Customer Reviews

You've Got to Read This: Contemporary American Writers Introduce Stories that Held Them in Awe

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I read this in a writing seminar class I took with the author Wally Lamb (She's Come Undone, I Know This Much is True)at University of Connecticut three years ago. It impacted my appreciation for short stories and led me on the path to read many of the authors represented in this book. I bought complete short story collections of several of my favorite authors represented. I loved the idea of reading about other author's feelings about the stories and how they were influenced in their own writing. If you have an interest in writing, this book gives invaluable insight. I am purchasing it for my brother-in-law who is currently taking a creative writing course. My favorite story was "A Paper Garden" it captured my imagination and delighted me with description of the main character and her charm. Enjoy!

A beautiful concept, having writers expose us to other writers. There are some jewels in here, if you've already read some of them, be proud of yourself, if not, the sheer randomness may turn you on to something you haven't been turned on to before. I loved "The Star Cafe", and discovered a new writer in the process.

Architects and contractors can usually spot a good house; engineers and mechanics know good cars. So too with stories. Want to read some good ones? Ask the people that create them. This concept makes sense to me and I don't think you'll be disappointed. I did not like all the stories in this collection, but I think 90% are striking. Many are memorable. A few seem so original in conception they form a palpable presence in the mind.

Of the 35 stories, I was familiar with 21 of the authors, though I had previously read only a couple of the stories. Of the selectors/introducers, I had only heard of a dozen.

Dead white males do not seem to dominate this volume. If anything, there are a few too many chick stories that have no action beyond moving lips and go on interminably about feelings and relationships. Thankfully, the polar opposites are not represented here. (Those would be pure action stories peopled by brainless, unreflective stick men.) Happily, there are quite a few tales by the best who can strike a balance. Leo Tolstoy did this better than anybody and he does have an entry.

I will not further bore you with my favorites. Everybody takes up stories in their own way. Interestingly, I remember almost none of the introducers praise or criticism. But, collectively they pulled it off- this is a great anthology.

Incredible selection of stories. Highly recommended.
Full of classic stories and some you may never have heard of which are wonderful.

This was a textbook for an online course I took from UCLA on writing fiction. I can highly recommend it. The selection of stories offers great variety, ranging from Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" to O'Brien's Vietnam-era classic "The Things They Carried". Having the stories introduced by authors offers is interesting. I enjoyed comparing my own reaction to each story to that of the author introducing it. Check this one out for a great collection of short stories.

The concept of this book really interests me. Contemporary authors share their favorite stories with us, as if they were taking a frind by the hand and saying, "You've GOT to read this!"

Each author introduces that book and explains why he or she enjoys the story so much. Some of the explanations are really excellnt, suchas the introduction to Jamaica Kincaid's "Girl." Others, however, leave the reader ill-prepared for what he or she is about to read. The introduction to "The Star Cafe" left me quite shocked and slightly annoyed when I actually read the story. On the whole, however, it is definitely a worthwhile book.

I really enjoyed this book. Even if I disliked one story, I knew the next would be a refreshing start. I suggest reading the essays before the introductions to form your own opinions.

A collection of short stories that have been selected and are introduced by different writers. It contains a wide range of authors and very diverse stories, varying from what I would regard as quite charming to obscure. Because these stories appealed to professional writers does not mean they will appeal to more pedestrian readers such as myself. Often they seem to be more attracted to the writing style than the substance of the story.

Anthologies are not meant to be read from cover to cover. Fiddling some notion that fictional characters and non-fictional authors have disdain for one another? Anthologies are, perhaps, best read as bathroom bookshelf literature. With that said, the first story I read was "Paper Garden" and guess what, I forgot I was reading on a throne. Mission accomplished... America, replete with variegated archetypes, is an experiment in progress. Well done.
Anthony James

Ashley Hammond: Thanks for liking "Paper Garden"!--Jerome Wilson