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bittersweet_symphony's review
4.0
A solid collection, but lacking in variety: I wanted to see more experimental, fantastic, or surreal elements in some of the stories.
Top 3 stories in no particular order:
---"Body Language" by Diane Schoemperlen. My own body has never meant more to me. This piece has shaken me from my aversion to material, or corporeal interpretations for what matters in life. "He does not know if she still loves him. If not, he does not know when she stopped. He wonders what you do with love when you're done with it--where do you put it, where does it go, how do you make sure it stays there?"
---"Flower Children" by Maxine Swann. I would love to turn this into a short film. It is a poetic juxtaposition of between the innocence of children and the adult events surrounding them. The prose has a stacatto which fades into a sadness. It remains pleasant.
---"Would You Know It Wasn't Love" by Hester Kaplan. I felt the loneliness of fatherhood. "'You didn't just leave because you didn't feel safe. What is this shit about safety? This has always been your problem, Rosie, you never feel you have to stick with anything, you can run home anytime you like. Your mother and I are to blame for that too, I'll admit. You come, we take you in."
Top 3 stories in no particular order:
---"Body Language" by Diane Schoemperlen. My own body has never meant more to me. This piece has shaken me from my aversion to material, or corporeal interpretations for what matters in life. "He does not know if she still loves him. If not, he does not know when she stopped. He wonders what you do with love when you're done with it--where do you put it, where does it go, how do you make sure it stays there?"
---"Flower Children" by Maxine Swann. I would love to turn this into a short film. It is a poetic juxtaposition of between the innocence of children and the adult events surrounding them. The prose has a stacatto which fades into a sadness. It remains pleasant.
---"Would You Know It Wasn't Love" by Hester Kaplan. I felt the loneliness of fatherhood. "'You didn't just leave because you didn't feel safe. What is this shit about safety? This has always been your problem, Rosie, you never feel you have to stick with anything, you can run home anytime you like. Your mother and I are to blame for that too, I'll admit. You come, we take you in."
ken_bookhermit's review
2.0
I think the problem was that I expected too much from Garrison Keillor (what with him being one of my favourite literary personalities) and I liked the stories in general. But only one really stuck out to me (John Updike's "My Father on the Verge of Disgrace".
spiderfly's review
2.0
There were some good stories in this one, but mostly it just put me in a bad mood.
lmrajt's review
4.0
This is the one that got me hooked on the Best American series. The Lorrie Moore story alone makes it worthwhile, but many of the stories are memorable to me, even 10 years later.
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