The Best American Short Stories 2006 (The Best American Series) | 
|  | | | Title: | The Best American Short Stories 2006 (The Best American Series) | | Author: | Ann Patchett (Editor)
Katrina Kenison (Series Editor) | | Publisher: | Houghton Mifflin | | Type: | Book / Paperback | | Publication Date: | 11 October, 2006 | | ISBN / ISBN-13: | 061854352X / 9780618543526 | | List Price: | $14.00 | | You Save: | $2.80 | | Amazon Price: | $11.20 | |
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| Editorial Review / Publisher's Information:
Product Description
"While a single short story may have a difficult time raising enough noise on its own to be heard over the din of civilization, short stories in bulk can have the effect of swarming bees, blocking out sound and sun and becoming the only thing you can think about," writes Ann Patchett in her introduction to The Best American Short Stories 2006.
This vibrant, varied sampler of the American literary scene revels in life's little absurdities, captures timely personal and cultural challenges, and ultimately shares subtle insight and compassion. In "The View from Castle Rock," the short story master Alice Munro imagines a fictional account of her Scottish ancestors' emigration to Canada in 1818. Nathan Englander's cast of young characters in "How We Avenged the Blums" confronts a bully dubbed "The Anti-Semite" to both comic and tragic ends. In "Refresh, Refresh," Benjamin Percy gives a forceful, heart-wrenching look at a young man's choices when his father -- along with most of the men in his small town -- is deployed to Iraq. Yiyun Li's "After a Life" reveals secrets, hidden shame, and cultural change in modern China. And in "Tatooizm," Kevin Moffett weaves a story full of humor and humanity about a young couple's relationship that has run its course.
Ann Patchett "brought unprecedented enthusiasm and judiciousness [to The Best American Short Stories 2006]," writes Katrina Kenison in her foreword, "and she is, surely, every story writer's ideal reader, eager to love, slow to fault, exquisitely attentive to the text and all that lies beneath it."
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Customer Reviews:
• If This Is Literature, Give Me Pulp 21 April, 2007
I confess to giving up on this year's collection after reading about half of the stories, because, in fact, there wasn't a gripping tale in the bunch. Those I did read lacked dramatic tension, interesting characters and a distinctive author's voice. If these bloodless exercises are what high school and college students are introduced to as the "best," it is no surprise so many conclude that reading as a chore and not a pleasure.
- Reviewed by customer ID: AM3UUZGCETLWB
• School Book 20 March, 2008
Needed this for a literature course. Had great stories in it. Great condition. Great book!
- Reviewed by customer ID: A1RS0FBORCQDBO
• The Absolute Worst 29 January, 2008
I can't even remember how many years I've been reading this series. And Patchett, while I've not read much of her work, she is well respected, so I figure it'll be a good collection. But of the 20 stories collected here, 15 of them are really bad. In fact, I'd say only five are worth the paper they are printed on (but I would never even think of including them here): Tartt, Percy, Munroe, Moffett, and the best story of the collection (if you could call it that) by Englander. Bad job Ms. Patchett.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A2S166WSCFIFP5
• Short Stories Are Very Entertaining! 07 February, 2008
At first, I did not know what to expect with this compilation. Once I started into it, I found it very entertaining and diverse. Great for those 30 minutes that you want to read something but not a long novel. I've already purchased the 2007 compilation and am enjoying it.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A2BAK11S9ZDKDP
• Mostly A Collection Of Boring, Pointless Stories. 07 August, 2007
My daughter was assigned this book over the summer for her IB English class so I read it along with her. I enjoyed reading the rest of her assigned books: "Pride & Predjudice," "Travels w/Charlie" and "Frankenstein," but have to say that BASS of 2006 was PAINFUL to get through. How this book got lumped in with actual literature I will never understand! These short story authors may know some of the mechanics of writing, but, with very few exceptions, don't have a compelling story to tell. There is nothing like an O. Henry or "Incident at Owl Creek Bridge" among them - no plot twists, no surprises, nothing to make a story memorable. I don't blame Ms. Kenison for giving up! Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of "Welcome to the Monkey House" by Kurt Vonnegut. There you will find stories that amuse you and will be fondly remembered for many years to come.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A1CP530NO6ZC6H
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