. Perhaps there is some misguided kumbaya or quasi-cooperative notion in there, but really, what a waste. It's the job of an anthology editor to sequence the stories in a way that itself tells a story. Or at least creates some sort of rhythm or sense of dynamics or ripple of echoed themes, characters, or objects. While I imagine the alpha by author sequencing was some sort of superficial attempt at "rejecting hierarchy," it's really pretty lazy and a missed opportunity.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

My love for this collection started off strong, but was nearly obliterated 2/3 of the way though with a couple of stories that I just couldn't get through. Still, the stories that worked, worked wonderfully, and my faith in the collection was restored by the last couple of stories. I'm very glad I stuck it out!

[Pamster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the incredible cover enough to frame it. Love the stories by faves like Kelly Link and Shelley Jackson and Samantha Hunt, as well as the ladies I've meant to read and finally did here, like Lucy Corin and Rikki Ducornet. Maybe most of all loved Rick Moody's piece on his teacher and friend Angela Carter.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic, fresh, and original. Not only is it totally entertaining, but there are lots of experiments with voice and narrative. Entertainment and experimentation do not often walk hand in hand. I'm inspired! And I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fabulous fabulist fiction.

Wheeee!

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it when writers play with conventional genres and narratives, and mix them up, make them unsual and fun and unexpected. That Angela Carter was memorialized in this volume made it even more awesome. This is my favorite Tin House so far.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

i haven't quite finished this but i dunno, i'm not very impressed. aside from aimee's story and a couple of other pieces, this felt just too much like weird for weird combined with a serious lack of "entertaining."

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This 2007 special issue of Tin House features women writers who are fantastic both in style and content. The collection can serve as a valuable introduction to the "genre" that resists characterization or a sweet indulgence in other worlds.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had high hopes, was turned off by the whimsical silliness of most of the stories. Stopped before I got to Kelly Link, so I'll have to open this again someday.

[Syreeta McFadden · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting collection. have some issues with selection.

[Christie Hinrichs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amy Bender's story knocked my socks off.

[Anne Ishii · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great anthology so far. Lots of stuff about marriage though.

[Billy]

Reading this inspired me to get involved with Tin House.

[Jl · Rating 5 out of 5]

this installment from 'tin house' featured nearly ALL of my favorite modern female writers and the art of the lovely Julie Heffernan. a kind of bible for me that i am always reading.

[Iris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of the poetry was mediocre. Some of the stories were stunning, gripping, refreshing page-turners, and at least one I could not make it through.

[Kimber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stories are hit or miss, but a lovely collection.

[Lizzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn´t have a chance to read all of the pieces in this journal, but the ones I did read were excellent--brave, unusual and thought-provoking.

[R.A. · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were several writers featured who I consistently enjoy. But I didn't like the stories that were selected for this collection. There are other stories by these women that are better.