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melias6's review against another edition
4.0
Curtis Sittenfeld’s stories have been featured frequently in BASS, and they’re always a bright spot among the stories selected each year. I was excited to dive into her curated picks for the 2020 edition, and the result is one of the stronger collections in recent years. Given her own sense of humor as a writer, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that 2020 boasts more comedic entries than years past. These include:
“The Apartment,” T.C. Boyle — A man signs a contract with his elderly neighbor, paying monthly installments to secure ownership of her apartment upon her death. A straightforward premise until you discover who the elderly neighbor has been modeled after. (Hint: this takes place in France.)
“In the Event,” Meng Jin — Anxieties about climate change, politics, and romantic relationships collide in a story that grapples with how to respond “in the event” of said crises. Won me over with the early descriptor “She was a local local, born and raised and stayed.”
“Howl Palace,” Leigh Newman — A farce centered on an oft-divorced woman in her sixties, an unruly dog, and a rich cast of characters that succeeds in being both funny and deeply moving.
“The Special World,” Tiphanie Yanique — A college freshman navigates a first semester teeming with nosy RAs, church cults, and cultural (mis)appropriation.
Other standouts include Mary Gaitskill’s thorny, #metoo-inspired “This Is Pleasure”; William Pei Shih’s “Enlightenment” about an aging professor’s unrequited, misguided love for a student; and two horrific, relatable tales of bullying from the perspectives of an aggressor (Sarah Thankam Mathews’ “Rubberdust”) and a victim (Kevin Wilson’s “Kennedy”). There’s something for everyone, and Sittenfeld’s detailed, insightful reasoning behind her curating process makes it difficult to argue with her choices.
“The Apartment,” T.C. Boyle — A man signs a contract with his elderly neighbor, paying monthly installments to secure ownership of her apartment upon her death. A straightforward premise until you discover who the elderly neighbor has been modeled after. (Hint: this takes place in France.)
“In the Event,” Meng Jin — Anxieties about climate change, politics, and romantic relationships collide in a story that grapples with how to respond “in the event” of said crises. Won me over with the early descriptor “She was a local local, born and raised and stayed.”
“Howl Palace,” Leigh Newman — A farce centered on an oft-divorced woman in her sixties, an unruly dog, and a rich cast of characters that succeeds in being both funny and deeply moving.
“The Special World,” Tiphanie Yanique — A college freshman navigates a first semester teeming with nosy RAs, church cults, and cultural (mis)appropriation.
Other standouts include Mary Gaitskill’s thorny, #metoo-inspired “This Is Pleasure”; William Pei Shih’s “Enlightenment” about an aging professor’s unrequited, misguided love for a student; and two horrific, relatable tales of bullying from the perspectives of an aggressor (Sarah Thankam Mathews’ “Rubberdust”) and a victim (Kevin Wilson’s “Kennedy”). There’s something for everyone, and Sittenfeld’s detailed, insightful reasoning behind her curating process makes it difficult to argue with her choices.
pearseanderson's review against another edition
2.0
I think I would've liked this antho a lot more if I had read the Contributor's Notes before I returned the audiobook. It was full of stories that I can't deeply remember in retrospect: stories like Howl Palace and Something Street that I didn't take to, and didn't deeply enjoy. My favorites were: "This is Pleasure," "Halloween," "The Secret World," and "The Apartment." But that's probably it, to be honest? Naw, this volume wasn't a winner for me, but I hope others enjoy it?
melinalovesbooks's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
Leigh Newman, writer of “Howl Palace” was my favorite.
“The Apartment” by T.C. Cole was pretty funny.
“Godmother Tea” by Selena Anderson was a good beginning story that hooked me into reading the others.
I needed more of the same story of”Sibling Rivalry” by Michael Byers!
“Halloween” by Marian Crotty was young adult gay (the lesbian kind).
“Something Street” by Carolyn Ferrel was depressing.
“This is Pleasure” by Mary Gaitskill sounded a little tone death with the #MeToo movement currently happening.
“In the Event” by Meng Jin was very slice of life and enjoyable.
“The Children” by Andrea Lee was a whole lot of MEH.
“Rubberdust” by Sarah Thankam Matthews was just child shit, so big MEH for me.
“It’s not You” was big adult feels - depressing basically.
Leigh Newman, writer of “Howl Palace” was my favorite.
“The Apartment” by T.C. Cole was pretty funny.
“Godmother Tea” by Selena Anderson was a good beginning story that hooked me into reading the others.
I needed more of the same story of”Sibling Rivalry” by Michael Byers!
“Halloween” by Marian Crotty was young adult gay (the lesbian kind).
“Something Street” by Carolyn Ferrel was depressing.
“This is Pleasure” by Mary Gaitskill sounded a little tone death with the #MeToo movement currently happening.
“In the Event” by Meng Jin was very slice of life and enjoyable.
“The Children” by Andrea Lee was a whole lot of MEH.
“Rubberdust” by Sarah Thankam Matthews was just child shit, so big MEH for me.
“It’s not You” was big adult feels - depressing basically.
kyliecooper's review against another edition
2.0
I read this book for my Intro to Writing class at UCR in January, and I found some of the stories in this endearing and fun. However, a majority of them were a trouble to get through, and this isn’t something I would ever choose to read on my own. If it’s something you might be into, want to read something to analyze the works, then I suppose it would be a fun read, but otherwise I would say it’s worth a pass.
heartbrekker's review against another edition
The Apartment: ☆ 3
A Faithful but Melancholy Account of Several Barbarities Lately Committed: ☆ 3.5
Sibling Rivalry: ☆ 3.5
In the Event: ☆ 2
Rubberdust: ☆ 4
The Nine-Tailed Fox Explains: ☆ 4
The Hands of Dirty Children: ☆ 3.5
Kennedy: ☆ 3
Note: While I’m saying this novel is read, I will continue to read the short stories at my own leisure. I just don’t want to have it in my currently reading for so long. Hopefully, I’ll update the other stories as I read them.
A Faithful but Melancholy Account of Several Barbarities Lately Committed: ☆ 3.5
Sibling Rivalry: ☆ 3.5
In the Event: ☆ 2
Rubberdust: ☆ 4
The Nine-Tailed Fox Explains: ☆ 4
The Hands of Dirty Children: ☆ 3.5
Kennedy: ☆ 3
Note: While I’m saying this novel is read, I will continue to read the short stories at my own leisure. I just don’t want to have it in my currently reading for so long. Hopefully, I’ll update the other stories as I read them.
johndecker's review against another edition
4.0
Curtis Sittenfeld is really great. Stories I had physical/audible reactions to that everyone should read: “The Apartment,” “Kennedy,” “The Special World,” “Sibling Rivalry,” “Halloween,” “This Is Pleasure.”
abs171910's review against another edition
4.0
Off the top of my head, I think my favourite story was 'Rubberdust.'
babegladwaller's review against another edition
4.0
Four stars JUST because “The Nine-Tailed Fox Explains” was so good, three stars on the basis of everything else.