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shawntowner's review against another edition
3.0
More non-fiction than I expected, but I also thought that the title "Aliens" meant space aliens, not strangers in a strange land aliens. Many of the non-fiction pieces were interesting reads, but none were particularly outstanding. Mostly long-form, magazine-style, personal essays, with the occasional narrative thrown in to make things a little more literary. One of the stories in the collection, Nami Mun's "The Anniversary," was phenomenal. It was like a Raymond Carver story--harsh and heartbreaking.
towardinfinitybooks's review against another edition
3.0
This is my third Granta issue and they tend to earn a solid 3-star rating from me. This one is no exception. Normally, my 3-star ratings are given to works that I generally liked but had a lot of flaws I just can't overlook. Given that each Granta issue is filled with works by authors of different skill levels, tastes, techniques, backgrounds, and agendas, here the 3-star rating translates to an uneven yet ultimately satisfying read.
As with all issues, I read straight through, rediscovering authors whose other works I had enjoyed and making note of new-to-me authors whose writing I had liked and wanted to explore further. I like reading the entire collection because it gives me some insight as to the vision or perspective the Granta editors wanted to pursue in terms of the chosen theme.
General reflections aside, here is a little bit about each of the pieces I enjoyed most from this collection:
Aravind Adiga, Last Man in Tower
This is a fictional excerpt from Adiga's new book of the same title. The excerpt introduces readers to one of the two protagonists of the book, Masterji, a lonely widower whose whole life is invested in his neighbors and the building in which they live. After reading this excerpt, I definitely plan on reading the novel.
Chris Dennis, "Here Is What You Do"
This is Dennis' first published story and he is one to watch. Usually, second-person voices turn me off but the effect of this technique here brings the reader right into the prison cell, makes you a part of the strange and unsettling relationship the narrator has with his cellmate, makes you culpable. I didn't exactly (or at all) enjoy reading this but it did make me sit up and take notice.
Nami Mun, "The Anniversary"
I loved the writing. I really need to check out Mun's book Miles From Nowhere now. I wavered but this decided it for me.
Julie Otsuka, "Come, Japanese
This is a fictional excerpt from Otsuka's new book, The Buddha in the Attic, another one going on my to-read shelf. I read her prior book, When the Emperor Was Divine a few years ago. In that book, all the characters were nameless. Here, they speak as a Greek chorus yet it somehow feels individualistic and personal.
Ann Patchett, "The Mercies
Here, the "other" are a group of Sisters of Mercy nuns. Way to expand the definition, Patchett. Given how much Catholic nuns featured in my own childhood, this piece immediately appealed (and made me slightly nostalgic). I've never read Patchett before, though I know her work has been highly acclaimed. The descriptions of her books aren't enough to make me want to pick one up, but this essay I really did love.
Binyavanga Wainaina, "One Day I Will Write About This Place"
This excerpt from Wainaina's memoir of the same name appealed to me because of its detailed and descriptive writing, as well as its themes of childhood and coming of age. Another for the to-read shelf.
As with all issues, I read straight through, rediscovering authors whose other works I had enjoyed and making note of new-to-me authors whose writing I had liked and wanted to explore further. I like reading the entire collection because it gives me some insight as to the vision or perspective the Granta editors wanted to pursue in terms of the chosen theme.
General reflections aside, here is a little bit about each of the pieces I enjoyed most from this collection:
Aravind Adiga, Last Man in Tower
This is a fictional excerpt from Adiga's new book of the same title. The excerpt introduces readers to one of the two protagonists of the book, Masterji, a lonely widower whose whole life is invested in his neighbors and the building in which they live. After reading this excerpt, I definitely plan on reading the novel.
Chris Dennis, "Here Is What You Do"
This is Dennis' first published story and he is one to watch. Usually, second-person voices turn me off but the effect of this technique here brings the reader right into the prison cell, makes you a part of the strange and unsettling relationship the narrator has with his cellmate, makes you culpable. I didn't exactly (or at all) enjoy reading this but it did make me sit up and take notice.
Nami Mun, "The Anniversary"
I loved the writing. I really need to check out Mun's book Miles From Nowhere now. I wavered but this decided it for me.
Julie Otsuka, "Come, Japanese
This is a fictional excerpt from Otsuka's new book, The Buddha in the Attic, another one going on my to-read shelf. I read her prior book, When the Emperor Was Divine a few years ago. In that book, all the characters were nameless. Here, they speak as a Greek chorus yet it somehow feels individualistic and personal.
Ann Patchett, "The Mercies
Here, the "other" are a group of Sisters of Mercy nuns. Way to expand the definition, Patchett. Given how much Catholic nuns featured in my own childhood, this piece immediately appealed (and made me slightly nostalgic). I've never read Patchett before, though I know her work has been highly acclaimed. The descriptions of her books aren't enough to make me want to pick one up, but this essay I really did love.
Binyavanga Wainaina, "One Day I Will Write About This Place"
This excerpt from Wainaina's memoir of the same name appealed to me because of its detailed and descriptive writing, as well as its themes of childhood and coming of age. Another for the to-read shelf.
caterinaanna's review
3.0
Who am I to dent the thus far perfect three star review of this edition? It's about right methinks.
I usually read Granta cover to cover, not looking in advance at who has written a particular piece, and paying attention only if I find it exceptional at one end of the scale or another. As it turns out, one of my favourites this time was one I would have saved up were I in the habit of keeping what I suspect would be the best until last. Ann Patchett's The Mercies charts the relationship between a not particularly religious woman and a diminishing and aging group of nuns. Walking on the West bank is a piece I would like to share with a friend who runs pilgramages to Palestine. My other favourite was Julie Otsuka's moving Come Japanese which remained wistful and full of foreboding in spite of a constantly shifting perspective,.
I usually read Granta cover to cover, not looking in advance at who has written a particular piece, and paying attention only if I find it exceptional at one end of the scale or another. As it turns out, one of my favourites this time was one I would have saved up were I in the habit of keeping what I suspect would be the best until last. Ann Patchett's The Mercies charts the relationship between a not particularly religious woman and a diminishing and aging group of nuns. Walking on the West bank is a piece I would like to share with a friend who runs pilgramages to Palestine. My other favourite was Julie Otsuka's moving Come Japanese which remained wistful and full of foreboding in spite of a constantly shifting perspective,.
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