Scan barcode
ellenmurrayb's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.5
earlyandalone's review
This is a more political and current edition of BAE. This is not a negative (there are some fantastic essays here), but if you’re looking for a break from the news, this is not it.
lifeinpoetry's review against another edition
4.0
This is an unusually strong edition of Best American Essays. I usually skip a few out of disinterest but I read all excepting the ones I'd already read.
eileen_critchley's review
3.0
This is always a hard collection to "rate" because different essays will stand out for some people over others. And, of course, the subject matter is highly dependent on the guest editor. This year's collection was on the average side for me, some were good, some were OK. The essays in this edition are very heavy on issues we are all hearing about in the news and in politics right now (and that's fine, although personally I enjoy years where the subject matter is a little more unusual and broad, perhaps on issues or topics I am not very familiar with. It's also nice to have a bit of humor, although I know that isn't the point). There was only one essay in this edition I had read previously (Alexander Chee's). This year the anthology was on the shorter side, but I read it over a period of months (usually in the sauna at the gym). It's a good one to put in my car and leave there, to pick up and put down when needed.
(owned, hardcopy)
(owned, hardcopy)
desirosie's review
5.0
I stumbled on this collection accidentally, and now I will have to go through other years in the series!
I bounced around the collection, not in order, and I don't think I necessarily read everything. The collection Solnit curated was sometimes too much for me and my despair heart.
One of the most beautiful ones in the volume, and one that I had not even heard about, let alone read before was "Forever Gone" by J. Drew Lanham.
I bounced around the collection, not in order, and I don't think I necessarily read everything. The collection Solnit curated was sometimes too much for me and my despair heart.
One of the most beautiful ones in the volume, and one that I had not even heard about, let alone read before was "Forever Gone" by J. Drew Lanham.
ostrowk's review
5.0
Solnit's excellently curated collection reminds me of the unique potential for the essay, generically, to take up the most urgent political questions of our time from the humble place of the personal. There's so much insight and grace and power here.
lilactea123's review
don’t want to rate this since I would rate all the essays individually!!!!