Scan barcode
mschrock8's review
4.0
Big day! First, I finished a book of essays, then this book of short stories. I read one a day.
imnotadorableimpunk's review
2.0
I enjoyed a couple pieces in this work, but most stories were dull and/or seemed unfinished. Most of the stories had the same feeling -- masculine and melancholic in tone. I prefer more variety in compilations like this and it personally felt redundant and aggressive almost. Not my favorite read for sure.
janeanger's review
4.0
I love short stories and I continue to enjoy these collections. I always pick them up 3-4 years after they are published, at least, but I think they're still worth reading, which says something about their quality.
jess10adam's review
3.0
Adam picked this up at a used book sale at the library. They are the perfect length to read a story on my commute. So I always enjoy them. Some stories in this one are a little creepy, but overall pretty good.
chitownjr's review
4.0
An enjoyable audiobook containing seven of the best American short stories chosen by editor Walter Mosley. My favorites were Baby Wilson by E.L. Doctorow, Kavita Through Glass by Emily Raboteau, and Shamengawa by Louise Erdrich. The last was especially moving and memorable, and left a beautiful and melancholy ache in my heart when the story ended.
seebrandyread's review
5.0
I wasn't very familiar with Walter Mosley or his work before reading this one, so I wasn't sure what to expect. He also wrote a shorter introduction than most editors, and it focused more on his beliefs about what a short story is than about his selection method, which I kind of appreciated. I still prefer reading about the editors' experience and technique for choosing stories but only if they can keep it succinct.
I think this is one of the most diverse editions of BASS (unfortunate acronym) that I've read so far. I don't know if the actual author list was more diverse, but the voices within were very different. A Philippina nanny, a blind marine biologist, a Native American fiddler are just a few of the protagonists and set-ups of these stories. A couple stories broach the realms of sci-fi and horror.
One common theme in several stories is fatherhood. There are actually 2 about the relationship between father and son after the death of their wife/mother. One of these stories, "Space" by Kevin Brockmeier, nearly brought me to tears. Another common theme is death. Wives die, mothers die, sons and aunts die. This repetition might seem excessive, but they're spaced apart well, and, because the voices are so varied, Mosley's picks demonstrate commonalities between us like love, grief, and hope.
The stories in this collection take readers to Haiti, an island off the coast of Kenya, China, and the near or maybe just imagined future. I usually enjoy books from this series, but I often don't come away with many that I know I'll remember. However, with Mosley's edition, I can think of several that are going to stick with me.
I think this is one of the most diverse editions of BASS (unfortunate acronym) that I've read so far. I don't know if the actual author list was more diverse, but the voices within were very different. A Philippina nanny, a blind marine biologist, a Native American fiddler are just a few of the protagonists and set-ups of these stories. A couple stories broach the realms of sci-fi and horror.
One common theme in several stories is fatherhood. There are actually 2 about the relationship between father and son after the death of their wife/mother. One of these stories, "Space" by Kevin Brockmeier, nearly brought me to tears. Another common theme is death. Wives die, mothers die, sons and aunts die. This repetition might seem excessive, but they're spaced apart well, and, because the voices are so varied, Mosley's picks demonstrate commonalities between us like love, grief, and hope.
The stories in this collection take readers to Haiti, an island off the coast of Kenya, China, and the near or maybe just imagined future. I usually enjoy books from this series, but I often don't come away with many that I know I'll remember. However, with Mosley's edition, I can think of several that are going to stick with me.
More...