Reviews

The Best American Short Stories 2022 by Heidi Pitlor, Andrew Sean Greer

whoischels's review

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

nikki_rgs's review

slow-paced

3.0

Overall a good collection that lags at the front. My favs were “The Beyoglu Municipality Waste Management” “The Ghost Birds” “Ten Year Affair” “The Sins of Others” and “Elephant Seals.” 

drjohnbrown's review

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Like any short story collection, this is a mixed bag- that said, the mix is much more often positive than not. For the most part, this was a fun book with lots of great, sometimes breathtaking stories.

johnleonard44's review

medium-paced

4.0

dietsmarrissjohnson's review

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

rpmahnke's review

5.0

Finished in a dark house with the power out.

chelseadarling's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

2.75

red_robyneliz's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

tiffanyrjansen's review

5.0

Excellent collection of stories by truly gifted storytellers.

Standouts for me:
"The Wind" by Lauren Groff
"Detective Dog" by Gish Jen
"Post" by Alice McDermott
"Mbiu Dash" by Okwiri Oduor
"The Meeting" by Alix Ohlin
"Mr. Ashok's Monument" by Sanjena Sathian
"The Sins of Others" by Héctor Tobar
"Elephant Seals" by Meghan Louise Wagner
and especially "Foster" by Bryan Washington

bentohbox's review

5.0

As always, a mix of stories have a mix of qualities. But goddamn are some of these incredible. The many highlights I have attest to that, and the various ways short stories never fail to wring out your heart in a few pages.