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ranireadsbooks's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.0
This is my least favorite of the BASS collection that I’ve read so far. Some of the stories were gripping, but most were either so boring and self indulgent that I stopped reading halfway, or struggled through only to be rewarded with a feeling of deep dissatisfaction.
doodlertm's review against another edition
3.0
I feel like this collection was bit of a hit or miss for me. Out of 20 stories I really felt affected by about half of them, and I skipped a couple too, so... I could tell that the selection really was based around the idea of voice, which I appreciated. Overall, these stories helped me kill some time and find a handful of new authors to read, which is always a good thing.
bufally47's review against another edition
2.0
Until about halfway though, I was having an abysmal time with this collection. Everything seemed to be about DIY home-construction projects, children, and God. It surprised me how different these collections can be from year to year. I still think about a few of the stories from the one edited by T.C. Boyle – the especially strange, otherworldly ones – but Elizabeth Strout’s selections were much more down to earth. Two or three of them (especially “The Tunnel, or The News from Spain”) did really grab me, but overall this was more of a dud than the 2015. Maybe it would’ve had more magic if I hadn’t previously read “The Semplica-Girl Diaries.”
erinwolf1997's review against another edition
3.0
I've read short stories much better than most of these, but some of these were worth it. Others were borderline disturbing or so bland I just tuned out as I was reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia and Sexual content
rtay's review against another edition
2.0
Mixed bag. Normally I love these collections, and there are some gems in here, but ... meh.
mdbow22's review
3.0
All the stories were published in 2012. I'm sure that was a great year for short fiction, but Elizabeth Strout couldn't find the truly great stories out of the hundreds she must have looked at. Many of the stories were enjoyable while reading them, but once they ended they got lost. Before putting the book down, I went through the table of contents again, and for many of the stories, I looked at the title wondering, "Which one was that again?" I had to go the story's first page to rediscover it, as if I had read it twenty years ago instead of yesterday.
emilymroth's review against another edition
4.0
I reviewed this collection for Booklist. My review can be seen here! http://www.amazon.com/Best-American-Short-Stories-2013/dp/0547554834/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1405603644&sr=1-1&keywords=best+american+short+stories+2013
tallblackguy's review against another edition
3.0
I love short stories, and pick this collection up when I can. A long time ago, someone told me that, if a book didn't grab you in 50 pages, to put it down. "Life's too short from crappy books."
Life's also too short for bad writing, but each story in here has some sort of redeeming quality, and they're over soon enough anyway. The voices are largely rich and moving, the POV varied, and the settings as different as they can be, but I enjoyed this for what it was. Also, to be able to look at who wrote the stuff that caught my eye and check and see if they have more work.
Life's also too short for bad writing, but each story in here has some sort of redeeming quality, and they're over soon enough anyway. The voices are largely rich and moving, the POV varied, and the settings as different as they can be, but I enjoyed this for what it was. Also, to be able to look at who wrote the stuff that caught my eye and check and see if they have more work.
karencarlson's review against another edition
5.0
Another very good year; a bit on the safe side, and a little heavy on The New Yorker. Still, I enjoyed the read. Details on each story blogged at A Just Recompense.